NYCFC gets all tied up
THE FANS who came to Yankee Stadium for Frank Lampard were disappointed again by his absence. What else is new? But they were treated to something else Sunday: an entertaining goal-fest that ended in a 4-4 draw, highlighted by a battle between two diminutive and talented strikers, NYCFC’s David Villa and Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco.
“That’s the type of game that fans love and coaches hate,” NYCFC caoch Jason Kreis said.
Lampard had reintroduced himself last week to New York with the idea of debuting Sunday. There was a press conference and everything. But his first appearance was delayed because of a calf strain sustained in training. He may sit out the next game, which seems the more likely option because Saturday’s game is on artificial surface at New England.
In other words, Lampard could debut with Andrea Pirlo on July 26 at Yankee Stadium. He spent Sunday’s game in a luxury suite
“I think we need to understand first and foremost whether (Lampard’s) ever played on artificial surface. It wouldn’t surprise me if he hasn’t, certainly in a competitive match,” Kreis said. “And we have to make the smartest decision that we can and that will come later in the week — about whether he’s ready to play in a match and whether he’s ready to play in a match that’s on artificial surface.”
Not that NYCFC (5-8-6) was lacking in Lampard’s specialty: the attack. The supposed revamped defense was NYCFC’s problem.
Gionvinco, the league’s highest-paid player until Pirlo arrives, recorded a hat trick over just nine minutes in the first half, leading Toronto’s comeback from a two-goal deficit. He was countered by two goals from Villa, including the tying strike on a penalty in the 65th minute.
In all, there were four penalty kicks. Two of them were missed. Two goals were scored in the final 10 minutes, including the equalizer from NYCFC’s Patrick Mullins in the 84th minute off a failed clearance by Toronto.
“(In the beginning) it looked like it was gonna be easy and everything OK, and we’re going to have this huge advantage,” Villa said. “Then we ourselves made mistakes and suffered three goals against us in six minutes. And then what looked like an easy victory became a very complicated match for us.”
Toronto (7-7-3) was also shorthanded Sunday because two of its stars — Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore — were on international duty. But NYCFC couldn’t stop Giovinco, the 28-year-old Italian who is second in the league with 11 goals this season.
In addition to netting a hat trick, Giovinco assisted on the goal to put Toronto up 4-3 in the 82nd minute. His first penalty shot also hit off the post, so he fell an inch short of four goals.
One of his strikes occurred while standing alone in the box, without a defender closer than 10 feet. Giovinco received the cross and chipped it over NYCFC goalkeeper Josh Saunders.
“For that player, that we’ve known that much about to get that much time is incomprehensible,” said Kreis. “And so, we have to take a real hard look at ourselves as to why that happened.”
Villa also missed a penalty shot for NYCFC, but his two goals gave him eight in the last seven games. Spanish defenders Andoni Iraola and Angelino both debuted for the home team.