FOXBOROUGH, Mass.āAfter a brief exchange with a reporter, New York City FC coach Patrick Vieira let his thoughts on Jack Harrisonās26th-minute red card loose.
āIt was a ridiculous red card,ā Vieira said. āI see it again at halftime, I see it again after the game and I still donāt understand the decision of the referees. He tried his best to have a good game, and I think his performance wasnāt the best part of the game. Today, it was against us. The sending off changed the feel of the game.ā
Vieira went on to praise the New England Revolution, which dealt City a 2-1 defeat at Gillette Stadium, but questioned referee Nima Saghafiās decision. It came after Harrison went studs up into a challenge with Teal Bunbury, resulting in the 20-year-oldās first sending off of his career.
While he was on the bench for the first half, forward Khiry Shelton, who scored NYCFCās sole goal deep into stoppage time, also thought the red card was harsh.
āWeāre not always going to agree with the decision, but from my perspective it wasnāt a red,ā Shelton said. āIt was a yellow and a warning. If you look at the video, he pulled out of it at the last second and itās tough. We have to move on from it and look forward."
Down to 10 men and in search of the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, New York didnāt set back in a defensive shell. Rather, Shelton and David Villa, whoās sitting on 20 goals for the year, pressed the Revs. That wasnāt enough, though, to negate a two-goal showing from Diego Fagundez, whose strikes on either side of halftime secured a club-record 12th win at home for the Revs.
In balance of those two efforts, Vieira said he liked his team responded but it was always going to be an uphill battle.
āIt was really difficult for us to go higher and put more pressure on them, because they are really good on the ball and well organized," Vieira said. "Sometimes you have to accept the opposition can play better. It was really difficult 11-vs.-11, so 10-vs.-11 was even more difficult for us.ā
Still, New York City will head into its final game of the regular season, a home game vs. Columbus Crew SC, without Harrison, a starting winger who has chipped in 10 goals and six assists this season.
New York will also have a chance to clinch the No. 2 seed, and that chance wasnāt lost on Sean Johnson after his eight-save performance against New England.
āIt is what it is and we still have our destiny in our hands,ā Johnson said. āWe win, weāre second place and thatās how we can approach this last game.ā