VILL’ MASTER
Star’s 400th career goal helps NYCFC rebound
David Villa’s first goal Sunday night — his milestone 400th for club and country — culminated a world-class career. His second tally encapsulated it, a venerable icon with every right to be satisfied showing he’s still hungry.
New York City FC beat FC Dallas 3-1 behind their captain’s historic two-goal performance. They bounced back from their first loss of the season and knocked off MLS’ last unbeaten team before 22,115 at Yankee Stadium. And the crowd gave Villa a well-deserved standing ovation after he reemphasized his place among the game’s elite.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic had been the only active players with 400 tallies. Villa joined that august quartet with a 36th-minute penalty and outhustled two defenders in the 69th. And after 15 years and 401 scores, he insists the best is yet come.
“The big one has to be in the Champions League against Manchester United with Barcelona in the final. This was the best,” Villa said. “But I hope the best is coming. Why not give the silverware to NYCFC this year?”
“It’s a fantastic achievement,” coach Patrick Vieira said. “His goals reflect who he is as a person, and he’s like that every day in training. When you see him work every day, you’re not surprised that he’s scored over 400 goals.”
After Jesus Medina and Dallas’ Santiago Mosquera traded early goals — Medina’s set up by Villa’s hustle — the NYCFC captain broke the tie with a penalty. His second goal was even more telling.
Despite being 36 and having won a World Cup, Villa is still hungry. Just 21 second after being shown a yellow card by referee Ismail Elfath, Villa pressed high, shouldered Reto Ziegler off the ball to force a turnover and beat defender Matt Hedges. Slotting the ball home was the easiest part of the goal.
“He fought for it,” Vieria said. “The goal wasn’t there. He fights against two defenders, and he didn’t give up. He was there and this is the moment where he showed his desire to score that goal, his competitiveness. He’s a fighter.”
It is the only way Villa knows how to play.
“I always play that way,” Villa said. “When you get older, it gets more difficult fighting in the same way. I know what’s made me successful throughout my career: Give everything and training every day. With the passing time I need to take care of my body more. I don’t care if I’m 36, 37 or 20, I need to work in the same way that’s made me successful.”
Villa left to standing ovation and chants of “MVP” in the 87th minute. It was the perfect bounce-back after NYCFC (61-2, 20 points) had a sevengame unbeaten streak snapped last week in Portland. They beat Dallas (3-1-3, 12 points) for the first time in four meetings, and vaulted over Atlanta for the best record in MLS.