NYCFC defeat FC Dallas, Villa scores 400
FC Dallas arrived in the five boroughs defending Major League Soccer’s last remaining undefeated record after NYCFC lost the only other record of its kind in Portland last time out.
For Patrick Vieira’s men, this was a chance to get back to winning ways at Yankee Stadium where only one visiting team had triumphed in the last 12 months of Regular Season play.
The Boys in Blue were determined to put things right after a soul-sapping evening in Oregon and they got off to the best-possible start on that front, taking the lead with just two minutes on the clock.
Villa led the charge, winning the ball back on the touchline and combining to reach the goalline where he delivered the cross for Jo Inge Berget.
The Norwegian’s shot came back off the post but there was Medina to score his first-ever goal in the Bronx from close range.
However, that lead would only last for seven minutes as FC Dallas found the immediate response. Santiago Mosquera found himself unmarked through on goal and beat Johnson with a clinical finish.
After that frantic start, things cooled down a little in the next 20 minutes as both teams settled into their rhythms and tried to avoid any cheap further concessions.
That was until the 36th minute when the referee pointed to the penalty spot after a VAR review gave the Boys in Blue a penalty kick.
Anton Tinnerholm’s cross struck the arm of an FC Dallas defender which gave El Guaje the opportunity to join the pantheon of elite strikers in world football history by scoring his 400th goal.
It was a chance El Capi wasn’t about to pass up as he sent Jimmy Maurer the wrong way and brought up the fourth century of goals – a feat only Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Luis Suarez have matched of forwards currently in play.
Villa would only stay on 400 for a matter of minutes as, with 20’ still to play, he pickpocketed the last defender and coolly slid the ball under the ‘keeper to secure the three points and send the Bronx faithful home happy.
David Villa scored the 400th and 401st goals of his career
Of current players, only Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Luis Suarez have reached 400 goals
Villa has now scored four goals in 2018
NYCFC’s record for 2018 is now P9 W6 L1 D2
This was the first time NYCFC have ever beaten FC Dallas
FC Dallas suffered their first defeat of 2018
Jesus Medina scored his second goal of the season and first at Yankee Stadium
NYCFC have only been defeated once at Yankee Stadium in 12 months of Regular Season play
City returned to the top of the Eastern Conference
NYCFC HEAD COACH PATRICK VIEIRA
On how special it was for the club to have David Villa reach 400 goals:
“I think it’s a fantastic achievement. On the personal side, I think that he’s just a fantastic player. You guys are just seeing what he’s doing on the field here, but I have a chance to work with him every day and I’m always amazed by his attitude and his desire to compete every single day and train. His goals reflect who he is as a person and he’s like that every day in training. When you see him work every day, you’re not surprised that he’s scored over 400 goals. I think we’re lucky to have a player like that in our football club, not just for what he’s done on the field but to use as an example. I think it would be really difficult to find someone better who can show to the young players how to conduct yourself to play more than 15 years at the higher level and to compete at his age, so he’s a really good tool for me to use regarding how to conduct yourself as a professional.”
On whether there are specific things Villa does that he’s pointed out to the younger players:
“I think it’s just about the talent all the players have, but it’s about understanding how you conduct yourself as a professional. David would be early in the training round. He will do his exercise before going to the field. He will finish training. He will do what he needs to do before going home. He’s eating well. He’s doing what he needs to prepare himself. I think if the majority of the players understand that, I will be very happy.”
On whether David could play in the World Cup for Spain:
“That is not my decision. That is the manager, but my first concern is to keep him fit and healthy, like all the players of course, to compete every weekend. Then after, if he goes to the World Cup, I will be very happy for him and the football club will be really proud.”
NYCFC FORWARD DAVID VILLA
In addition to the win, how special is your 400th career goal to you?
“Perfect moment, first of all it was great for the team to comeback after a big mistake we made in Portland. It’s important for the mentality of the team to comeback as quickly as possible. We felt that on Thursday, when we came back to the training facility, we made a big mistake that we need to forget quickly. I think it was the first time we beat Dallas, tough game against a great team. First of all I’m happy to get the 3 points, then to arrive at 400 and 401 it is a great day for me. Now for me, it is time to rest and think of how I can score number 402 for the team.”
On his favorite goal throughout his career…
“The big one has to be in the Champions League against Manchester United with Barcelona in the Final. This was the best, but I hope the best is coming. Why not give the silverware to NYCFC this year?
On his age and how goal number 401 proves he is still hungry…
“I don’t know how to play any other way, I always play that way. Obviously, when you get older it gets more difficult fighting in the same way. I know what has made me successful throughout my career, give everything and training every day. And with the passing time, I need to take care of my body more. I don’t care if I’m 36, 37 or 20, I need to work in the same way that has made me successful.”
On the team’s energy and aggression coming out of the locker room…
“Yes, of course. We knew after the game in Portland, that we made that mistake. And you know always in soccer when you make a mistake you want to arrive to the next game with a different face, and I felt and we felt all week that we made that mistake in Portland and we wanted the next game to arrive as quickly as possible. We felt this in the training facility all week and this is nice for the team because in soccer you can’t win every game, it’s almost impossible. Sometimes we need to lose and after we lose the most important thing is to come back and win the next game and we did it so we are happy.”
On the keys to a successful career…
“It’s difficult for me talking about individually because I have a lot of great teammates and a lot of great coaches and the staff. They help me everyday, I cant score alone so this game is for the team. I am successful because I give everything everyday on the field, I have the luck that you need to have, and obviously I have very good teammates.”
NYCFC MIDFIELDER ALEXANDER RING
On having a yellow card coming into the match and if it affected how he played…
“I always play 100 percent but of course in the back of my mind if we [NYCFC] lead 3-1, I know to be a bit more careful.”
On if there was any fear or concern if the team was going to bounce back after last weeks lost…
“No, because it is one slip and it can happen to anyone”
FC DALLAS HEAD COACH OSCAR PAREJA
On tonight’s match…
“It was a game where they made the difference specifically on key plays that imbalanced the score and we have to accept it. I thought we competed very well today and the form from our team was very high. We played against a good side that has effectiveness in the last third where they have chances but today we controlled the majority of them – the team that normally uses the effectiveness when they get the chances but today we neutralized that a lot. Once again, the goals came up in a very awkward way. The other part of the game also, we have to accept it and just correct the mistakes. But from our side, we had very good moments along the game and we had our chances to score.
On the scoring chances conceded to NYCFC…
“Goals are goals. We have been defending well. The first goal, that was on a ball that was very controlled and it hurt us because of the way we were preparing the game. We bounced back quick and with a lot of character. The other two goals, I don’t want to elaborate much – they are still part of the game. But in that deep analysis, it’s different.”
On Dallas’ game plan vs. NYCFC…
“In the first half, the plan was just to allow Ring, Callens and Ibeagha in this case, just to have the ball and try to penetrate in our second zone and hurt them with our speed. I thought we created some chances like that. Actually our goal came up with that specific play. But we neutralized the game. I thought we could’ve easily scored in a moment. In the second half I thought we had more protagonism with the ball and also create chances. But as I said, we played against a good team, good players and today I think we have to say in spite of the score, the game was very narrow.
FC DALLAS GOALKEEPER JIMMY MAURER
On tonight’s match…
“Tough match, tough place to play. Didn’t perform as well as we’d like to. Game didn’t go as we wanted it to obviously. Just a few key moments we didn’t get the bounce but at the end of the day, it’s about not being good enough, not bringing the quality – it’s just back to work. We got another chance next weekend in L.A.”
On giving up a goal early but seeing the team respond…
“It’s always tough but at the same time, like you said we responded well – we were calm about it and things can happen, it’s a long season. Goals are going to happen different ways, we responded very well – and that’s a positive to take from it. Again, we responded well after a tough penalty call – the review system takes a few minutes, it’s a crazy thing but we responded well again. But it was too big of a hill to climb in the end.”
On moving on to face LAFC on Saturday…
“It’s nice, we have a short week. You get to bounce back, you get the opportunity quick here, we’ll get back to Dallas, put the work in on the training field and we’ll be ready to go out to LA, and go for a result and go again.”
FC DALLAS DEFENDER KELLYN ACOSTA
Thoughts on today’s match…
“Unfortunately the game did not give us the result that we wanted. We had some chances to capitalize and we didn’t get the chance to bury them. You just have to regroup, go on to this upcoming weekend in LA and hopefully I do well in training and maybe I get some minutes in the next game so we will see.”
On recovery from injury…
“I’ve been feeling good. I’ve been inching closer and closer. Each and every day I’ve been feeling better and better. It’s been tough. I missed national team camp, missed Champions League, missed six games of the MLS league. It’s been tough but that’s just how the game goes sometimes. There are bright points and all of a sudden it gets a little bit darker. I did not enjoy this injury but mentally it has made me a little bit stronger. I’ll be stronger than ever. That is my main focus, my main goal.”
On his reaction after learning about injury…
“I tried to see if I could continue playing. Maybe something that could have waited until the offseason but I was at the point where I couldn’t do it. I knew for me to have a successful career I needed to do something right away before I had any further damage.
