NYCFC – 5
Colorado Rapids – 1
Match recap …
Frank Lampard scored a hat trick to help lift New York City FC to a 5-1 win over the Colorado Rapids Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
Tony Taylor and Steven Mendoza added a goal apiece for NYCFC (10-7-6), which extended their lead atop the Eastern Conference with 36 points, five ahead of the second-place Red Bulls with their sixth win in the last eight games. Colorado (10-3-8) had their 15-match unbeaten streak snapped, dating back to a 1-0 loss at Real Salt Lake on April 9.
Lampard put NYCFC in front on 28 minutes with a sliding effort inside the six-yard box after latching onto a flicked header by Tommy McNamara after an initial cross by Diego Martinez.
It was Lampard’s sixth goal since June 18, tying him for most in the league with Ronald Alberg of the Philadelphia Union and the Columbus Crew’s Ola Kamara during that stretch, per Opta Stats.
The match was delayed 40 minutes because of severe weather and only a few minutes after it resumed, Colorado’s Michael Azira was sent off for his second bookable offense in the 37th minute.
Three minutes from halftime, Taylor doubled NYCFC’s lead on his second goal of the season. Tommy McNamara made a run into the box and sent a low cross to Taylor, who followed his blocked shot with a goal off Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard from eight yards out.
Mendoza netted his second goal of the season with a quarter hour remaining, stealing a pass intended for Eric Miller, cutting inside the substitute defender before scoring back across his body.
PHOTOS: New York City FC vs Colorado Rapids
Lampard added his second in the 81st minute with a brilliant finish from 17 yards out inside the far post and netted the hat trick, the first in NYCFC history, from the penalty spot three minutes later.
Shkelzen Gashi broke up Josh Saunders shutout bid deep in second half stoppage time with a deflected free kick.
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How they lined up …
There were three changes to the starting XI from the team that lost to the Red Bulls last Sunday. With fullbacks RJ Allen (yellow card accumulation) and Ethan White (red card) suspended, Diego Martinez started on the left and Jason Hernandez on the right of the four-man backline.
Tony Taylor started up front in place of captain David Villa, who was also serving a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation, while assistant Christian Lattanzio called the shots with Patrick Vieira also out for the match after being sent from the touchline against the Red Bulls.
Maxime Chanot was the first change for NYCFC, making his MLS debut to start the second half in place of Jefferson Mena. Mikey Lopez came on for Andrea Pirlo in the 66th minute for NYCFC’s second change and Steven Mendoza replaced Tony Taylor for the final substitution one minute later.
Man of the Match …
Frank Lampard
Donning the captain’s armband in place of the suspended David Villa, Lampard made history at Yankee Stadium, scoring the first hat trick in club history. His first was the pivotal first goal of the game in the 28th minute, a sliding effort inside the six-yard box on a flicked on ball by Tommy McNamara.
Lampard added two more goals in a three-minute span late in the match, first finishing clinically from 16 yards out and then adding his third from the penalty spot, sending Tim Howard the wrong way.
Key moment …
Facing Major League Soccer’s most stout defense, the game’s first goal was always going to be critical. Lampard delivered with his sixth goal of the year, sliding to latch onto a Tommy McNamara flicked header off a Diego Martinez cross.
Photo of the Match ...
Quote of the Match ...
Quote of the Match: Assistant Coach Christian Lattanzio praises today's captain, Frank Lampard pic.twitter.com/o8O9ReCA5z
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) July 30, 2016
Stats and milestones …
- It is the largest margin of victory ever for NYCFC.
- Frank Lampard scored the first hat trick in NYCFC history.
- Frank Lampard was only the third player to score from the penalty spot for NYCFC, joining David Villa and Patrick Mullins.
- Tony Taylor and Steven Mendoza each scored their second goal of the season.
- Maxime Chanot made his NYCFC debut to start the second half.
- Assistant Coach Christian Lattanzio assumed the head coaching responsibilities with Patrick Vieira suspended.
What it means …
NYCFC, which is now 3-1-1 in their last five games at Yankee Stadium, remains atop the Eastern Conference.
NYCFC will head to San Jose to take on the Earthquakes Friday, August 5 at 11 p.m, for the first of back-to-back road games. They return to Yankee Stadium to take on the LA Galaxy August 20 at 3:30 p.m.
Tweet of the Match …
