Defender Alexander Callens (6) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal. (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

For the second time in five days, New York City FC’s put a 2-0 win into its back pocket.

City won on the road for the first time this season, besting D.C. United at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night.

NYCFC recorded the same result at home on Saturday against the Columbus Crew.

The result boosted the Cityzens to 6-3-2 and 20 points while D.C. dropped to 4-6-1.

Goalkeeper Sean Johnson registered his fourth consecutive clean sheet.

“We talked a lot before the game about mentality and that it is a different ball game when you play away, NYCFC head coach Ronny Deila said. “Sometimes you have to dig in and defend well and take your chances when you get it. Today was a perfect example about how we have to play when we want to win away. We took their strengths out of the game, and we got our strength in when we started to switch to play more. We covered the great areas on the pitch, and we had enough chances to win the game.”

Added defender Alexander Callens, who tallied the  first goal: “Everyone is playing well right now. It is not just the defenders; it goes all the way to the attackers and the midfielders. We are all playing good soccer, everyone is very confident right now and we just need to keep working to continue with the positive results.”

After United’s Brad Smith hit the post two minutes after kickoff, Callens gave the visitors the lead in the sixth minute. Following a corner kick, Chris Gloster crossed the ball to Callens at the near post and the center back headed it home past goalkeeper Rafael Romo for a 1-0 lead.

Five minutes into first-half stoppage time, Taty Castellanos doubled the lead with a Panenka penalty kick after Brendan Hines-Ike handled the ball in the area.

The victory, however, came at a price as Castellanos was awarded a yellow card for time wasting in the 64th minute. It was his fifth of the season, meaning he will miss Sunday’s game against the Chicago Fire.

“We knew that he was going to get a lot of yellow cards during the season so we have players that can come in,” Deila said. “I am looking forward to seeing how they get the chance.”

Castellanos wasn’t the only City player who was slapped with yellows for time wasting. Santiago Rodriguez (36th minute) and Gideon Zelalem (four minutes into second-half stoppage time) also were sanctioned.

“I don’t even know what to say to that,”  Deila said. “I am finished talking about the referees. When you see the games we play at home, how many players are using a half a minute every time they get the opportunity to take a free kick or something. It is not consistent in what we have been doing. I don’t have words about the last one with Gideon. That might be something he can do better but what’s done is done. We get our yellow cards, and we know that. We have to get away from getting 11 red cards like we did last year. It is just a part of the game. We deal with it.”

 

 

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.