Tag: Nick Cushing

NYCFC coach Cushing denies allegation he punched Toronto FC player

TFC head coach John Herdman has leveled a very serious charge against the NYCFC boss

New York City FC head coach Nick Cushing has “categorically” denied an allegation that he punched a Toronto FC player at halftime of a game in March.

NYCFC and TFC played out a contentious match on Saturday night, with players and coaches alike involved in a heated on-field scuffle after the game at BMO Field.

After the match, which NYCFC won 3-2, TFC head coach John Herdman and captain Jonathan Osorio said the altercation was partially due to an incident that had taken place two months earlier.

“Their coach talks and says things to certain players that crosses the line,” Osorio said in a post-game press conference. “When we hear their coach and three players cornered a 19-year-old of ours by himself, that’s going to be a problem. We were just letting them know we didn’t forget about that.”

Herdman was later asked directly about Cushing’s behavior during the March 16 match at Yankee Stadium.

“That was the off-record report that came into the dressing room at halftime from a 19-year-old who said he got cornered and punched in the face,” Herdman said.

Neither Herdman nor Osorio mentioned the TFC player in question, but the only 19-year-old on the team’s senior roster is Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty.

On Monday, Cushing spoke to the press and denied the charges made by Toronto’s coach and captain.

“I categorically deny any involvement or any incident where I have punched or assaulted any Toronto FC player or staff,” Cushing said.

“I am shocked, personally. I’m upset by the allegation.”

Cushing added that he was not aware of the allegation until after TFC’s post-game press conference on Saturday.

The MLS Disciplinary Committee is set to examine footage of the most recent altercation between NYCFC and TFC, and will hand out any punishment later this week.

No punishments were given after the March game at Yankee Stadium.

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NYCFC put on counter-attacking clinic, bounce CF Montreal from MLS playoffs

NYCFC were ruthless in transition as they ended Montréal’s season

NYCFC has serious designs on extending their reign as MLS’s top dog for another season.

The defending champions went to Quebec and dismantled CF Montréal 3-1 on Sunday afternoon. Maxi Moralez, Héber, and Talles Magno all scored as the 2021 MLS Cup winners combined mastery in transition moments with some excellent goalkeeping from Sean Johnson (at least, in the first half) to advance to the Eastern Conference final.

Throughout 2022 Montréal earned a reputation as the experts at drawing teams towards over-committing before catching them out. In their biggest game of the year though, NYCFC taught them a lesson, time and again manufacturing transition moments by forcing turnovers just as Montréal committed too many men forward.

Nick Cushing altered his side’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, bringing an extra center back in, but that didn’t hamper their razor-sharp attack. An energetic start resulted in an early goal for NYCFC, with Moralez calmly depositing the ball into an empty net after Gabriel Pereira and Santiago Rodríguez had done most of the heavy lifting.

From that moment through to the last seconds of the half, it was all Montréal. Sean Johnson produced two jaw-dropping saves, Kei Kamara hit the post, referee Drew Fischer turned down a penalty shout from Djordje Mihailovic, and the home side would also have a goal on a clever set piece called back for offside. NYCFC would enter the locker room with more yellow cards (three) than shot attempts (two).

That second shot ended up being critical though, as a jailbreak counter saw NYCFC take a 2-0 lead. Montréal’s fast recovery appeared to have ended the danger, but Rodríguez played a marvelous ball to Héber, whose run went completely undetected. The pass was so good that all the Brazilian veteran had to do was casually tuck the ball past James Pantemis, stunning Stade Saputo.

Wilfried Nancy brought Rommel Quioto on to push for a comeback, but another incisive NYCFC counter ended with Pantemis tripping Pereira in the box. Fischer awarded the obvious penalty, and Talles Magno — with virtually his first touch after coming on — finished it off from the spot.

Montréal would at least salvage some pride with a late goal from Mihailovic — a routine header that Johnson was inexplicably unable to fend off — and gave NYCFC some worries in the final minutes, but ultimately the cutting edge shown by New York City made them worthy winners.

NYCFC will head south on I-95 to take on the Philadelphia Union in a rematch of last year’s conference final, which is set for October 30.

Watch the goals that sent NYCFC past Montréal

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