Lampard makes MLS debut against Impact

Oh well, at least he was finally on the pitch in New York at the end of a year-long wait.

While both men were greeted with heroes receptions at Yankee Stadium upon their match insertions, Lampard failed to spark New York City FC in the same way his Italian counterpart did one week ago. Yet once the season started – New York City’s first in MLS -and Villa began to illustrate just what a happy hunting ground America can be for 33-year-old former Champions League and World Cup victor, Lampard’s name slipped from memories.

“We got a lot of chances on the break and missed some opportunities, but we were strong enough to hold on and win the game”, Bush said.

But a few minutes later, the crowd quietly filed out of the Stadium after another disappointing result. With the goal, Villa is now second in the league in goals scored.

It was also a mixed bag for Pirlo, who started for the first time and played the entire 90 minutes after a little more than 30 minutes in a 5-3 win over Orlando City last weekend. With a defender bearing down on him and Saunders coming out of the net, Piatti chipped the goalkeeper from about eight yards on the left side for the first of his two goals and a 2-0 advantage.

Frank Lampard acknowledges the applause of fans as he enters the field to warm up. “It would’ve been better to come in and enjoy your 20 minutes rather than trying to make things happen so quickly”.

Didier Drogba, who signed with the Impact to much fanfare last week as a designated player, is not in match shape yet and wasn’t in the Montreal lineup. This the honor of starting the strike came from midfielder Andres Romero as his pass was latched onto by Ignacio Piatti. Coach Jason Kries would have been tempted to introduce Chelsea’s all-time record goalscorer at the interval yet, aware of the 37-year-old’s calf problem, held back, preferring to introduce Mix Diskerud and the lively Kwadwo Poku. “We still have one or two small injuries, but to have all the big guns ready and available tomorrow is exciting”.

While Kreis said he knows it will take some time for Lampard, Pirlo and the rest of the team’s newcomers to jell with their teammates, he is more concerned about NYCFC’s defensive form of late.

Less than a minute after the goal, McNamara cut the lead to 3-2, connecting from the left edge of the goal mouth past Bush as Villa helped set up the score with a nifty backheel pass.