NYCFC – 3
Montreal Impact – 1
Match recap …
Goals by David Villa, Jack Harrison and Frank Lampard helped lift New York City FC to a 3-1 win over the Montreal Impact Sunday afternoon at Stade Saputo.
NYCFC (9-6-6) remain in first place in the Eastern Conference, four points ahead of the Philadelphia Union, while Montreal (6-5-8) lost at home for just the second time this season.
Villa scored his league-leading 13th goal of the season on the first of two Tommy McNamara assists to give NYCFC a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute. McNamara played the NYCFC captain through and Villa did well to shield a Montreal defender to make a run inside the box before finishing from eight yards out.
McNamara then set up Harrison for a wonder goal in first-half stoppage time. McNamara switched the play to Harrison, who turned Montreal defender Ambroise Oyongo on a run inside the box before blasting the ball inside the far post for his third goal of the season.
Montreal pulled a goal back on a shot from distance by Harry Shipp in the 55th minute, but Lampard put the game away with a deflected goal five minutes from full time after receiving a pass from Villa.
PHOTOS: New York City FC at Montreal Impact
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How they lined up …
Patrick Vieira made a few changes to his preferred 4-3-3 following a 4-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City last weekend. With Ronald Matarrita injured, RJ Allen started on the left side of the four-man backline and Ethan White started on the right. Tommy McNamara returned to the starting XI on the left side of the three-man front line.
Mikey Lopez replaced an injured Andoni Iraola in the 63rd minute for Vieira’s first change, Federico Bravo came on for McNamara in the 76th minute as NYCFC went for more cover in the midfield and Patrick Mullins came on for Jack Harrison two minutes from full time.
Man of the Match …
David Villa
The NYCFC captain continued his fine form, scoring his MLS-leading 13th goal of the season in the 35th minute to open NYCFC’s account. It was a hard-working goal for Villa, who had to shield a Montreal defender to run onto a Tommy McNamara through ball on his run into the box before finishing clinically from eight yards out. Villa also assisted Frank Lampard's deflected goal in the 85th minute.
Key moment …
Jack Harrison scored one of the nicest goals of the season in first-half stoppage time with a clever run at Montreal defender Ambroise Oyongo into the box to create space before unleashing a perfect blast
Quote of the Match …
Photo of the Match …
Photo of the Match: @Harrison_Jack11 celebrates with his teammates after scoring right before the half pic.twitter.com/a4Oin7jWcg
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) July 17, 2016
Stats and milestones …
- David Villa scored his league-leading 13th goal of the season
- Tommy McNamara picked up two assists, his seventh and eighth of the season
- Frank Lampard scored his fifth goal in the last six games
What it means …
NYCFC remained in first place in the Eastern Conference with a league-leading sixth road victory of the season. The Club will look for a seventh win away from home next Sunday when they face the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena.
Tweet of the Match …
