David Villa and Frank Lampard help New York City clinch last-gasp win
MLS soccer heats up with Villa and Lampard staring on the field. More than 21,000 fans watched the excitement as New York City FC won their third match, tying their longest streak of the season. Captain David Villa scored a goal in each of the last two games, he now has a team-leading 18 goals this season.
Soccer News: David Villa coolly converted a 95th-minute penalty, earned by Frank Lampard, to secure New York City a 2-1 MLS victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.
Pedro Morales looked to have salvaged a point for the Western Conference-leading Whitecaps when he slotted home – also from a spot-kick, in the 88th minute – to cancel out Lampard’s slick 29th-minute opener.
But there was more drama to come as Matias Laba was adjudged to have fouled Lampard deep in stoppage time and Villa stepped up to send David Ousted the wrong way.
And Lampard was not the only former Chelsea man having a big influence on Saturday.
Didier Drogba netted twice in the first 11 minutes – a fine direct free-kick and a neat dink over the goalkeeper after capitalising on Markus Halsti’s poor back-pass – as the Montreal Impact overcame DC United 2-0 at Stade Saputo.
The win kept the Impact sixth in the Eastern Conference, four points ahead of Orlando City.
Jozy Altidore notched the winner 11 minutes from time as Toronto FC rallied for a 3-2 home victory over Chicago Fire.
Gilberto, on his return to his former club, had twice put the visitors ahead at BMO Field. The Brazilian striker opened the scoring in the first minute and restored the Fire’s lead seven minutes into the second half after Jonathan Osorio got the faintest of touches on Sebastian Giovinco‘s pass for a 29th-minute equaliser.
But Michael Bradley got Toronto back level with a deflected shot just before the hour mark – Giovinco again providing the assist – and Altidore completed the turnaround with a close-range finish in the 79th minute.
Brad Davis’ goal 69 seconds after the restart settled an entertaining encounter 3-2 in the Houston Dynamo‘s favour against the Colorado Rapids.
The Dynamo had taken the lead twice in the first half, through Leonel Miranda and Giles Barnes, only to be pegged back on each occasion by Vicente Sanchez. But Davis had what proved to be the final word in the opening moments of the second half when he pounced on a loose ball to lash home.
Fernando Aristeguieta‘s second-half strike earned the Philadelphia Union – much changed with one eye on Wednesday’s US Open Cup final – a 1-1 draw against New England. The Revs had taken a 36th-minute lead at Gillette Stadium through Lee Nguyen‘s penalty.
Two goals from Fanendo Adi secured the Portland Timbers a 2-1 win against Columbus. Kei Kamara was on target between Adi’s strikes, but his 43rd-minute headed leveller proved in vain.
Lineups:
New York City FC:.Josh Saunders, Jason Hernandez, Angelino, Shay Facey, RJ Allen, Andrew Jacobson, Frank Lampard, Ned Grabavoy (Khiry Shelton, 75’), Andrea Pirlo, Mix Diskerud (Kwadwo Poku, 90’), David Villa
Unused substitutes: Ryan Meara, Jefferson Mena, Andoni Iraola, Mehdi Ballouchy, Patrick Mullins
TOTAL SHOTS: 15; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; FOULS: 12; OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 5.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC: David Ousted, Jordan Harvey, Kendall Watson, Jordan Smith, Tim Parker, Mauro Rosales (Robert Earnshaw, 80’), Cristian Techera, Matais Laba, Kekuta Manneh, Gershon Koffie (Pedro Morales, 67’), Darren Mattocks (Octavio Rivero, 69’
Unused substitutes: Pablo Tornaghi, Sam Adekugbe, Russell Teibert, Pa-Modou Kah
TOTAL SHOTS: 18; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 18; OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 6.
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Referee’s Assistants: Michael Kampmeinert and Marco Arruda
4th Official: Baboucar Jallow
Scoring Summary:
29’ Frank Lampard, NYC (Assisted: Angelino and Andrea Pirlo)
88’ Pedro Morales, VAN (PK)
90’+5’ David Villa, NYC (PK)
Misconduct Summary:
12’ Shay Facey, NYC (Yellow Card: Unsporting Behavior)
82’ Pedro Morales, VAN (Yellow Card: Unsporting Behavior)
83’ Cristian Techera, VAN (Yellow Card: Unsporting Behavior)
The victory keeps New York City FC’s (10-14-7; 37 points) postseason hopes alive. Vancouver (15-12-3; 48 points) remain on top of the Western Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings for now, but Saturday’s defeat means they won’t clinch an Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs berth this week and ensures a tense positioning battle in the season run-in.
Images of MLS -New York City FC at Vancouver Whitecaps FC courtesy of USA Today Sports
