NYCFC Goals: Villa 22' & 74', Matarrita 49', Moralez 56'
Colorado Goals:
Quick Look...
New York City FC romped to an emphatic 4-0 victory over Colorado on David Villa Day.
On the captain’s special day, as proclaimed by the Mayor’s Office to mark his 400th goal for club and country, Villa marked it in typical style with his 403rd and 404th career strikes.
In between, Ronald Matarrita celebrated his World Cup call-up in style with his first goal of the season and Maxi Moralez hit a brilliant fifth goal of the season to seal the 4-0 win.
Match Recap...
NYCFC rarely go three games without victory but that’s a streak they were aiming to avoid back home at Yankee Stadium following two tough games on the road.
The Colorado Rapids provided the opposition in a game which was preceded by a special ceremony for El Guaje to mark the milestone strike he netted last time he was in the building three weeks prior.
Head Coach Patrick Vieira made three changes to the side which started the 2-2 tie at LAFC, bringing Ronald Matarrita, Ebenezer Ofori and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi into a 3-4-3 formation.
City roared out from the first whistle and were only denied an early go-ahead goal by Tim Howard who made a fine sprawling save to deny the in-form Ismael Tajouri-Shradi who had cut inside from the right flank.
Chances continued to pour in on Howard’s goal but there was nothing the long-time USMNT goalkeeper could do about Villa’s opener on 22’, a cool sidefooted finish from a Maxi Moralez slide rule pass.
That was the way it stayed until the break on a first half which NYCFC enjoyed near-total domination but the team really put their foot to the accelerator pedal in the second 45’, doubling the lead just five minutes into the second half.
Jo Inge Berget created the chance with a sublime touch and shot which came back off Howard and was followed up on by Matarrita who looped his header over the goalkeeper.
Five minutes later, Moralez slammed in his fifth goal of the year from the edge of the area to make it 3-0, before Villa rounded off the scoring with his second of the day: a finish just as cool as his first.
That kept City perfect through five games at home this season and marked David Villa Day in memorable style.
The 21,000 fans who braved the rain in the Bronx will certainly never forget that they were here to see it.
Key Moment
NYCFC were considered favorites for the match but the first goal really gave the team confidence after a tricky few weeks. Vieira wanted his team to improve their combination play and the opener on 22' really set the Boys in Blue on their way towards a dominant win over the Rapids.
NYCFC.com Star of the Game
David Villa
Who else but the captain on his special day? The switch to the 3-4-3 formation allowed Villa to be even more influential as he lined up in tandem with Jo Inge Berget. The result was spectacular as El Guaje helped himself to goals 403 and 404 in his incredible career.
Social Post of the Match…
Stats and Milestones
- David Villa scored his sixth and seventh goals of the 2018 season
- They were the 403rd and 404th goals of his career
- Ronald Matarrita scored his first goal of the season
- Maxi Moralez netted his fifth of the campaign
- NYCFC are now 5-0-0 at Yankee Stadium in 2018
How they lined up…
NYCFC XI: Johnson; Matarrita, Callens, Ibeagha, Herrera (McNamara 78') Ofori, Ring, Moralez; Berget (Wallace 70'), Villa, Tajouri-Shradi (Medina 63')
SUBS: Stuver, Hontondji, Sweat, Tinnerholm
What’s Next…
New York City FC travels to Houston to the Dynamo at the BBVA Compass Stadium on Friday night. We're back in the Bronx on June 2 when Orlando City provide the opposition for Pride Day.
