David Villa scored off a 53.5-yard chip shot against Philadelphia. (James Lang/USA TODAY Sports)
FrontRowSoccer.com’s goal of the week was a slam dunk, although the player who scored it was nowhere near the goal to slam it home.
Unless you were living under a rock over the weekend, you obviously know about David Villa’s amazing long-range chip shot that sealed New York City FC’s 2-0 win at the Philadelphia Union Friday night.
City’s captain scored off a 53.5-yard chip shot over goalkeeper Andre Blake in the 90th minute at Talen Energy Park in Chester, Pa.
For that remarkable goal, Villa Monday was named winner of the website’s goal of the week.
Villa was honored for the week ending Sunday, April 16.
“The people is happy,” Villa said Friday night. “Everybody told me congratulations. We are happy because the moment of the goal was good for the team. We wanted to win the game, we were 1-0, but in some situations the other team can score, and with this goal, the game was won.”
Not surprisingly, Villa’s goal was met with varying reactions of awe by his City teammates and coach Patrick Vieira.
“It is one of the best goals that I have ever seen in my career,” said midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who has seen many a spectacular and beautiful goal. “When David scored one goal like that, it’s incredible, because now it is the best in the history of the club.”
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Added Vieira: “At first I did not know if the ball was inside or outside, so when I realized that the ball was in the back of the net, it was fantastic. “It was a good finish, and I think it takes a special player to score a special goal.”
This was the third time that Villa has been honored by FrontRowSoccer.com, having won goal of the week honors in Week 2. He also was part of a team goal feted by this website in Week 5.
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)
Week 6 (April 10) — New York Cosmos (Danny Szetela, Ryan Richter)
Week 7 (April 17) — David Villa (New York City FC)
