SEATTLE ā Through 17 games of the 2016 season, New York City FC now have the most road victories of any team in MLS.
NYCFC bagged another win away from Yankee Stadium against the Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field on Saturday, riding goals from Frank Lampard and Ronald Matarrita to a 2-0 victory. NYCFC is now a solid 4-2-1 on the road and 6-5-6 overall.
āI think itās because we commit and are working hard,ā said NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira. āWe respect our game plan and we didnāt give them any chance to really develop their game ā¦ I was really pleased because itās not an easy place to come and score two goals then go back to New York with no goals conceded.ā
Vieira cited his teamās all-around defensive effort to maintain the clean sheet in a tough environment as an important takeaway from Saturdayās result. Coming into the game, NYCFC had given up a league-high 31 goals.
āItās true that we conceded a few goals the last few games, but thatās why it was good today. Not just the three points, but how solid we looked,ā Viera said. āI was really pleased with not only the way we defended in the back four, but also the way David [Villa], Jack [Harrison] and Tommy [McNamara] worked really hard and made it difficult for them.ā
Lampardās opening goal in the 38th minute was the subject of much debate during and after the contest, as replays showed the ball might have taken a deflection off the English midfielderās arm before bouncing into the goal.
Matarrita would seal the result in the 84th minute, however, after a botched backpass from Seattleās Joevin Jones would eventually find the Costa Rica international in front of an empty net, allowing him to drive home a simple finish to seal the result.
āIn the second half, maybe we didnāt play so well,ā Lampard said. āBut I think we created more chances and I think we got a goal we deserved. I think Seattle canāt complain ā albeit theyāre a good team ā they canāt complain because I think we played well today.ā
Saturdayās result affords NYCFC some positive vibes as they gear up for their next fixture, which will see them return home for a big derby matchup against the New York Red Bulls at Yankee Stadium on July 3.