If your leading scorer and possible league MVP candidate were unable to play, if you were missing both your starting right and left backs, if you had the worst home record in the league and were playing the best defense in the league, would you believe your team would dominate the second best team in the west by 5-1? With a wizard like Frank Lampard you do not need to worry. He scored 3 and the team was not done there. That is a bit of magic and quite a trick …or hat-trick to be more specific.
Frank Lampard Made it Rain
With 10 goal in 11 games, Lampard is closing in on David Villa for the golden boot award. Villa leads the league with 13 goals but Lampard is right behind tied for 5th most in the league. Lampard scored the first hat-trick in New York City Football Club history on Saturday and helped the team run roughshod over the visiting Colorado Rapids.
Lampard’s second goal showed the reason he was signed and can still compete at an elite level even at 38. He received the ball just outside NYCFC’s box and made a nice outlet pass to a streaking Jack Harrison. Then he sprinted the entire length of the field to receive Harrison’s return pass and use his first touch to get the Rapid’s defenders off balance before he sent a stinging shot past Tim Howard and into the net. There were no boos for this man on Saturday.
The Team Concept
Patrick Viera from the start of his tenure has worked to implement a style of play and a team concept. NYCFC put it brilliantly on display on Saturday with Tony Taylor stepping in for David Villa and Diego Martinez and Jason Hernandez filling in admirably at right and left back.
It was the style of play that mattered. Creating chances and playing from the back. Even Maxime Chanot stepped in (seemingly right off the plane) for an injured Jefferson Mena and performed well.
This is Viera’s team now. There are hardly any remains of the Jason Kreis diamond formation. This is a team that rebounds from a loss with a decisive win. NYCFC sit atop the eastern conference with 36 points and are third in the Supporter’s shield race. Viera’s team clearly believes in the magic and the NYCFC fans are starting to as well.
