NYCFC – 3
Vancouver Whitecaps – 2
Match recap …
Steven Mendoza came off the bench to score the game-winner in the 73rd minute to lift New York City FC to a 3-2 win against the Vancouver Whitecaps in front of 25,438 fans at Yankee Stadium Saturday afternoon.
After the visitors took the lead on 37 seconds, David Villa struck twice in a six-minute span to give NYCFC a 2-1 halftime lead.
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Villa tied the score in the 35th minute after Khiry Shelton dispossessed Andrew Jacobson and slipped to Villa on the right. The captain took a touch into the box and fired a low shot from 15 yards out inside the far post.
Six minutes later, Villa netted his second, latching onto a far post Andrea Pirlo corner and putting a side volley from eight yards out past Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted.
The Whitecaps leveled in the 63rd minute when Christian Bolanos followed his own saved penalty kick and tapped in the rebound after referee Sorin Stoica ruled Ethan White pulled down Kekuta Manneh inside the box.
PHOTOS: New York City FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
Mendoza put NYCFC back in front in the 73rd minute, settling a Tommy McNamara cross that deflected off Vancouver defender Tim Parker and putting a low shot inside the near post from 16 yards out.
Mendoza nearly had a second, but he hammered a shot off the crossbar in the 90th minute.
Photo of the Match....
How they lined up …
Patrick Vieira made one change to the 4-3-3 formation utilized in a 1-1 draw with the Montreal Impact Wednesday night with Ethan White replacing an injured RJ Allen on the right side of the four-man backline.
Vieira brought on Steven Mendoza for Shelton with his first change in the 67th minute. Mix Diskerud came on for McNamara with a quarter hour to go, slotting into a five-man midfield.
Andoni Iraola replaced Andrea Pirlo three minutes from full time as Vieira went with five in the back for the closing moments.
Quote of the Match....
Key moment …
Just five minutes after coming off the bench, Mendoza netted what proved to be the game-winner. Ronald Matarrita slipped a ball to McNamara, whose cross deflected off Vancouver defender Tim Parker and out to an open Mendoza. With time and space, Mendoza settled and snuck a low shot from 16 yards out inside the near post.
Man of the Match …
David Villa
The NYCFC captain erased an early deficit by scoring twice in a six-minute span to give NYCFC a 2-1 halftime lead. It was his third brace of the season and seventh of his NYCFC career.
His second goal of the game, and sixth of the season was a side volley off an Andrea Pirlo corner kick at the back post that will certainly be one of the goals of the year.
Stats and milestones …
Patrick Vieira earned his first win at Yankee Stadium since becoming NYCFC coach.
Steven Mendoza scored his first NYCFC goal, the game-winner in the 73rd minute.
David Villa recored his third brace of the season, seventh of his career, fifth against a Canadian team
What it means …
By snapping a seven-game winless streak, NYCFC rocketed up to fourth in the Eastern Conference, one point behind Toronto FC and three behind first place Montreal.
Next up, NYCFC will play three straight road matches, beginning with a battle against D.C. United May 8. After taking on the Portland Timbers (May 15) and Toronto FC (May 18), NYCFC returns to Yankee Stadium to meet the New York Red Bulls May 21 at 3 p.m.
Tweet of the Match....
