The game in 100 words (or less): Frank Lampard was honored for his 300 goals for club and country, and then added a pair to his haul. But first, Luke Mishu’s mind-boggling choice to play opposition superstar David Villa in on goal turned the tables on DC United’s night, as New York City FC struck twice late to scoop up a 3-2 win on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium. Luciano Acosta put in a great shift for DC and helped set-up Lloyd Sam’s opener, but Villa and Lampard were given chances to score goals that players of their ilk tend to finish. DC tied it up through Lamar Neagle before Lampard feasted again, and NYCFC is back atop the East.
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A lot of moments that mattered
36′ — Combo play puts DC up 1-0 — One lapse is all it takes for a speedy attacker to make a team pay dearly, and RJ Allen learned that the hard way on Thursday at Yankee Stadium.
Luciano Acosta kept the ball for a spell on the left side before moving the ball to Patrick Nyarko via a crafty flick. Nyarko spotted a striding Lloyd Sam, who took advantage of a jogging Allen to slice a sweet finish past Josh Saunders.
The pass was perfect. The finish was clinical.@MrLloydSam puts DC up 1-0. #NYCvDC https://t.co/DyMJB0j078
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 1, 2016
79′ — What were you thinking, man? — That’s David Villa ghosting into the negative space, and Mishu regretting his Thursday.
85′ — Comeback complete through Lampard — Remember when fan boys crowded around Frank Lampard to point and laugh because he was hurt and couldn’t get on the field for NYCFC? Yeah. Fan boys.
90+1′ — Neagle at the death — Julian Buescher’s showed us how to offer up set pieces since he was at Syracuse, and Lamar Neagle headed a nice one home to give DC a share of the points.
90+4′ — Only it wasn’t the death — Lead a horse to water, and he’s gonna drink. Lampard’s a horse, and defending was poor here.
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Man of the match: Lampard
Goalscorers: Sam (36′), Villa (79′), Lampard (85′, 90+4′), Neagle (90+1′)