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Since transferring from FC Kaiserslautern before the 2017 season, Alex Ring has been a fixture in the middle of the park for New York City FC. He is a holding midfielder with the work rate and endurance to provide coverage defensively for the quartet of backs and his midfield mates. He is one of the MLS leaders in tackles and interceptions. When Ring wins the ball back, he is secure in possession and it has been confirmed that he can score an occasional goal. His golazo from just inside 30 yards hit the underside of the crossbar to beat Atlanta United keeper Brad Guzan and provide a road point for City in the 2-2 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
It was Ring’s first career goal for the club and MLS.
“I told you I was holding onto it for an important game,” Ring said to Pro Soccer USA. “I’m happy for the first goal – it’s not the worst one to score.”
https://dev-prosoccerusa.pantheonsite.io/mls/new-york-city-fc/watch-alexander-rings-stunning-first-goal-for-nycfc-in-atlanta/
Road warriors
Since Patrick Vieira’s arrival in 2016, NYCFC has the best road record in MLS (15-14-9). This season the club has earned results in two of the more demanding environments in the league at Sporting KC (2-1 victory) and Atlanta (2-2 draw).
Vieira outlined his model for success on the road.
“We are coming to compete and play our game,” Vieira said prior to kick-off Sunday night against the Five Stripes. “I think we will have to defend better than the last couple of games because the mistakes we make will get punished but our philosophy will not change – we will try to play the way we’ve been doing it since the start of the season.”
Must see in person
Atlanta’s young Designated Player Miguel Almirón is one of those soccer athletes that cannot be fully appreciated without the live scope of a full pitch. He anticipates the change of possession and positions himself in pockets and wide areas to ignite counterattacks like few other players in MLS. Almirón stood out as the superior player in a game that showcased some the league’s most talented members. He runs, he creates, he scores. The league’s Newcomer of the Year in 2017 was involved in both Atlanta goals against NYCFC and currently ranks fourth in overall goals and assists since arriving from Paraguay with 12 goals plus 18 assists.