PURCHASE, N.Y. ā New York City FC have scored a league-leading 43 goals, a distinction they share with their rivals the New York Red Bulls. Itās 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 itās the way Crew SC equalized, and when, that irks the NYCFC coach.
āWe have to defend like itās 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,ā Vieira said. āThis 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.ā
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.
āYes, we try to play open football and when you try and play open football there is a possibility you give goals away. But itās the sloppy goals you donāt want to concede and shouldnāt be conceding,ā midfielder Frank Lampard said. āWe need to clamp down on that.ā
Lampard insists the āweā is a collective āweā and itās not just about goalkeeper Josh Saunders and the back four.
āItās a group thing,ā Lampard said. āWe try to address it through the week.ā
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.
āYou will understand it is not going to be fair or not a good period for me to talk about it,ā Vieira said. āWe 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 donāt want to get involved and talk about it.ā
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).