NYCFC Goalkeeper Sean Johnson Impresses On Digital Pitch; Johnson and eMLS Teammate Chris Holly Win Week Three and Advance to Championship Sunday on May 17
Match Highlights
- NYCFC Goalkeeper Sean Johnson EA SPORTS™ FIFA 20 Save Compilation
- Digital New York Red Bulls Center Back Aaron Long Shown Red; Digital Sean Johnson Converts Ensuing Penalty Kick
- FC Dallas Midfielder Fafa Picault Notches Golden Goal, Sends Dallas to Week Three Final
- NYCFC Goalkeeper Sean Johnson Tallies Golden Goal to Send NYCFC to Championship Sunday
NEW YORK (Sunday, May 3, 2020) – eMLS Tournament Special Week Three presented by Coca-Cola® and PlayStation® saw NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson and NYCFC eMLS pro FIFA player Chris Holly advance to Championship Sunday on May 17.
As part of MLS Unites, a league-wide platform designed to educate communities, entertain fans and elevate heroic efforts taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic, eMLS Tournament Special is a five-episode series that pits 16 MLS clubs against each other in EA SPORTS™ FIFA 20 competition. Four clubs compete each episode with the winning club from each of the first four weeks advancing to a Champions Bracket set to take place on Sunday, May 17. Clubs are represented by both an MLS player and eMLS professional FIFA player.
The opening match of Week Three showcased the New York Derby. In leg one, NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson earned the 3-0 victory over USMNT teammate and crosstown rival from the New York Red Bulls Aaron Long with goals from Mitrita (2) and Heber. Johnson made a diving save with himself to keep the clean sheet in second half stoppage time.
In leg two, NYCFC eMLS competitor Chris Holly relies on Sean Johnson goalkeeper heroics just 19 minutes in and then again in the 62nd minute with a pair of huge saves. In the 68th minute, Holly gives Mitrita his third goal of the series and extends NYCFC’s aggregate lead to 4-0. New York Red Bulls grab one back seven minutes later as George Adamou uses Josh Sims to knock it in the back of the net. A quick counter from Holly forces Adamou to use Long to make slide tackle from behind in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Aaron Long is shown red for the reckless challenge and Holly decides to take the kick with his teammate, the goalkeeper, Sean Johnson. Holly converts the PK sending NYCFC to the Week Three Final with a 5-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls.
The Texas derby in the second match up featured FC Dallas versus the Houston Dynamo and saw the MLS and eMLS players go scoreless after the two-legged series. FC Dallas midfielder Fafa Picault tallied the golden goal with Zdenek Ondrasek to send himself and his eMLS teammate Ihab 'i9ibbs' Abualneel to the Week Three Final.
The Week Three Final saw another deadlock after the two-legs with two more outstanding performances in goal from the digital version of Johnson. Then Johnson was able to convert with teammate Heber Araujo dos Santos to grab the golden goal to send him and Holly to the eMLS Tournament Special Championship Sunday on May 17. Johnson will face the winner of the Week Four Tournament (Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps, Orlando City SC or Atlanta United). On the other side of the bracket, Week Two winners Sporting KC will face off against the Week One winner, LAFC in the opening match on May 17.
As a result of NYCFC’s victory tonight, a donation will be made by MLS WORKS and FOX Sports to Feeding America on behalf of NYCFC, with MLS WORKS also contributing to Food Banks Canada.
