NYCFC – 0
Philadelphia Union – 2
Match recap …
New York City FC dropped a second consecutive match away from home, falling to the Philadelphia Union, 2-0, Saturday afternoon at Talen Energy Stadium.
The hosts attacked from the outset, but Josh Saunders kept them off the board with a lunging save in the 11th minute, denying Keegan Rosenberry of a header off a corner from Tranquillo Barnetta.
One minute later, David Villa took a shot from distance that deflected onto the top netting for NYCFC’s first corner.
In the 25th minute, Villa received a low cross from Steven Mendoza and put a shot from 12 yards out off the crossbar.
One minute later, the Union grabbed the lead when Chris Pontius tapped in from the edge of the six off a ball cut back into the box by Barnetta.
C.J. Sapong doubled Philadelphia’s lead in the 41st minute when he redirected a Sebastien Le Toux shot after initially latching onto a long ball over the top.
Ronald Matarrita just missed connecting with Villa at the far post on a free kick in the 37th minute and then the NYCFC captain some how was able to swing his foot around while prone to force Union goalkeeper Andre Blake into a save just before halftime.
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How they lined up …
For a third straight game, and third on the road, Patrick Vieira went with a 4-3-3 with four changes from the team that fell to Columbus, 3-2, a week ago.
The midfield was completely changed, with Federico Bravo replacing Andrea Pirlo, who wasn’t part of Vieira’s 18, and Kwadwo Poku and Mikey Lopez starting where Tommy McNamara and Mix Diskerud did a week prior.
Up front, Khiry Shelton returned to the starting XI, replacing Tony Taylor.
Vieira brought on McNamara for Poku for his first change in the 59th minute and R.J. Allen replaced Matarrita in the 70th minute.
Eight minutes later, Mix Diskerud came on for Lopez for Vieira’s final substitution.
Key moment …
NYCFC had the better of possession in a scoreless game and had the most clear-cut scoring chance to that point when Villa received a Steven Mendoza cross from the left and rattled the crossbar from 12 yards out.
One minute later, the Union scored the first of two first-half goals.
Man of the Match …
David Villa
The NYCFC captain had the most dangerous scoring chances on the day, including a shot from 12 yards out that hammered the crossbar in the 25th minute. He also received a low cross from Shelton in the final minute of the first half and, despite laying on the ground, somehow managed to spin toward goal and put a shot on frame that Union goalkeeper Andre Blake saved. Villa led the team with 10 shots.
Stats and milestones …
Mikey Lopez made his first career NYCFC start. It was his third appearance for the Club, previously coming on as a substitute against Chicago and Toronto in back-to-back games. RJ Allen made his 2016 debut for NYCFC coming on in the 70th minute.
What it means …
NYCFC returns home to continue a busy stretch of three games in eight days against Didier Drogba and the Montreal Impact Wednesday at 7 p.m. before hosting the Vancouver Whitecaps next Saturday at 4 p.m.
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