NYCFC v D.C. United
David Villa nets winner as NYCFC snap skid, surge past DC United
NEW YORK -- Thomas McNamara, David Villa and Kwadwo Poku scored second-half goals and New York City FC beat DC United 3-1 on Thursday night in their inaugural matchup.
Villa had a go-ahead goal in the 80th minute. After a United turnover near midfield, Andrea Pirlo chipped the defense and Villa beat two defenders to poke the ball into the back of the net. Poku finished a nice individual effort with a goal in the 88th.
New York City (7-11-6) snapped a two-game losing skid, while Eastern Conference-leading United (13-8-5) had their three-game winning streak stopped.
Alvaro Saborio opened the scoring in the 36th minute for United. Chris Rolfe intercepted a back-pass at midfield, raced down the left side and fed an open Saborio at the penalty spot.
Two minutes later, NYCFC had a two-on-two counterattack, but Villa's close-range shot was blocked off the line by defender Bobby Boswell.
McNamara tied the match 1-1 in the 51st minute. Villa played a through ball to Poku, who beat goalkeeper Bill Hamid at the top of the 18-yard box and fed McNamara for a redirection.
The goal ended Hamid's 400-minute shutout streak, the longest in the MLS this season.
Game Information
MLS Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville SC | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | +20 | 33 |
| Inter Miami CF | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | +11 | 31 |
| Chicago Fire FC | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | +11 | 26 |
| New England Revolution | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | +4 | 25 |
| Red Bull New York | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | -7 | 22 |
| Charlotte FC | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | +1 | 21 |
| FC Cincinnati | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | -1 | 20 |
| New York City FC | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | +4 | 19 |
| D.C. United | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | -4 | 18 |
| Columbus Crew | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | -2 | 16 |
| CF Montréal | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | -9 | 14 |
| Orlando City SC | 15 | 4 | 2 | 9 | -21 | 14 |
| Toronto FC | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | -7 | 14 |
| Atlanta United FC | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | -9 | 11 |
| Philadelphia Union | 15 | 1 | 4 | 10 | -12 | 7 |

