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New York City FC's Lampard-Pirlo-Villa axis falls to feisty Red Bulls New York City FC's Lampard-Pirlo-Villa axis falls to feisty Red Bulls
(about 1 hour 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 kick-start a push for the end of season playoffs.
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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 proving the difference in June 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.A new franchise like NYC FC without doubt need time to gel.
Time, though, is running out and with every defeat, their task to reach the post-season becomes harder.
“I believe in my heart we are capable of a lot of things, “ said Kreis. “We can still make the playoffs, if we do people will be nervous. There is no speeding up of time though, God didn’t give me that gift, so the training and time together is important. We need minutes together.
“I don’t think the atmosphere would have bothered Lampard, Pirlo or Villa. This wasn’t a big deal for them but there was a lot of positives. This team is alive and we can make something of the opportunity.”
Lampard, like his manager, continues to believe. “I think we had some chances but, from a personal point of view, I am only going to get fitter and those opportunities I had will be put away,” said the former Chelsea and England midfielder.
“I am sure the three of us can help contributing and the whole team can improve over the next few weeks. I am very confident, and I know the season is going quickly but with the ability we have here, it will soon start gelling and we can win the games we need to reach the playoffs.”
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. Yet he refused to castigate the Colombian who has endured a torrid start to life in MLS. “I thought he had a good game despite the mistake, “ Kreis added. “I thought the ref had a very poor night. There was a foul on our player in the build up to the goal.”
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. Wright-Phillips clearly revels in ruffling illustrious feathers – he has now scored in each of the three Hudson River derby fixtures and his 10th of the season ensured Kreis’ side were always chasing the game.
Forget some mindless idiots purporting to be fans by fighting with each other on the streets of New Jersey before the game. The key to it all was the nullifying of Lampard, Pirlo and Villa. While Lampard impressed in his first full start – the midfielder should have scored after just two minutes and was involved in everything which was good about an ultimately disjointed display from City – Pirlo and Villa cut thoroughly dejected figures.
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. The Italian, like Lampard, is still searching for full fitness yet the Red Bulls midfield of Sacha Kljestan , Felipe Martins and the tireless Dax McCarty rose to the challenge superbly.
So too did the fans who packed the Red Bull Arena. “We stood up to their big time players really well and made it hard for them, we didn’t give them a lot of free looks,: said a delighted Marsch whose side remain superbly placed in second in the Eastern Conference having stretched their unbeaten run to five games.
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. “Villa didn’t have an easy day and that’s credit to our guys. It was a big emphasis to make sure the other two [Lampard and Pirlo] didn’t have an easy day. Our midfield took it as a personal challenge, playing against such great players. We closed down space, they broke us down at times but we made it hard for them. We wanted to prove a point and we did that.”
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. Results aside, both supporters will already be eyeing next season’s derbies with relish after all three games have provided the kind of drama and atmosphere which MLS badly needs in its quest to become of one the world’s elite competitions.
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. It has captured the imagination here, and the Red Bulls manager has seen it first hand.
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. “I saw two guys yelling at each other on Fifth Avenue the other day, one was wearing a Red Bulls shirt, the other had NYC FC colors. They didn’t even know I was there – but it was great,” smiled Marsch. “I have never seen the city so alive with soccer. It has been awesome.”
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.
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.
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.
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.