New York City FC pulls away to defeat lowly D.C. United

Updated: May 17, 2023, 12:13 am

Ismael Tajouri-Shradi scored twice after half-time, including the game's first goal that was not from a penalty kick, and New York City FC defeated D.C. United 4-1 on Wednesday evening at Yankee Stadium.

Valentin Castellanos scored on an early penalty for NYCFC, which has won three in a row and eight of 12 after opening the season on a four-match losing streak.

Keaton Parks added a late insurance tally as New York dominated possession and chances, outshooting D.C. 32-9 overall and leading 11-3 in efforts on target. It also held an overwhelming 72% of possession in the contest.

The game was NYCFC's first at Yankee Stadium since the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted play in early March. They had previously played home matches at their temporary home of Red Bull Arena in nearby Harrison, N.J.

Ola Kamara put away a 12th-minute penalty for United, which remains stuck with the worst record in MLS after its seventh consecutive game without a win.

D.C. sat in a defensive-minded 5-4-1 for much of the contest until falling behind by multiple goals in the second half, and blocked 14 NYCFC shots.

It worked for nearly an hour, but eventually New York took a deserved lead for good after their second penalty kick of the game.

Ismael Tajouri
Ismael Tajouri
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Ring earned it when he got free down the left after a D.C. giveaway and dragged a cross back toward the penalty spot that struck defender Axel Sjoberg in the arm, prompting Drew Fischer to quickly point to the spot.

Tajouri-Shradi stepped up to take the PK in the 55th minute and unleashed a ferocious shot that goalkeeper Bill Hamid got a hand to, but couldn't keep from crossing the line.

Tajouri-Shradi added his second only eight minutes later on a simple goal, driving a first-time finish of Anton Tinnerholm's cross from the right past Hamid from close range.

Parks headed in the final goal off the underside of the crossbar from Gudmundur Thorarinsson's cross from the left.

Castellanos was at the middle of the action early, drawing and then converting a fourth-minute penalty to give NYCFC the lead before committing a handball on the other end that led to Kamara's 12th-minute equalizer.