Tommy McNamara was the recipient of some nifty ball movement to tally NYC FC’s game-winner. (Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports)

This week FrontRowSoccer.com will not award its goal of the week to an individual player.

Instead, will are giving it to a team, specifically Tommy McNamara, Ronald Mataritta, David Villa and Alexander Callens. All four players played a role in the game-winning goal in New York City FC’s 2-1 home win over the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday.

McNamara, a second-half substitute, put the finishing touches on the goal four minutes after he came on for Andrea Pirlo.

The game-winner was a textbook example of how a build-up and teamwork can result in a goal. As it turned out, four nationalities played a role in the score at Yankee Stadium.

 

https://www.facebook.com/newyorkcityfc/videos/759325377574254/

Video courtesy of NYC FC Facebook

Callens (Peru), on his way for atoning for his earlier miscue, sent Villa (Spain) a pass from the left flank. Villa, the goal-scorer, turned goal-creator with a simple flick of his foot to Matarrita (Costa Rica) on the left side of the penalty area. Matarrita then sliced a pass across the box to McNamara (U.S.), who beat goalkeeper David Bingham from 15 yards.

“It was a great build up down the left side,” McNamara said. “I just remember thinking to myself just get into the box, get myself free and into a good area. When the ball broke through with Mattarita and he got in behind I was just hoping he would cut it back to me and he did and played a perfect ball to me. I just made sure to keep it on frame because the goalie was a little bit out of the equation at that point.”

City head coach Patrick Vieira was beaming on the way his team scored that goal.

“The goal we scored, really reflects the way we want to play the game,” he said. “I think our collective game when we are in the box, our movement because of the technical level of the players allowed us to do that.”

FrontRowSoccer.com goal of the week winners

Week 1 (March 6) — Daniel Royer (New York Red Bulls)

Week 2 (March 13) — David Villa (New York City FC)

Week 3 (March 20) — Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls)

Week 4 (March 27) — Vincent Bezecourt (New York Red Bulls II)

Week 5 (April 3) — New York City FC (Tommy McNamara, Ronald Matarrita, David Villa, Alexander Callens)

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.