NYCFC – 2
Real Salt Lake – 3
Match recap …
Jack Harrison scored his first MLS goal and David Villa struck for his league-leading 10th goal, but New York City FC fell to Real Salt Lake, 3-2, Thursday night at Yankee Stadium.
Harrison, the first overall pick of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, attacked space and his left-footed attempt from 20 yards deflected off Real Salt Lake defender Justen Glad and past flat-footed goalkeeper Nick Rimando to give NYCFC (4-5-6) a 1-0 lead in the 56th minute.
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The visitors equalized three minutes later when Yura Movsisyan ran onto a ball from Sunny, cut inside of Jason Hernandez and scored from 14 yards out.
Juan Manuel Martinez put Real Salt Lake (7-4-2) in front in the 67th minute when he latched onto an attempted headed clearance by Andoni Iraola of a Javier Morales free kick and put his shot in off RJ Allen.
Moments after Mix Diskerud put a diving header just over the crossbar from the edge of the six-yard box, RSL doubled their advantage courtesy of an own goal in the 74th minute.
Photos: New York City FC vs. Real Salt Lake
Villa pulled NYCFC within a goal from the penalty spot in the 87th minute after it was ruled Kwadwo Poku was taken down from behind by Morales. It was his league-leading 10th goal of the season and 10th penalty kick converted in 12 attempts.
Villa nearly equalized four minutes into second-half stoppage time, but he put his attempt from the right of the net just wide.
Photo of the Match...
How they lined up …
Patrick Vieira made two changes from the side that tied Orlando City SC 2-2 on Sunday. Steven Mendoza started on the left wing, replacing Tommy McNamara, and Jack Harrison earned his first career MLS start in favor of Khiry Shelton on the right wing.
Shelton came on as Vieira’s first substitute in the 63rd minute, replacing Mendoza and Frank Lampard and Kwadwo Poku came on as a double substitution just before the quarter hour mark, coming on for Harrison and Diskerud.
Key moment …
Jack Harrison made the most of his first career Major League Soccer start, and just his second appearance, when he scored his first professional goal to put NYCFC in front on 56 minutes.
The winger received the ball from David Villa and attacked the space well before putting his deflected left-footed shot past RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
Man of the Match …
Jack Harrison
Harrison made the most of his first MLS start, scoring his first professional goal in the 56th minute, a deflected left-footed shot. The midfielder looked comfortable and dangerous from the opening kick. Two minutes into the match, he made an ambitious run along the end line to force a deep throw-in.
Stats and milestones …
Jack Harrison made his first MLS start and also scored his first professional goal.
David Villa scored his league-leading 10th goal of the season.
What it means …
NYCFC lost for just the second time in eight matches and remains in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 18 points heading into the international break.
Tweet of the Match...
