Whitecaps suffer heartbreaking loss to NYCFC

Whitecaps manager Carl Robinson brought both s Pedro Morales and Octavio Rivero of the bench to add to the Vancouver attack. “I have to be fair to the ref now because I was ready to be negative about him after he gave their one”.

Sitting in eighth place with just four games to play – two spots out of the final playoff berth – New York City FC’s postseason hopes may rely on running the table. “I honestly feel that both penalty kick decisions were very poor”.

“He’s got the ball, I think everyone in the stadium could see it. I don’t know whether he felt (he needed to make) a make-up call or whatever, but the game’s about tackling”.

And they should receive a boost with the return of midfielder Matias Laba, who missed Vancouver’s last two MLS matches due to suspension. He appeared to get the ball cleanly, but Lampard tumbled to the turf and Salazar, after a bit of a delay, pointed to the spot as the Caps looked on in stunned belief.

New York City FC’s Frank Lampard, right, celebrates his goal against Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted, left, of Denmark, during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Saturday, September 26, 2015.

“It was two non-penalties”, Lampard said.

While a win will keep NYCFC in the playoff hunt for another week, they still need to rely on other teams to sneak in as the sixth seed.

Lampard, Pirlo and Villa – global superstars who have committed to big-money deals with New York City in the club’s inaugural season – showed their class throughout the night.

There was a large group of Chelsea supporters with a banner in one of the corners at B.C. Place Stadium, while Lampard, Pirlo and Villa jerseys dotted the sellout crowd of 21,000.

Vancouver (15-11-3) heads into weekend action tied with the New York Red Bulls in the race for the Supporters’ Shield with 48 points, while FC Dallas and the Los Angeles Galaxy are among the teams nipping at the Whitecaps’ heels in the Western Conference standings.

“It’s devastating”, said Ousted.

NYCFC arrived in Vancouver on Wednesday night with its trio of big-name signings: England’s Lampard, Italian maestro Andrea Pirlo and Spanish striker David Villa. “At this point in the season losing it like that is definitely tough”.

New York City FC (9-14-7) is in a much more desperate position, trailing Montreal by five points for the East’s final playoff spot with four matches left.

The victor came after Vancouver captain and second half substitute Pedro Morales scored on a penalty of his own in the 88th minute.

NYCFC appears to be picking up steam, though, winning its last two matches, the most recent a 3-2 home victory over San Jose last Saturday.