It is very hard to win when all of the parts are not on the same page. New York City Football Club have found this out the hard way over the past year and a half. On Sunday in front 14,000 spectators at RFK Stadium it appears that they have finally figured this out. Buoyed by goals by David Villa and Khiry Shelton NYCFC knocked off D.C. United by the score of 2-0.
With both sides coming off of positive results from the previous week there was a bit of inventiveness in their attacks. NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira starting eleven was focused their efforts on United’s right flank often bringing up left-back Ronald Matarrita into the attack. That in turn allowed D.C. to focus on their bread and butter: Luciano Acosta and Alvaro Saborio.
NYCFC provided the first goal-scoring in the eighth minute off of a corner kick taken by Jason Hernandez. Hernandez’s attempt entered into the United box but was just a bit too high for for fellow defender Federic Brilliant.
D.C. had their first goal-scoring opportunity in the 13th minute when forward Luciano Acosta would deftly hit a short pass down the left flank to midfielder Patrick Nyarko. Nyarko appeared to have a good opportunity on goal but was halted in his by efforts NYCFC defender R.J. Allen who made the goal saving tackle.
Nyarko would be at the center of another goal-scoring opportunity just a minute later when midfielder Nick De Leon would deliver a searing cross into the box. Although Nyarko at this opportunity was all alone he was unable to connect with the chance.
In general, United’s passing would be the story of the first half with the De Leon-Acosta-Neagle and Saborio combination working together to help change the field of play. In particular De Leon and Saborio seemed to be confident in their ability to drop balls into open space for Acosta and Neagle.
The combination passing nearly paid off for D.C. in the 31st minute when Acosta broke past Matarrita and hit Neagle down the right side. Neagle’s cross found Saborio at the top of the NYCFC eighteen but the Costa Rican international lifted his shot over the bar.
NYCFC would have their own opportunities late in the first half. In the 32nd minute Villa connected off of a pass from Shelton and hit a dangerous shot on target. United goalkeeper Travis Worra was able to punch away the chance to temporarily halt the NYCFC attack. A quality clear by Steve Birnbaum would end the opportunity. Both Birnbaum and fellow center back Bobby Boswell did an excellent job at containing the Spanish striker and narrowing his goal-scoring opportunities.
In the second half, NYCFC would strike early and often. finding a hole in United’s center midfield NYCFC would use their free space to build attacks from both the left and right flank. Midfielder Andrea Pirlo would help jump start the attack in the 49th minute with a pass out to a surging Shelton. Shelton’s cross would find a diving Thomas McNamara who would leave Villa a shot on a platter. The goal was Villa’s seventh of the season.
Shelton himself would join in on the goal-scoring fun just three minutes later with a diving header off of a cross by Matarrita. The goal was Shelton’s third of the season. “[Ronald Matarrita] got a foot on the ball and whipped in a nice ball and I was able to get onto it and it hit my head and it hit my shoulder, so…first shoulder goal,” said Shelton after the match.
“I knew we would be better as a team because of the way the players work in training, the way they are focusing on what they have to do every single day, it was just a question of time,” said NYCFC head coach Patrick Vieira. “We’ve played a few games but I think after a few months of working together, players start to understand their own responsibility and I was really pleased with the way they played tonight.”
With the win NYCFC improve their record to 3-3-4 and will travel to Portland next Sunday to take on the defending MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers. D.C. United meanwhile will have only a short period of time to resolve their issues as the club will host derbymates New York Red Bulls on Friday.
MATCH SUMMARY
D.C. United- Travis Worra, Sean Franklin, Steve Birnbaum, Bobby Boswell, Taylor Kemp, Patrick Nyarko (Jared Jeffrey 27′), Nick De Leon, Marcelo Sarvas, Lamar Neagle (Miguel Aguilar 85′), Luciano Acosta (Julian Buscher 82′), and Alvaro Saborio.
Yellow Cards- Acosta (3′), Jeffrey (47′) and Buscher (90+4′)
NYCFC- Josh Saunders, R.J. Allen (Ethan White 90+1′), Frederic Brilliant, Federico Bravo, Jason Hernandez, Ronald Matarrita, Khiry Shelton (Andoni Iraola 77′), Mikey Lopez, Andrea Pirlo, Thomas McNamara (Steven Mendoza 72′), and David Villa.
Goals- Villa (49′) and Shelton (53′)
Yellow Cards- Brilliant (59′), Saunders (77′), and Bravo (79′)
ATTENDANCE: 14,504
DC United
