NYCFC Goals: Medina 3', Villa 36' & 69'
FC Dallas Goals: Mosquera 10'
Quick Look…
David Villa scored the 400th and 401st goals of his storied career as New York City FC returned to winning ways vs. FC Dallas.
Recording their first-ever win over the Texan outfit, City were victorious by a 3-1 margin, thanks to a goal from Jesus Medina and a brace from the captain, with the goals scored on either side of half-time.
That leaves NYCFC with a P9 W6 L1 D2 record through nine games.
Match Recap…
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.
Next up, it’s Hudson River Derby Vol.1.
Bring it on…
Key Moment…
The penalty which brought up 400 for David Villa was a contentious one, as referee Ismail Elfath pointed to the spot following a VAR decision.
El Guaje wasn't about to turn down the invitation to restore City's lead and to make yet another piece of history for one of the world's greatest ever strikers.
NYCFC.com Star of the Game…
David Villa
Who else but the man who wrote his name in the history books yet again with his 400th and 401st career goals?
The second goal especially was a demonstration of Villa's predatory skills as he stayed alert, pressing to win the ball back high up the field, putting him through on goal.
No-one inside Yankee Stadium thought for a second that he would miss.
Social Post of the Match…
Stats and Milestones
- 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 went down to 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
How They Lined Up…
NYCFC XI: Johnson, Tinnerholm, Chanot, Callens, Sweat, Ring, Herrera, Moralez, Medina (Ofori 73'), Berget (Wallace 73'), Villa (C) (Abdul-Salaam 87')
SUBS: Stuver, Hountondji, McNamara, Lewis
What’s Next…
It's time for the first Hudson River Derby game of the season as the Boys in Blue take on the Red Bulls next Saturday, May 6 at 1.55pm. We're back in the Bronx on May 19 when Colorado Rapids come to town - get your tickets at NYCFC.com/Tickets.
