After fully training on Friday for the first time in two weeks, the rarely available NYCFC midfielder Lampard is expected to play when the Blues take on the MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy (3 p.m. ET, ESPN) in what’s being labeled their toughest match of the season.
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“I’m getting better”, dos Santos said.
The pre-match build-up had been dominated by hype surrounding the renewal of the rivalry between the Galaxy s former England captain Steven Gerrard and City s Frank Lampard. “He’s a Chelsea legend and who could blame him for that?” Los Angeles won 2-1. We need every point we can get right now. At halftime, NYCFC had completed over 100 more passes than L.A (266/163) at a higher success rate (86.8%/ 84%) but was behind. I feel fit, and I’m happy for the confidence the coaches give me.
Nevertheless, the Galaxy should ultimately be feeling pretty content with how events played out given recent developments. It was a real team effort.
City hit back with a consolation penalty scored by Villa in the 80th minute, but Galaxy responded nearly immediately with Keane s second, slicing apart the City defence easily.
The ball was transferred quickly to Keane on the right flank, who picked out the unmarked Zardes who headed past City keeper Josh Saunders easily. It all goes down this afternoon in Carson. On Sunday, he’ll get his first chance to play against them.
“We have an advantage of finding Keane and Dos Santos, and then others join in, and we’re very unsafe going forward”. We have a solid structure around us of quality players. “You’ve seen that today”. “We didn’t have spots, and New York took interest”, he continued. Villa’s shot was blocked.
Villa had four shots on target blocked and missed another three attempts.
NYCFC’s supporting cast wilted in the bright spotlight.
‘This will become the norm, ‘ said Arena. The former England teammates may end up sharing little more than a curtain call: yet again, Lampard is listed questionable on the injury sheet with a tweaked quad.
He told BBC Sport: “We had many rivalries over the years with Liverpool and Chelsea, and it was intense”. Then in the 14th minute, Donovan Ricketts had to dive low to his left to parry away a David Villa rocket. When Beckham came in he didn’t have that.
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They face an extremely tough run-in in their bid to make the play-offs, however, and the weekend’s clash with LA at the StubHub Center will prove a formidable test of their post-season credentials. The Galaxy reinforced that lesson to NYCFC on Sunday. Talent is key, especially when the team across the pitch has so much of both.
