Tayvon Gray and Agustín Ojeda are well aware of just how deadly the other can be on the pitch for NYCFC.
Talles Magno has more optimism about second NYCFC stint — and already flashed potential during home-opening win The New York City FC defender and winger have quickly become the club’s two biggest offensive weapons this season, and, in a way, have each other to thank for that.
With Gray primarily used as a right back and Ojeda used on the wing, it has pitted the pair against each other in practice. “I think in training he’s pushing me to my limits and I think I’m pushing him to his limits,” Gray told The Post. “If you really think about it, I kind of know his tendencies. So he tends to switch it up against me, because obviously, we play every day against each other, and I think vice versa. I think he knows I probably want to go down the line and cross, he’ll probably block that off. I’ll probably make him go left. Just switching up your game, I think that helps us. Obviously, knowing each other makes it quite a bit harder. So I think that it gives us a little edge against other teams.”While they didn’t find the back of the net in Saturday’s 3-1 win over the Colorado Rapids at Yankee Stadium, their footprints were once again there.Ojeda had a scoring chance in the 32nd minute that he missed right and moments later he set up Gray for a shot inside the box that was blocked. Ojeda has a goal and an assist through NYCFC’s first four matches of the season, which included finding the back of the net in the club’s thrashing of Orlando City and helping to find Gray for his game-winning goal in Philadelphia. The 21-year-old Argentine nearly scored in the Philly game when he hit a shot off the post after switching to the left side of the pitch. Gray, who was one of the best defenders in MLS in 2025, has added an offensive streak to his game this year as well, at times even ending up on the same side of the field as Ojeda, who has been primarily used on the right wing this year.NYCFC’s Keaton Parks thought he might never play soccer again before unprecedented return as key piece Gray has a goal and assist through four games as well this season, and has had a hand in goals for NYCFC in the first three matches. A pass to Nicolás Fernández Mercau from the right back led to an LA Galaxy player taking a penalty in the attacking box, which led to the penalty kick goal by Fernández Mercau in the season opener. Ojeda told The Post that the new dynamic duo has always tried to “support each other in whatever is needed.” “Me helping him defensively and him helping me in attack. I think we’ve understood each other very well,” Ojeda explained. “Even though sometimes the language can make things a little difficult, game by game we understand each other better and get to know each other more.”As for the language barrier, Ojeda said that he’s started to pick up Gray’s nonverbal cues. “Sometimes he makes gestures with his hands or his face and I already understand what he means,” Ojeda said. “I know maybe I need to attack the space or play more with him, create a two-against-one against the opposing defender. That’s how we keep getting to know each other little by little.” As they’ve started to play together more on the same side of the field, they’ve gotten to know one another off the pitch better as well. That was something that started long before the regular season began last month, and how Gray discovered one of Ojeda’s other talents: ping-pong.In fact, Gray won’t play him in the game anymore. “I don’t play him a lot, he’s the best on the team,” Gray said with a laugh. “Played like twice, that’s it. No more. … I’m done. I don’t play him no more.”Fernández Mercau scored twice in the win, first taking advantage of an ugly clearing attempt that wound up back in the box, which allowed him to score off his own rebound in the 22nd minute. He scored off a free kick just outside the box in the 45th minute to make it 2-0 and Talles Magno scored his first goal of the season in the 85th minute after receiving a pass from Maxi Moralez.Stream It Or Skip It: 'The Madison' On Paramount+, Where Michelle Pfeiffer Is A New York Woman Who Goes To Montana To Deal With Her Grief After A Tragedy
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