Heber celebrates the lone goal of the match. (Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports)
Heber scored in the 29th minute and New York City FC made that goal held up en route to a 1-0 win over FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas on Wednesday night.
The Brazilian striker slotted home Santiago Rodriguez’s right-wing feed from point-blank range for his fifth goal in the last four games he has started.
That man H9 đź”™ on the spot for the lead đź’« #VamosNYC pic.twitter.com/FXYAim11Fx
— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) July 14, 2022
The victory moved City (10-4-5, 35 points) into second place in the MLS Eastern Conference past the idle Red Bulls (9-5-6, 33). The Philadelphia Union (9-2-9, 36) moved into first place on the strength of its 2-1 win at Inter Miami CF.
After enduring a five-game winless streak to start his tenure as interim head coach, Nick Cushing has a modest two-game winning streak.
“Obviously we are really really pleased with the win, but I think it is the nature of the win,” he said. “This is my first experience of Texas and definitely my first experience of playing in the heat and it is really difficult. We knew we wouldn’t play football all of the game, we knew that this is a really good team, and a really good attacking team that wants the ball.”
Goalkeeper Sean Johnson recorded the shutout.
The hosts thought they had found the equalizer in the 51st minute when a poor giveaway allowed forward Ferreira to square it to Franco Jara, but Thiago Martins made an interception to clear.
Johnson stopped a hard Ferreira shot in the 70th minute, his lone save of the night.
NYCFC next will play the Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. on Sunday at 5 p.m.