Andrea Pirlo stood over the ball, looked at the goal and did what he’s done so many times before, bending a 20-yard free kick over a four-man wall and past a flat-footed goalkeeper.
It’s a scene that repeated itself numerous times at AC Milan, Juventus and the Italian national team. But on Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, the Maestro did it for New York City FC.
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Pirlo’s first MLS goal on his 33rd MLS shot proved to be the game-winner in a critical 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Union.
“I’m really glad for him that he scored his first goal in the MLS,” NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira said. “I hope there will be more to come.”
SEE ANDREA PIRLO AND THE REST OF NYCFC AT THE NEW YORK DERBY ON JULY 3
Pirlo has done everything but score in his time with NYCFC. He has worked closely lately with Andoni Iraola and that partnership has paid dividends.
On Saturday, Pirlo had 60 touches, second most on the team and completed 79.2 percent of his 48 passes. He had one shot on target, but that was all he needed.
“When you look at his performance in the last three or four games we played, I think Andrea was fantastic,” NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira said. “He understands the game, he has a really good relationship with Andoni. In the way we want to play, Andrea is very important for us.”
After the game, in true Pirlo fashion, he took to Twitter and mentioned his first NYCFC goal. The picture showed David Villa and Andrea Pirlo just before the free kick. Pirlo wrote simply: “Goal day!!” with a smiling face with sunglasses emoji and the hashtag #pirlostyle.
Perfectly put.
