New York City FC coach Jason Kreis had talked about how deep his expansion team’s roster is, built around cornerstones David Villa and Frank Lampard. But both stars watched from the stands as the shorthanded team suffered the first loss in its brief history, a dour 1-0 defeat against Sporting KC.
The 32-year-old Villa was a late scratch with an adductor injury that’s been nagging him since before the team’s debut game. And Lampard, who won’t arrive from parent club Manchester City until July 1, flew over to watch the game during the Premier League side’s bye for the FIFA international break.
Kreis shot down a Daily Mail report that Lampard could come to MLS this month. He did fly to New York Thursday and attend practice Friday with agent Steve Kutner; but the trip was to househunt, meet teammates and watch Saturday’s game.
Lampard actually attended with his wife Christine Bleakley, who tweeted a picture from their seats.
https://twitter.com/clbleakley/status/581956646940835840/photo/1
What he saw was a team that played without six regulars – four of them starters – and looked the part. NYCFC came in unbeaten and atop the East, but created few dangerous chances before a sellout crowd of 27,545 at Yankee Staduim; and heretofore-winless Sporting KC cashed in on the one they got.
On NYCFC’s 70-yard wide field – tied for the narrowest in MLS – Matt Besler’s 12th-minute throw in became essentially a corner kick. Kwame Watson-Siriboe – in the lineup because of Josh Williams’ illness – got picked off, and Ike Opara rose above the crowd for a headed goal and NYCFC’s first deficit in 281 minutes.
“Kind of a crappy way to take a goal on a throw in but we need to be a little buity hungrier on the defensive side,’’ said GK Josh Saunders.
“It’ll never happen again: You can quote me on that…I got picked by either my teammate or somebody on their team. Possibly a designed play by them; but it doesn’t matter. I need to fight through the pick and make sure I get to the ball before he does,’’ said Watson-Siriboe, who immediately put his face in his hands.
“I was pissed off. We gave up – I gave up – a goal, and our team had to fight through essentially 80 minutes to get it back. To be down from the very beginning, it sucked, and I put my team in that position.’’
A rash of absences out them in this position. Villa had been nursing an adductor injury since before the season opener, sitting out practice Thursday and cutting short training Friday. But he confirmed to the Post that – with NYCFC enjoying a bye next weekend – he expects to be fit April 11 at Philadelphia.
“Every single game we’ve gotten to a point where we’re very questionable whether he’ll be available…And he’s managed the pain and swelling,’’ said Kreis. “Every time the prior three weeks the day before the match he said it feels good I can go. (Friday) was the first time it was like, no, the pain’s too unbearable.’’
NYCFC (1-1-2, 5 pts.) played without F Adam Nemec (international duty), MF Sebastian Velasquez (adductor), RB Josh Williams (viral pericarditis) and backups Shay Facey (suspension) and Khiry Shelton (international duty). But despite 62.3% possession and a 12-9 edge in shots, the narrow field aided physical Sporting KC.
NYCFC made a late push, with a penalty initially called in the 68th due to a handball but then waved off. Jeb Brovsky and Ned Grabavoy just missed late headers, but they couldn’t net an equalizer.
“I was pleased with the second half response the commitment level,’’ said Kreis. “Again, I’m as little bit perplexed why we seem to be taking an entire second half to be figuring that out.’’