At a packed-out Yankeee Stadium, Campeones Cup returned for the 2022 edition. With a crowd divided between supporters of the hosts, 2021 MLS Cup Cup champions New York City FC and Liga MX champions Atlas FC, who had earned their spot in the match by winning both the 2021 Apertura and the 2022 Clausura, the match kicked off in a buoyant, lively atmosphere.
After Columbus Crew had won the 2021 edition over Cruz Azul, the hosts were eager to keep the trophy with MLS for a third straight year, following on from Atlanta United’s win in 2019, with the competition having been suspended in 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both sides had put out strong elevens, even with NYCFC, led by interim manager Nick Cushing, battling hard for a place in the MLS Playoffs with just under a month to go in the season.
NYCFC entered the match still battling for a playoff spot, sitting fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference standings, but were winless in their last five matches, having fallen to ten-man Charlotte FC at the weekend. Atlas, despite coming off of an historic pair of domestic campaigns, had been struggling in Liga MX - Los Zorros entered the match in second bottom, with just one win in their last 12 matches.
It didn’t take long for the hosts to find an opening goal, as on a well-worked free kick, defender Alexander Callens headed home just four minutes into the match. Not satisfied, Cushing side continued to press for a second, and even earned a pair of free kicks in dangerous areas (14’, 18’) but couldn’t make their dominance pay in the match’s early going.
As the match wore on, Atlas began to assert themselves more, getting a first shot on target by Edison Flores following a well-worked set piece (26’) His effort was easily gathered by Luis Barraza, but a forced change followed, with Talles Magno coming on for the injured Héber on thirty minutes. Atlas continued to grow into the game without the stirker on the pitch, and had perhaps their best chance before the whistle as Julian Quiñones shot from range (45’), but were unable to break the hosts’ resistance.
In the second half Atlas started well, with Julian Quiñones heading wide (46’) but it was another early goal for the hosts as Maxi Moralez was on the end of a well-worked team move just minutes later (49’), doubling the lead. The bit between their teeth, a neat cutback from Moralez found Santi Rodríguez, but a smart save from Camilo Vargas denied him. Atlas would respond, though, as Quinõnes forced a smart save at the other end after some strong holdup play by Julio Furch (53’).
The match continued at a lively pace, with Kevin O’Toole flashing a header wide (58’) before getting forward on the break as Vargas denied Alexander Callens (65’). A hard-fought affair, no team had a presentable chance until Magno, teed up by Moralez, could only find the side netting (82’). Despite best efforts of both sides, the match would have no further score, and New York City FC were worthy winners of the 2022 Campeones Cup!
Match Details:
New York City FC 2-0 Atlas FC
Halftime: New York City FC 1-0 Atlas FC
Goals:
New York City FC: Alexander Callens (4’), Maxi Moralez (49’)
Bookings:
New York City FC: Tayvon Gray (41’), Alexander Callens (80’), Maxi Moralez (83’)
Atlas FC: Luis Reyes (89’), Hugo Nervo (90’)
Lineups:
New York City FC (3-4-3): Luis Barraza; Thiago Martins, Maxime Chanot, Alexander Callens; Tayvon Gray, Nicolás Acevedo (Justin Haak 86’), Maxi Moralez (Keaton Parks 85’), Kevin O’Toole; Gabriel Pereira, Héber (Talles Magno 29’), Santiago Rodríguez (Thiago 74’)
Substitutes: Andres Jasson, Justin Haak, Talles Magno, Vuk Latinovich, Thiago, Malte Amundsen, Matías Pellegrini, Keaton Parks, Cody Mizell
Manager: Nick Cushing
Altas FC: Camilo Vargas; Anderson Santamaría, Hugo Nervo, Aníbal Chalá (Ozziel Herrera 59’); Diego Barbosa, Edgar Zaldivar, Ángel Márquez (Brayan Trejo 70’), Luis Reyes; Edison Flores (Lucas Trezza 89’), Julio Furch, Julián Quiñones
Substitutes: José Abella, Brayan Trejo, Edyairth Ortega, José Hernandez, Jesús Ocejo, Gaddi Aguirre, Ozziel Herrera, Emanuel Aguilera, Lucas Trezza
Manager: Diego Cocca
