After four consecutive road games, New York City FC returns to Yankee Stadium to take on the Colorado Rapids Saturday at 3 p.m.
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NYCFC, which is first place in the Eastern Conference, is coming off a 4-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls Sunday, only the Club’s second defeat in their last seven games. Tommy McNamara scored the lone goal, a screamer two minutes before halftime.
NYCFC (9-7-6) has done well bouncing back from difficult defeats this season. Only once have they lost back-to-back games and their last two losses have been followed by victories.
“The game on Saturday will be really important for us because we want to be part of the top teams and this is why it is important for us to win the game,” NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira said. “We will have to work hard because this game will be complicated and really difficult.”
NYCFC’s depth will be tested against the Rapids, with David Villa, RJ Allen and Federico Bravo each serving a one-game suspension due to yellow card accumulation and Ethan White also out after picking up a late red card against the Red Bulls.
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“Of course it’s a big blow for us, but that will give opportunity to the other players to show that they deserve to play,” Vieira said. “This is a message I’ve been sending since the beginning of the season.”
NYCFC, which is 2-1-1 in their last four games at Yankee Stadium, will attempt to snap the Rapids 15-match unbeaten streak that dates back to a 1-0 loss at Real Salt Lake on April 9.
“I don’t think they score a vast amount of goals and they’re not killing teams, but they’re secure as a group,” NYCFC midfielder Frank Lampard said. “I think they defend very well, I like the players they’ve got in behind the front men and they play good football in and around the box.”
Colorado (10-2-8), which lost its opener at San Jose, 1-0, is second in the Western Conference with 38 points, three off the pace set by FC Dallas, which has three games in hand.
Vieira said the Rapids have taken on the personality of coach Pablo Mastroeni.
“I really like their manager. I like his character, he’s really lively and he looks like a proper winner. I strongly believe his team reflects the manager,” Vieira said. “It’s a really strong team to beat when you look at the record of the number of goals conceded (14), they look really solid, a team that is well organized and the four players up front have got quality on the ball.”
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