NEW YORK – The Patrick Vieira era at New York City FC started with a win at Chicago, but the club has yet to win at home. A 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution Saturday afternoon meant the team has grabbed just two points out of a possible nine at Yankee Stadium so far.
“When you analyze properly, we are happy with the points we take tonight because I think New England deserved more from the game because they create better chances than we did,” Vieira said. “Of course, it is something we need to work on because three games at home, two points is not good enough for a football club like New York City.”
NYCFC took the lead on a Tommy McNamara header in front of goal, but conceded late in the first half following a costly foul in a dangerous position committed by Tony Taylor. Chris Tierney buried the free kick from 20 yards, which took a deflection off the head of forward Steven Mendoza and past a wrong-footed goalkeeper Josh Saunders in the 38th minute.
Still, NYCFC was given a major advantage when referee Ricardo Salazar sent off Gershon Koffie for a challenge from behind on McNamara in midfield in the 51st minute. Yet visiting New England proved to be more dangerous going forward in the final 40 minutes.
“We didn’t play well today. We had a bad game,” NYCFC captain David Villa said. “Things didn’t come out as we wanted them to. When you get one point, it’s always better than getting none, but I was a lot happier after the game against Orlando.”
Vieira echoed that sentiment. The positivity that was building through most of the first month of the season took a step back with a lackluster performance against the Revs.
“We played with a little bit lack of a personality and we didn’t make proper decisions,” Vieira said. “We didn’t play. We didn’t play at all. When you don’t play it’s difficult to expect something from the game.”
There was a glimmer of hope late when half the stadium rose and cheered, thinking McNamara’s attempt deep into stoppage time was in the net, rather than off the outside netting.
McNamara believed the effort was there, but the execution in the final third was lacking.
“It’s tough,” McNamara said. “Obviously when the team does down a man, they’re going to sit in and it makes it harder to break down with a little less space in the final third. They made it difficult for us.”
