David Villa celebrates his 400th career goal. (Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)
By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor
BRONX, N.Y. — David Villa celebrated a major career milestone Sunday night, striking twice while reaching 400 goals in New York City FC’s 3-1 win over FC Dallas at Yankee Stadium.
The Spanish international scored on either side of halftime for City (6-1-2, 20 points), which rebounded from its 3-0 defeat at the Portland Timbers last week. NYCFC also handed FC Dallas (3-1-4, 12) its first loss of the MLS season.
The 36-year-old Villa has tallied 68 goals since joining NYCFC in 2015, including four this season.
With the game barely three minutes old, NYCFC enjoyed a 1-0 edge. Villa worked the ball to Jo Inge Berget, who ripped a shot off the right post. Jesus Medina was well positioned to slot hom the rebound behind goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer before 22,115 spectators.
https://www.facebook.com/newyorkcityfc/videos/971479829692140/
The visitors countered in the 10th minute after a Yangel Herrera giveaway at midfield. Maximiliano Urruti raced down the field before slipping a pass to Santiago Mosquera, who fired a shot from atop the penalty area past goalkeeper Sean Johnson for a 1-1 tie.
Villa scored his milestone goal in the 37th minute as referee Ismail Elfath, with some help from the Video Assistant Referee, ruled that defender Reto Ziegler had handled the ball off an Anton Tinnerholm shot in the penalty area.
He stepped up and rifled his spot kick into the lower right corner past Mauer for a 2-1 lead for goal No. 400.
Villa added goal No. 2 in the 69th minute only 14 seconds after incurring a yellow card from Elfath. A quick giveaway allowed the striker to race into the right side of the area, beating Matt Hedges and Ziegler before he unleashed a shot into the lower left corner for a 3-1 margin.
https://www.facebook.com/newyorkcityfc/videos/971489269691196/
Videos courtesy of NYCFC Facebook page
LINEUPS
New York City FC: Sean Johnson; Ben Sweat, Sebastien Ibeagha, Alexander Callens, Anton Tinnerholm; Yangel Herrera, Alexander Ring, Maxi Moralez; Jo Inge Berget (73’ Rodney Wallace), David Villa (87’ Saad Abdul-Salaam), Jesus Medina (73’ Ebenezer Ofori)
SUBS UNUSED: Brad Stuver, Cedric Hountondji, Tommy McNamara, Jonathan Lewis
FC Dallas: Jimmy Maurer; Anton Nedyalkov, Reto Ziegler, Matt Hedges, Reggie Cannon; Roland Lamah, Victor Ulloa (76’ Michael Barrios), Jacori Hayes (53’ Carlos Gruezo), Santiago Mosquera; Maximiliano Urruti (46’ Mauro Diaz), Cristian Colman
SUBS UNUSED: Kyle Zobeck, Kristoffer Reaves, Kellyn Acosta, Tesho Akindele
SCORING SUMMARY
3’ – NYC – Jesus Medina
10’ – DAL – Santiago Mosquera (Assisted by: Maximiliano Urruti)
36’ – NYC – David Villa (PK)
69’ – NYC – David Villa
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
8’ – DAL – Roland Lamah (YC – Unsporting Behavior)
49’ – NYC – Yangel Herrera (YC – Unsporting Behavior)
58’ – NYC – Sean Johnson (YC – Time Wasting)
69’ – NYC – David Villa (YC – Dissent)
76’ – DAL – Mauro Diaz (YC – Unsporting Behavior)
