NYCFC puts out Fire
DAVID VILLA and Frederic Brillant scored minutes apart early in the second half and New York City FC overcame playing with 10 men for most of the match in a pivotal 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday to extend its home unbeaten streak to seven games.
Sean Johnson had a season-high seven saves for NYCFC (11-6-4, 37 points), which has scored in a franchise-record 21 consecutive home matches. The win pulled New York City within one point of Chicago (114-5) for second place in the Eastern Conference.
NYCFC played the final 78 minutesplus without Yangel Herrera who was given a second yellow card in the 12th after a dangerous stomp on Chicago star Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Villa opened the scoring in the 47th minute with his 14th goal of the season, putting away a volley, off a feed from Jonathan Lewis, from just outside the top of the box.
Moments later, Brillant headed home the rebound of his own header to make it 2-0. Maximiliano Moralez played a cross, off a set piece, into the area and Brillant’s header was stopped by Matt Lampson, but Brillant’s putback — a diving header — found the back of the net.
"The points are more important. After the mistake against Toronto, the performance of the team was no good,” said Villa, just days after NYCFC squandered a chance to get three points from conference-leader Toronto FC. “We lost two points in the last minute for a mistake. It's difficult for the team. Three days after with the sun, 2pm, Chicago rested in the week and in ten minutes, we are one man less. It's crazy, the mentality of the team, the form of the team, it's more than three points today for this."
David Accam scored in the 54th minute for Chicago, which had an 11-game unbeaten streak dating to April 29.
"I think to manage to win the game we did today, you don't win these types of games if you don't show the togetherness, the character, and I think today we showed a little desire and a little discipline as well,” NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira said. “When I looked at the players after the game in the dressing room, I couldn't have asked for more than what they gave today. They managed to keep the result and win the game because of the way they played today." — Staff and wire report MINNEAPOLIS — Daniel Royer had a goal and an assist and the New York Red Bulls beat Minnesota United, 3-0, on Saturday.
The Red Bulls (10-8-2) have won three consecutive road matches for the first time since 2013 and three in a row overall. the three points they earned put them squarely in
Royer took a pass from Felipe Martins near midfield and, after a few dribbles, blasted a shot from well outside the box just inside the left post in the 16th minute. Bradley WrightPhillips took a long, arcing pass from Royer, shielded a defender with his left shoulder and rolled it off the outstretched arm of Bobby Shuttleworth into the net in the 67th. Alex Muyl capped the scoring in the 90th minute. Luis Robles had four saves and his sixth shutout of the season.
Expansion Minnesota (5-12-4) is winless in its last four home games and has been shut out in four of 12 home matches this season. —AP