MLS New York City FC

New York City FC Topples Portland Timbers FC 2-1

Published on May 16, 2016 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York City FC News Release


David Villa and Tommy McNamara scored in each half to lift New York City FC to a 2-1 win against the Portland Timbers at Providence Park Sunday night.

With their third consecutive win, and fourth game without a loss, NYCFC (4-3-4) moved into a first-place tie in the Eastern Conference with the Montreal Impact. Portland (3-6-3) dropped its third straight game.

After absorbing pressure in the opening moments, NYCFC jumped in front, 1-0, on Villa's eighth goal of the season, tying him with Toronto FC's Sebastian Giovinco for most in MLS.

RJ Allen dispossessed Darlington Nagbe and threaded a sublime through ball to Villa, who took a touch before slotting the ball inside the far post from 12 yards out in the 12th minute.

Fanendo Adi leveled with his eighth goal of the year from 15 yards in the 55th minute.

But McNamara responded 10 minutes later with his third goal of the year, a wonder strike into the upper right corner of the net from 25 yards out. Khiry Shelton started the sequence with a cross from the corner flag to Andrea Pirlo, who settled the ball and slipped it to McNamara.

The goal came immediately after a spectacular saving tackle from Ronald Matarrita on Lucas Melano.

Jason Hernandez was a big reason why Portland was kept off the scoreboard in the first half, bravely diving to block a Diego Valeri shot after Josh Saunders came off his line to challenge.

After blocking another Valeri shot in the 16th minute following an Adi layoff , Hernandez came up with a well-timed slide tackle after Adi pulled off his jersey in the 39th minute.

Two minutes into the second half, Saunders made a spectacular save, diving to his right to get a fingertip on a Nagbe attempt from 12 yards.

NOTES

David Villa is now tied for the most goals in MLS with 8.

David Villa now has four goals in his last three matches.

Josh Saunders made his 100th career start.

It was New York City FC's first match (and win) in Portland.

New York City FC joins Toronto FC as the only two teams with three wins away from home.

New York City FC has now won three consecutive games and two straight games away from home.

New York City FC is now tied for 1st place in the Eastern Conference with the Montreal Impact.

QUOTES

NEW YORK CITY FC HEAD COACH PATRICK VIEIRA

On how important the win was for NYCFC...

"It was important, yes. Like every single game we play, it is always important to win. Myself and the players, we are all satisfied to go back and onto Toronto with the satisfaction and happiness because we worked hard to take the three points."

On the atmosphere in Portland...

"Fantastic. This is the best atmosphere so far I have experienced. When the anthem was going, the fans were fantastic and as a player you are looking forward to playing on this kind of stage. The players really enjoyed it today."

On the instructions he gave his defense in the second half...

"I think today we showed another side of our game. I think we showed how determined the team was and how hard they're working for each other. I was really pleased with our team spirit because it's not easy and there aren't going to be so many teams that are going to come here and win games. I was really proud of the team because we showed a lot of character tonight."

On Jason Hernandez's performance...

"Jason is one of our leaders in the back. He has a really strong character. He is always positive and I was very pleased with his performance. When you look at the way that [Ronald] Matarrita finished the game, the way that RJ [Allen] or Fred [Brillant] finished the game, there was a lot of tiredness, so it will be important to recover and prepare for next game."

On if it was in NYCFC's plan to let Portland control most of the ball...

"No, that wasn't our plan at all. We wanted to control the game and have the possession of the game, but we played against a really good side tonight. You have to give them credit because they make it really difficult for us and that's the reason why I'm really proud of my team because they showed a lot of character to manage to leave Portland with three points."

On if the team made any changes after David Villa's opening goal...

"No. All the credit to Portland because they made it really difficult for us. Our plan is like always: we want to go to the midfield possession and I think this is maybe the first or second time we got dominated in this area. We knew it because we played against the champions and they've got some really good players in their team."

On how he credits his players for getting three points despite not dominating possession...

"We have to accept that sometimes the game is not going to go the way we want it. We have to accept that other teams will dominate possession, but it's about how can we answer that lack of possession. This is why we defended quite well. They had the possession, but from Josh [Saunders] to David, everybody worked tremendously hard and we managed to take three points. That was a really, really good team performance without the ball."

On whether tonight was a statement game from NYCFC...

"No. I think as a team, as a football club, we show that we are getting better and better. Of course there is still a lot of the game that we need to improve. The win is always good because it gives you confidence and positiveness to keep going and keep working hard. There's still a really long way to go. We will watch the game again and see which part of the game that we need to improve. We need to work and we need to resolve the problem we had today for us to be better as a team in the next game."

On whether he would consider the result fortunate...

"No, not at all. It happens some games where we create so many chances and we lose the game. Today, yes, we didn't have the possession, we didn't create as many chances as them, but we managed to take the three points. This is the balance we need to find. There is some positiveness to take from this game and one of them is our character, our defensive organization and the quality of the team. I think we are showing we are getting better and better without the ball and that's a good sign for the rest of the league."

On Josh Saunder's importance in organizing the defense...

"I think Josh is just fantastic. He's experienced, his decision-making, he's one of the leaders as well in the back and when we are going through a difficult period, he's always around to support the players, to give the right indication. I'm really happy with him on and off the field."

On what has changed for NYCFC from this point last season...

"It's difficult to compare from last year because I wasn't there. It's not fair for me to make any comment. But we've been working really hard in the last few months. Players are making a lot of sacrifices and when you work hard in training and you make sacrifices and the message is clear from the staff to the players. We have a good organization, we have a clear philosophy of the way we want to play. We just have to keep working. Doesn't matter what happens in the game. We just have to keep working, believe in what we are doing and the hard work the players had in the last few months just played out."

On how RJ Allen has gotten up to speed after his injury...

"I have to give credit to the medical department. They've been working really hard with him. To have him back quickly like that was good for the team. RJ, we know, is really comfortable on the ball, he's really good going forward, but at the same time, he needs to work a little bit on the defensive aspect of the game because we need to defend better. But I was really happy with him today. To manage to take the three points here we needed more than 11 players to play well and even the ones that came off the bench give something, bring something to the team and that was really positive."

NEW YORK CITY FC MIDFIELDER TOMMY MCNAMARA

General thoughts on the match...

"It was a really difficult game. Portland did well. They controlled a lot of the ball. They put a lot of pressure on us. But I was really proud of the way that the guys stuck together. We defended really well together, we worked really hard for each other and at the end of the day we got a result out of it because of it."

On his game-winning goal...

"I don't remember how Andrea [Pirlo] got the ball, but Andrea got the ball and I was just square of him. Two people came to close him down so it left me free. I was just shouting for it, he laid it off for me. I took a touch and just tried to wrap my foot around it back post."

On coming back to the stadium where he suffered a serious injury...

"Yea. Two years ago wasn't so fun personally. But it feels good to kind of finally come full circle, get back out here and play again. The three points are the most important thing. I'm happy with the goal, but I'm happy we got the three points. It was hard fought."

NEW YORK CITY FC CAPTAIN DAVID VILLA

General thoughts on the match...

"Very happy. We are very happy. Other than the first half, we were dominating with a very good team like Portland. They have the ball, they have the change. We need to come back and drop to wait in our box. Obviously we played against a very good team. In the first half we had a change in my goal. A very good pass from RJ [Allen]. We are leading in the game and for us it is comfortable to drop a little bit and wait for the very good players of Portland. Very good things from the game. Very good things. The team played together, the team waited together, fight together. This is the most important today."

On his opening goal...

"I showed the space. I saw RJ was in position to play me the ball. Obviously it was a very good, a very difficult ball, but he made it very good. I think the second was the control. I made a took control very well and finished it."

On playing against players like Nat Borchers and Darlington Nagbe...

"Obviously, it is always a challenge for me to play against a good defense. Portland, I think, have one of the best defenses in the league. Not only the defense in the league. Obviously they are the winners from last year. I try to help the team with getting the ball when we try to leave our back. But I say again, Portland dominated most of the game. It's a very good challenge for me to play against very good center backs."

On the atmosphere in Portland tonight...

"Amazing. So far it is the best. The best in MLS in my opinion. A lot of games, a lot of the stadiums have very good atmosphere. But for me, in my opinion so far, Portland is the best atmosphere."

On how that atmosphere felt in the heat of the game...

"Very nice. It is very happy for us. It is unlucky for us that we play in the other conference. Maybe in two years we will get to come and play against Portland here. The atmosphere is amazing. Congratulations to Portland, to the Portland Timbers, to the fans because the atmosphere is amazing playing here."

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