There's the Summer of '69 and the Summer of George, but what about the Summer of El Guaje?
New York City FC forward David Villa has heated up in the summer months and so has the Club. El Guaje has six goals in the last four matches and eight in the last seven, while New York City FC has won four of their last seven matches with just one defeat (4-1-2).
Since June 1, Villa has scored an MLS-leading seven goals and vaulted into third place in the race for the Golden Boot, trailing Columbus Crew's Kei Kamara (13) and Toronto FC's Sebastian Giovinco (11).
"He’s a world-class player, no question about that, but when you come to a new team in a new league, there’s going to be an adjustment period," fellow forward Patrick Mullins said. "He showed a lot of success early in the year. He’s starting to figure it out and he’s starting to find his niche in our team and how to be successful in this league. He’s on a tear."
PLAYER |
CLUB |
GOALS |
|---|---|---|
David Villa |
New York City FC |
7 |
Sebastian Giovinco |
Toronto FC |
6 |
Sebastian Lletget |
Los Angeles Galaxy |
4 |
Robbie Keane |
Los Angeles Galaxy |
4 |
C.J. Sapong |
Philadelphia Union |
4 |
Fanendo Adi |
Portland Timbers |
4 |
Sebastian Jaime |
Real Salt Lake |
4 |
Reeling Revolution
There was a point in the early season where New England couldn't stop winning. From Weeks 4-9, the Revolution won five of their six matches (drawing the other).
Now, New England is struggling coming into tonight's match. The Revs are winless in their last five league matches -- all losses -- while being outscored 13-4. The club hasn't won since defeating Chicago 2-0 on June 13. New England has just one victory in the last 12 matches, going 1-7-4 during that span.
DATE |
OPPONENT |
RESULT |
|---|---|---|
July 11 |
at Red Bulls |
4-1 L |
July 4 |
at FC Dallas |
3-0 L |
June 27 |
vs. Vancouver |
2-1 L |
June 24 |
at Columbus |
2-1 L |
June 21 |
at D.C. United |
2-1 L |
Road Warriors
New York City FC have won their last three away matches. The Club is outscoring opponents 6-2 during that stretch -- a vast improvement from the first six road games in New York City FC history.
The Club started 0-4-2 on the road, while being outscored 8-3.
"It’s about belief, a little bit of organization and the guys banding together," head coach Jason Kreis said of the recent road successes. "We’re starting to establish some character within the group and it’s about time for it."
DATE |
OPPONENT |
RESULT |
|---|---|---|
July 4 |
at Montreal |
<a href="//www.nycfc.com/post/2015/07/04/new-york-city-fc-montreal-impact-match-recap">2-1 W</a> |
June 20 |
at Toronto FC |
<a href="//www.nycfc.com/post/2015/06/20/new-york-city-fc-toronto-fc-match-recap">2-0 W</a> |
June 6 |
at Philadelphia |
<a href="//www.nycfc.com/post/2015/06/06/new-york-city-fc-philadelphia-union-recap">2-1 W</a> |
Absentees
New York City FC are without starting midfielder Mix Diskerud, who is currently representing the United States National Team in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The United States won Group A with seven points (2-0-1) and advanced to the tournament's quarterfinals against Cuba today at 5 p.m. ET in Baltimore.
New England will be without the services of defender Jose Goncalves, who is suspended following a pair of yellow cards and a subsequent ejection in last week's 4-1 loss at the Red Bulls.
Key Numbers
- New York City FC have four wins in their last seven matches, while suffering just one defeat (4-1-2).
- New York City FC forward David Villa is one of three players in MLS with double-digit goals (10), joining Columbus' Kei Kamara (13) and Toronto FC's Sebastian Giovinco (11).
- New England is currently in the midst of a five-match losing streak -- the longest losing streak in the league this season.
- New York City FC is 3-4-2 on the road this season, while New England is 4-1-5 at home in 2015.
- New England has allowed a league-high 33 goals this season.
- Of players with a minimum of five goals scored this season, David Villa's ratio of a goal every 131.9 minutes is a league best.
- The Revolution average 2.1 points per match when midfielder Jermaine Jones starts (16 matches) and just 1.2 in matches he doesn't. Jones is out tonight.
- Minutes 61-75 may be crucial. New England has allowed seven goals in matches during that time span, while New York City FC has conceded just twice this season in those 15 minutes.
