New York City FC’s winning streak ended at four games following a 3-1 defeat at steamy Sporting Kansas City, but Frank Lampard remained consistent.
The veteran midfielder scored the Club’s lone goal, a 14th-minute equalizer off passes from Ronald Matarrita and Andrea Pirlo. It was Lampard’s fourth goal in the last five games since returning to the lineup following a calf injury.
Lampard has had a poachers touch in the box, scoring all four of his goals from inside 12 yards. But unlike the first three, there was no celebrating his fourth goal Sunday night.
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“I’ve been injured a long time and I’ve been able to start games and the team’s been playing well and creating chances,” Lampard said. “There’s been chances I’ve been fortunate enough to score some. You’re happy when you win, but even when you score if you don’t win, as a group and personally, I’m not very happy today.”
Lampard was disappointed in the loss to Sporting Kansas City, which was the Club’s third game in eight days, but it didn’t take away from what NYCFC did in wins over the New York Red Bulls and New England Revolution.
“We have to remember what made us win four games recently back-to-back, take out the negatives of today, look back at the game a little bit and realize if we drop our standards we’re going to lose games because that’s the nature of MLS,” Lampard said. “You get punished.”
Lampard and NYCFC leave Kansas City disappointed after the loss, but remain in first place in the Eastern Conference and have a week to rest, recover and prepare for a critical game against the Montreal Impact next Sunday at Stade Saputo.
“It’s about picking ourselves up, getting back to New York and working hard and looking forward to the game on the weekend,” Lampard said.
