PURCHASE, N.Y. – New York City FC have scored a league-leading 43 goals, a distinction they share with their rivals the New York Red Bulls. It’s a big reason why the second-year club remains atop the Eastern Conference, albeit by the slimmest of margins over Toronto FC.
But only the New England Revolution have conceded more than NYCFC, with 43 goals leaked through 25 games.
That includes three against struggling Columbus Crew SC last Saturday night, as the ninth-place side netted late off a piece to secure a 3-3 draw at MAPFRE Stadium.
Patrick Vieira said when analyzing that game as a whole, perhaps a draw was the fair result. But it’s the way Crew SC equalized, and when, that irks the NYCFC coach.
“We have to defend like it’s the last game of the season. We have to defend, we have to concentrate and put our bodies on the line and the 11 players on the field have to defend before thinking about anything else,” Vieira said. “This is a lack of concentration and a lack of experience from some players we have around the pitch. This is a part of the game we need to improve.”
The way NYCFC are committed to attacking in their 4-3-3 formation, with outside backs like Ronald Matarrita and RJ Allen constantly bombing up the field, they are vulnerable to counterattacks.
“Yes, we try to play open football and when you try and play open football there is a possibility you give goals away. But it’s the sloppy goals you don’t want to concede and shouldn’t be conceding,” midfielder Frank Lampard said. “We need to clamp down on that.”
Lampard insists the ‘we’ is a collective ‘we’ and it’s not just about goalkeeper Josh Saunders and the back four.
“It’s a group thing,” Lampard said. “We try to address it through the week.”
Vieira addressed the need for defensive reinforcements when NYCFC signed Maxime Chanot in the transfer window, and the Luxembourg international has been impressive in his first three appearances.
However, Chanot received a post-match red card from referee Sorin Stoica Saturday night, which was followed by one issued to Vieira, a decision the club is appealing.
“You will understand it is not going to be fair or not a good period for me to talk about it,” Vieira said. “We made an appeal because we strongly believe that there is a case. Then we leave it in the hands of the people who make a decision. Until then I don’t want to get involved and talk about it.”
NYCFC will try to batten down the hatches against Robbie Keane and the rest of the LA Galaxy's explosive attack on Saturday (3 pm ET; ESPN in US, MLS LIVE in Canada).
