Minnesota United ventured to Yankee Stadium on Thursday and, as has been the case on their travels all season, got thumped. Christian Ramirez capitalized on an error from New York City FC goalkeeper Erik Johanen to give Minnesota an early lead, but goals from Alexander Callens, Jack Harrison and a lovely individual effort from David Villa put NYCFC ahead for good with just over an hour gone.
21,572 were on hand in the Bronx to watch Villa score his 11th of the season, and it was a great goal capped off with the Spaniard kissing the badge — his passion, commitment and excellence easily make him one of the league’s best Designated Player signings ever.
Who would bet against David Villa delivering the MLS Cup to New York City? Photo: @NYCFC | Twitter
Harrison started the move with a little flick into the path of Villa, but the forward was still 40 yards from goal with multiple defenders in front of him. He destroyed a defender with a meg, rode a challenge in the box when he could’ve gone down for a penalty, sorted his feet out and rifled a left-footed shot into the side netting.
We're running out of words, David Villa. pic.twitter.com/982Sgvxadl
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 30, 2017
Minnesota were effectively buried, and Patrick Viera’s club narrowed the gap behind Toronto at the top of the Eastern Conference to just two points.
As for Minnesota, the road has not been kind in their inaugural season. In nine away matches, the Loons have lost seven and drawn two, conceding a staggering 24 goals in the process.
While they’ve exceeded expectations when playing host at TCF Bank Stadium, they’ve been a shambles outside of Minnesota and that’s slowly killing any hope of competing for a playoff spot in the West.
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