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| New York City FC's Lampard-Pirlo-Villa axis falls to feisty Red Bulls | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Jason Kreis gleefully rubbed his hands before kick-off yet by the end of a pulsating 90 minutes, familiar problems came back to haunt him and his woefully inconsistent New York City FC side. | Jason Kreis gleefully rubbed his hands before kick-off yet by the end of a pulsating 90 minutes, familiar problems came back to haunt him and his woefully inconsistent New York City FC side. |
| The sight of Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard and David Villa starting a match together for the very first time would have had Kreis eagerly anticipating a first derby victory over the New York Red Bulls and a triumph which would kickstart a push for the end of season playoffs. | The sight of Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard and David Villa starting a match together for the very first time would have had Kreis eagerly anticipating a first derby victory over the New York Red Bulls and a triumph which would kickstart a push for the end of season playoffs. |
| Related: Giovani dos Santos scores debut goal as LA Galaxy beat Seattle Sounders | Related: Giovani dos Santos scores debut goal as LA Galaxy beat Seattle Sounders |
| What transpired, however, was quite different. Bradley Wright-Phillips, who scored both goals in the first win over their newest rivals in May before again proving the difference last month at Yankee Stadium, was on the money once more, opening the scoring on 10 minutes and running the channels superbly before Felipe Martins settled matters at the death. | What transpired, however, was quite different. Bradley Wright-Phillips, who scored both goals in the first win over their newest rivals in May before again proving the difference last month at Yankee Stadium, was on the money once more, opening the scoring on 10 minutes and running the channels superbly before Felipe Martins settled matters at the death. |
| Lampard, who seemed to have overcome the calf problem which had stalled the start of his MLS career, looked sharp and threw himself into everything. Ultimately, though, it wasn’t enough. | Lampard, who seemed to have overcome the calf problem which had stalled the start of his MLS career, looked sharp and threw himself into everything. Ultimately, though, it wasn’t enough. |
| You can have all the attacking prowess in the world, yet if a team cannot defend, there is no hope. | You can have all the attacking prowess in the world, yet if a team cannot defend, there is no hope. |
| Kreis will shudder at replays of Wright-Phillips’ opener, a routine cross appallingly dealt with by the cumbersome Jefferson Mena allowing the former Southampton and Charlton striker the easiest of tasks. | Kreis will shudder at replays of Wright-Phillips’ opener, a routine cross appallingly dealt with by the cumbersome Jefferson Mena allowing the former Southampton and Charlton striker the easiest of tasks. |
| Jesse Marsch’s side certainly do not possess the star quality of their cash rich New York cousins, though their priceless commodity of organization, solidity and togetherness has proved the difference thus far. | Jesse Marsch’s side certainly do not possess the star quality of their cash rich New York cousins, though their priceless commodity of organization, solidity and togetherness has proved the difference thus far. |
| It may be the most embryonic of rivalries, yet the third instalment of the self-styled Hudson River derby carried with it the type of intensity, atmosphere and needle which makes these kind of matches stand out. | It may be the most embryonic of rivalries, yet the third instalment of the self-styled Hudson River derby carried with it the type of intensity, atmosphere and needle which makes these kind of matches stand out. |
| Forget some mindless idiots purporting to be fans by fighting with each other on the streets of New Jersey before the game. | Forget some mindless idiots purporting to be fans by fighting with each other on the streets of New Jersey before the game. |
| With the Red Bulls having won both games thus far – the win at Yankees Stadium last month was a superb team effort having fallen behind early on – and with Marsch’s high energy charges coming into this encounter sitting second in the Eastern Conference, the home side naturally had their backs up. | With the Red Bulls having won both games thus far – the win at Yankees Stadium last month was a superb team effort having fallen behind early on – and with Marsch’s high energy charges coming into this encounter sitting second in the Eastern Conference, the home side naturally had their backs up. |
| So too did the fans who packed the Red Bull Arena. | So too did the fans who packed the Red Bull Arena. |
| Their friends from across the Hudson, however, still have aspirations of reaching the play-offs. Lampard and Pirlo would have smiled at seeing a banner unfurled before kick-off, suggesting at the age of 37 and 36 respectively, their time would be better spent in a retirement home than at Red Bull Arena. | Their friends from across the Hudson, however, still have aspirations of reaching the play-offs. Lampard and Pirlo would have smiled at seeing a banner unfurled before kick-off, suggesting at the age of 37 and 36 respectively, their time would be better spent in a retirement home than at Red Bull Arena. |
| Lampard, however, almost instantly wiped smirks firmly off faces. Just two minutes were on the clock when Villa slipped the former England international through on goal and into a position where the ball would normally end up nestled in the corner. Rustiness ensured it flew past the post. | Lampard, however, almost instantly wiped smirks firmly off faces. Just two minutes were on the clock when Villa slipped the former England international through on goal and into a position where the ball would normally end up nestled in the corner. Rustiness ensured it flew past the post. |
| The early openings had clearly buoyed Kreis’ side and Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles was forced to keep out Mix Diskerud from close range to cap a helter skelter start. | The early openings had clearly buoyed Kreis’ side and Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles was forced to keep out Mix Diskerud from close range to cap a helter skelter start. |
| With the amount of talent in the ranks, attacking comes as second nature. Defending, on the other hand, does not. Last weekend’s home reverse at the hands of Montreal showcased NYC FC’s problems at the back – it was the fourth consecutive home match where they had conceded three or more goals – and, on 22 minutes, their achilles heel was there for all to see once more. | With the amount of talent in the ranks, attacking comes as second nature. Defending, on the other hand, does not. Last weekend’s home reverse at the hands of Montreal showcased NYC FC’s problems at the back – it was the fourth consecutive home match where they had conceded three or more goals – and, on 22 minutes, their achilles heel was there for all to see once more. |
| Colombian Jefferson Mena, terribly culpable against the Canadians, was at fault once more, totally misjudging a Kemar Lawrence cross from the left allowing Wright-Phillips, the poacher supreme, to tap home with ease. | Colombian Jefferson Mena, terribly culpable against the Canadians, was at fault once more, totally misjudging a Kemar Lawrence cross from the left allowing Wright-Phillips, the poacher supreme, to tap home with ease. |
| While Pirlo was prowling, Lampard was expending more energy, linking up in attack before dropping back in a desperate attempt to kickstart a NYC FC revival. | While Pirlo was prowling, Lampard was expending more energy, linking up in attack before dropping back in a desperate attempt to kickstart a NYC FC revival. |
| The excellent Sacha Kljestan was beginning to dominate however, a fierce drive from 20 yards almost doubling the home side’s lead on 31 minutes. The bit was firmly between Red Bull teeth. Lampard, however, was involving himself in everything, dragging wide once more before almost flicking home a Villa center. | The excellent Sacha Kljestan was beginning to dominate however, a fierce drive from 20 yards almost doubling the home side’s lead on 31 minutes. The bit was firmly between Red Bull teeth. Lampard, however, was involving himself in everything, dragging wide once more before almost flicking home a Villa center. |
| Yet the worry for NYC FC was how long their leaky defence could stay firm. Certainly, if Kljestan would have kept his head instead of leaning back and firing woefully high and wide on 41 minutes, the Red Bulls could well have been home and hosed. | Yet the worry for NYC FC was how long their leaky defence could stay firm. Certainly, if Kljestan would have kept his head instead of leaning back and firing woefully high and wide on 41 minutes, the Red Bulls could well have been home and hosed. |
| Pirlo had offered little in the first 45 minutes yet, sitting deep and orchestrating matters, his influence after the interval began to grow. Villa too was enjoying more possession yet continued to be restricted to efforts from outside the box. | Pirlo had offered little in the first 45 minutes yet, sitting deep and orchestrating matters, his influence after the interval began to grow. Villa too was enjoying more possession yet continued to be restricted to efforts from outside the box. |
| On came the lively Kwadwo Poku for City while Shaun Wright-Philllips also entered the fray. | On came the lively Kwadwo Poku for City while Shaun Wright-Philllips also entered the fray. |
| Yet the visitors were always chasing the game and when Felipe rolled in the second on 85 minutes, the game was up. | Yet the visitors were always chasing the game and when Felipe rolled in the second on 85 minutes, the game was up. |
| Lampard was taken off soon after. His efforts could not be faulted. It takes more than one man, however, to make a team. | Lampard was taken off soon after. His efforts could not be faulted. It takes more than one man, however, to make a team. |