It was a match up fans of both teams had been waiting to see, David Villa verses Wayne Rooney, but New York City verses DC ultimately proved frustrating for everyone.
New York City dominated in possession and looked good even though they were without their top goal scorer, Ismael Tajouri Shradi, and their designated player, Jesus Medina. The team was without a total of 9 players due to injury and international call ups. Playing with a short turn around after Wednesday’s loss to New England, surprisingly, the team looked sharp in their new diamond formation for much of the game. James Sands started his second game and did well, showing his age should be no impediment for him going forward.
But even though NYC dominated in shots, possession and almost every statistical category they found themselves behind in the 55 minute. After David Villa was brought down in the box, a no call resulted in a DC break away. NYCFC committed a foul and on the ensuing free kick Steve Birnbaum headed the ball past keeper Sean Johnson and NYC found themselves in the familiar situation of needing a goal to tie in a game they should be winning.
That goal came in the answer of a David Villa free kick that masterfully flew over the wall and into the upper left hand corner of the goal. Bill Hamid had no hope from the start on that kick and Villa showed once again why he should play for NYCFC as long as he wants to play.
The result was not good enough, however. NYCFC have to find a way to score int he final third. Otherwise their good work controlling the ball and the game mean nothing. Long crosses from the wing into five foot three inch tall Maxi Moralez are not an answer. Perhaps with the next two weeks off NYC can heal wounds and get all their players back. Perhaps they can regroup and rethink their approach under Dome Torrent. If they plan to have any hope of a post season run in the playoffs they simply have to find a way to be deadly in front of goal. Out shooting opponents 28-2 means nothing if none of the balls cross the goal line.
Torrent summed it up perfectly.
“I’m not happy just for the result. I said I’m proud of them because they played really well for me and for the effort until the last moment. We played two games in a few days and it’s not easy to play against United. That is the reason why I am very proud of them, of my players because they play much better and were able to create many, many chances but in the end, soccer, when you miss too many chances you bite. “
