New York City FC will host a playoff game for the first time in club history when they take on Toronto FC in the second leg of the Eastern Conference semifinals Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET from Yankee Stadium.
NYCFC trails 2-0 in the aggregate series and will look to find some more magic at Yankee Stadium where they are unbeaten in their last eight games (7-0-1).
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“I don’t think we have to panic,” midfielder Frank Lampard said. “We’re all frustrated after the game, but once the dust settles I think you realize we’re very capable of winning by two goals. We’ll play on the front foot, which is what we’ve done at home all year anyway.”
With the exception of Shannon Gomez and Connor Brandt, who are out with long-term injuries, manager Patrick Vieira should have a full compliment of players for the critical second leg, including Andrea Pirlo, who missed the first leg with a tight calf.
“What is really good is that everybody wants to play the game,” Vieira said.
In games at Yankee Stadium against Toronto FC, NYCFC has scored eight goals and hasn’t lost in three all-time matches. On March 13, David Villa struck for a brace in a 2-2 draw. Villa also scored twice in a wild 4-4 draw last July and Lampard scored his first goal for NYCFC in a 2-0 victory last September.
“It will be important for us to keep our calm, to be really composed and to concentrate on the way we want to play,” Vieira said. “When you play against a team like that it will be really difficult for us not to concede. So we have to have a different approach because we are two-nil down. It will be important for us to create chances, to score goals, not to concede will be a difficult task. But we will be well prepared and give ourselves the best chance to succeed.”
The winner faces either the New York Red Bulls or the Montreal Impact in the Eastern Conference finals. Montreal leads 1-0 in that series heading into the second leg at Red Bull Arena. Buy your tickets below!
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