“The atmosphere out on the field was amazing,” Okoli said following the game. “About 40,000 people out there, so that’s always fun to play in front of.”

Okoli had entered the game around the hour-mark with the main goal of continuing the preseason work of building fitness, but when the scoring opportunity arrived, he took it cleanly.

“I just wanted to try and come in and make an impact,” Okoli said. “Kwame [Awuah] made a burst and run through midfield and I just peeled away off the defenders. He played me in, I took a touch, another one to prepare myself and I love that outside of the penalty area shot, so I just went for it and luckily it went in.”

Okoli and NYCFC’s preseason schedule continues next Wednesday when the side squares off with the New York Red Bulls at PDL club FC Tucson’s Kino Sports Complex in Arizona.