MONTREAL – David Villa has the Montreal Impact’s number.
In just two matches against the Canadian club, Villa now has three goals against the Impact as his brace lifted New York City FC to a 2-1 win – their second over Montreal in two games – Saturday night at Stade Saputo. A penalty kick goal by Ignacio Piatti served as Montreal's momentary equalizer.
With the win, NYCFC (5-8-5, 20pts) leapfrog the Impact and the Philadelphia Union to reach seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Montreal (5-7-3, 18pts) fall to ninth.
Villa’s first goal, in the 34th minute, was a touch of class.
The Spanish star received a feed from teammate Patrick Mullins on the left edge of the box, he took a touch in front of Montreal defender Ambroise Oyongo and finished expertly with a left-footed shot to the far post.
Villa’s second, coming in the 82nd minute after Montreal pulled level, was just as classy. On a foul that he drew himself just outside the box, Villa bent his right-footed attempt past the wall and into the bottom right corner, just underneath diving Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush.
Villa's free kick strike second came merely five minutes after the Impact made it on the scoreboard when a bounce from a feed to Piatti in the box caught NYCFC’s Thomas McNamara on the arm. Referee Jorge Gonzalez pointed to the spot, and Piatti placed his shot low, just between the post and Josh Saunders’ extended arm.
It was the only thing that Saunders did wrong all game, despite diving the correct way. The NYCFC goalkeeper denied Montreal time and again during the encounter, racking up eight saves.
And Montreal did plenty to keep Saunders and the NYCFC defense on their toes all night, firing off 25 attempts in total – several of them from inside the area.
Home games against conference rivals await both teams next weekend. The Impact welcome Columbus Crew SC next Saturday (8 pm ET, TSN2 and MLS LIVE in USA), while NYCFC play host to Toronto FC on Sunday, July 12 (3 pm ET, ESPN and ESPN Deportes).
