New York City FC Advance to MLS Playoffs
NYCFC have clinched the second spot in the MLS Playoffs following a 4-1 victory over Columbus Crew on Sunday afternoon. David Villa tallied one goal on the night as the Spanish international finished second in goals during the MLS regular season.
MLS Soccer News: A second half surge by New York City FC lifted the club past Columbus Crew SC as they clinch the second place spot in the Eastern Conference with MLS Playoffs scheduled for this weekend. NYCFC will have a bye into the two-legged Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Jack Harrison and Khiry Shelton scored two minutes apart late in the second half to lift New York City FC to a 4-1 win over Columbus Crew SC at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.
“I think being champions of the Eastern Conference would have been nice, but that’s behind us now and we just have to focus on the playoffs,” said Harrison.
Steven Mendoza scored his fifth goal of the 2016 campaign just before halftime, putting a left-footed volley in from eight yards out. A sublime diagonal ball from RJ Allen to David Villa started the sequence as the Spanish forward snuck a pass through traffic to Mendoza.
Villa nearly made it 2-0 in the 49th minute, but his chip struck the far post and came back across the goal line to ricochet off the near post before the ball was cleared.
Columbus equalized just before the hour mark when Ola Kamara headed in a cross sent in from Justin Meram.
Harrison broke the one-all tie in the 75th minute when he struck a left-footed shot into the net for his fourth goal of the regular season.
Two minutes later, Harrison pushed the ball ahead to Shelton, who slipped a low shot inside the far post from the edge of the 18-yard box for his fourth goal of the campaign.
Villa put the finishing touches on the celebration in second-half stoppage time with a sensational side volley from just outside the 18-yard box for his 23rd goal of the year.
“I wasn’t thinking about it. All I was focused on was working hard in training and obtaining a win in todays game. Winning that award would have been great for the club, but I wasn’t looking for it. After the game,” said Villa. “I saw that Bradley Wright-Phillips won the award and I just wanted to publicly congratulate him on winning that award.”
Photo Credit: New York City FC
