Promise lands
Villa delivers pledged NYCFC turnaround
WHEN it was over late Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium — when NYCFC had put the finishing touches on a 4-1 win over the Columbus Crew to clinch second place in the MLS Eastern Conference and secure a bye in the upcoming playoffs — the head coach and the star player stood with a microphone and spoke to the team’s supporters still celebrating in the stands.
There was a heart-felt “thank you’’ from NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira and then there was a promise from Spanish star David Villa that “the job is not done,’’ and that “we are ready for the playoffs.’’
Because it was the regular-season finale, these were fan appreciation moments as NYCFC players literally took the shirts off their backs and gave them to fans.
A year ago, with NYCFC having finished its first season in he league in eighth place in the conference and miles from the playoffs, Villa stood before many of the same fans and made a promise that “next year we’ll be better.’’
To say that Villa delivered on that promise would be a ridiculous understatement.
With his leadership — not to mention the 23 goals he scored this season to give him 41 in two years with the club — Villa and NYCFC improved by 18 points this year and went from eighth place to second place and now await a homefield advantage playoff series that begins with a road leg next Sunday and a home game Nov. 6.
At stake Sunday was staying in second place and not having to play a one-off, knockout-round match this week.
Before the match, Villa spoke to his teammates and asked them to look back on their first day of training camp in Florida and “go 90 minutes today.’’
“Today,’’ Villa said, wearing a black Yankees cap, “every player was amazing.’’
It was Villa, though, who stood out as the best — a special player in our midst.
As the second half Sunday was winding down with NYCFC tied 1-1 with Columbus and Toronto FC, which trailed NYCFC by one point entering the day, leading Chicago 3-1, it looked like NYCFC might lose second place and be doomed to the dreaded knockout round.
But a three-goal explosion in the final 15 minutes — with goals by Jack Harrison, Khiry Shelton and Villa — secured second place and completed NYCFC’s remarkable turnaround in the span of a mere year.
Villa, who entered the day one goal behind Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips in the Golden Boot race for most goals in the league, was his usual brilliant self Sunday, assisting on NYCFC’s first goal, a tasty left-footed cross that was one-timed into the back of the net by Steven Mendoza in the 45th minute right before the half.
There’s something special taking place between the two local MLS clubs as they embark on these playoffs.
The Red Bulls and NYCFC finished first and second respectively in the Eastern Conference as they concluded the regular season Sunday.
That, too, is the way Wright-Phillips and Villa finished in the Golden Boot race,
Wright Phillips with 24 goals thanks to the one he scored in Sunday’s win over Philadelphia, and Villa with 23.
We can only hope that the two local clubs — and their respective star snipers — meet in the MLS playoffs.
“David is an incredible asset the way he works,’’ Harrison said. “You see passion in everything that he does. Before I came here he was a legend in my eyes. I used to play him in FIFA on the Xbox when I was a kid. And now, to be able to play beside him is just a dream opportunity I’m so thankful for.
“The thing with him is he doesn’t think he’s better than anyone else. He’s always looking to help his teammates out any way he can.’’
Shelton said he was “star-struck at first’’ when he began playing with Villa last year.
“I think every kid would be,’’ he said. “I watched him growing up, so having him as a teammate it’s been an honor. He teaches me things day in and day out, whether it’s on or off the field. He betters me as a person.’’
He’s bettered NYCFC as a team. And delivered on a promise.