(photo courtesy of NYC FC)

Dempsey steals Villa’s moment but it’s Oba’s show

by Anna Ferkingstad, New York editor

Despite the return of David Villa, Sunday’s matchup between the Seattle Sounders and NYC FC left New York with a 3-1 loss. The Sounders traveled to Yankee Stadium following two consecutive wins against the Colorado Rapids and Cascadia rival, the Portland Timbers. Coach Jason Kreis and New York, are now 1-5-3 in the nine matches they have played.

The opening minutes of Sunday evening’s game saw several attempts on net by New York. In the second minute, a shot by Khiry Shelton drifted wide after a combination with captain Mix Diskerud. NYC FC distinguished themselves from Seattle in those initial moments with quick recoveries in the midfield. The work rate and quick thinking by Ned Grabavoy and Diskerud made up for the passing mistakes from New York in the center of the field.

(photo courtesy of NYC FC)

As a play in the 15th minute demonstrated, as time progressed the Sounders began to look more comfortable with the surface of Yankee Field. New York has only scored one of their six goals this season in the first half and it’s not hard to understand why when they were left scrambling to catch up with Seattle’s Clint Dempsey before he was called offsides in the 15th minute after a dangerous ball floated over NYC’s high defensive line. The Sounder’s most successful moments of the first 45 minutes, came from similar exploitations of the disjointed New York backline.

Seattle took the 1-0 lead in the 25th minute with a slicing through ball from Marco Pappa to the feet of Obafemi Martins, who had slipped behind NYC FC’s central defenders Kwame Watson-Siriboe and Chris Wingert. A clear example of ball watching, New York’s slow reaction allowed Martins to slide the shot past Saunders and into the back of the net.

Following the 1-0 deficit, New York lost the high attacking energy they exuded in the moments after the opening whistle. They continued to test Sounders’ goalkeeper Stefan Frei and backline but were unable to capitalize on their opportunities. By the end of the first half, NYC FC outshot Seattle 11 to four, but only of four of their 11 shots were on target. Seattle, ended the initial 45 minutes with three of their four shots on target.

When the two teams entered the locker room at halftime, it was apparent why many have been saying that the Sounders are among the strongest and most talented teams in the league. Seattle saw strong performances from several players, all while New York appeared to be screaming for the finishing ability of David Villa. NYC FC’s forwards Patrick Mullins and Shelton are creative and fast but they do not play with the same composure and control as the Sounders dynamic duo of Clint Dempsey and Martins.

NYC FC’s brightest moments came not from their offensive players but instead their midfield line. Coach Jason Kreis started New York in a 4-2-3-1 against Seattle’s 4-4-2 and in several instances, Mehdi Ballouchy, Ned Grabavoy and Diskerud were able to capitalize on the extra numbers in the center of the field. The overlapping and interchanging runs paid off in the 56th minute when Ballouchy brought the scoreline to an even 1-1 with a shot from distance. Following his celebration, Ballouchy than left the field to make way for substitute David Villa.

(photo courtesy of NYC FC)

Fans at Yankee Stadium erupted in excitement with the combined arrival of the game-tying goal and the substitute of the Spanish striker, but the moment was short-lived. Dempsey scored just seconds later for the Sounders off a deflection and a cross from Pappa. The 2-1 lead marked the eighth straight game that Dempsey has had a goal or an assist but Seattle did not stop their. The scoreline reached 3-1 in the 67th minute, when a shot from Martins secured the comfortable victory for the Sounders.

In the final moments of the game, NYCFC found opportunities in their offensive third but often left themselves exposed defensively, as a result. Substitute Kwadwo Poku brought fresh legs to New York but the team ended the 90 minutes lethargically. Defender Watson-Siriboe grabbed a red card in the 89th minute from a second yellow. Forcing New York to finish the game with only 10 men for the second match in a row.

As fans exited Yankee stadium late Sunday evening, the 3-1 scoreline marked yet another loss for Kreis and NYC FC. What should New York take from the 3-1 scoreline? For one, they need to learn how to play without Villa. At the same time, they also need to earn how to play with Villa. Villa brings confidence to the team the moment he steps on the field but it can appear as if he is working on the attack without any support. He is the bright and shining player among New York’s dull string of play.

Sure, NYC FC has not won since their home opener (8 matches ago) but do we not remember the inaugural season of the Vancouver Whitecaps? Vancouver played to a 14 game winless streak after joining the league in 2011, leaving Seattle to be one of the few expansion teams to this day to have a decently strong first season.

A lot rides on NYC FC this week as they prepare to the New York Red Bulls in next weekend’s long awaited New York derby. Jesse Marsch and the Red Bulls received their first loss of this season this weekend against the New England Revolution, but NYC FC have a long way to go if they are to threaten this year’s talented Red Bull side.