We’re having a real good reminiscing here on NYCFC.com as we bid “so long” to 2016.
In that spirit, we asked members of our digital team for their favorite moments of the season and this is what they came up with…
As you’ll find out, they were asked independently and there was no conferring, meaning one moment might just feature twice!
On the Road – Milo Kowalski
I made my own trip out to Portland for the weekend of the Timbers match and to experience the atmosphere at Providence Park from down at pitch level. It turned out to be, at least to my mind, one of the first signature road wins of the season, marked particularly by Tommy McNamara’s goal that day.
The first half the team absorbed a good deal of pressure, and Josh stood pretty tall more than once to get it to halftime ahead 1-0. Portland ties up the match at 1-1 early in the second half, sending the Timbers Army into an even more raucous mood, green smoke and jeers and sawdust all around us. But it was only about ten minutes later that Tommy got the ball from Andrea in his signature spot outside the 18 to tee up one of his signature rockets, and from the second he hit it, I was at an angle down on the near sideline such that I could tell it was sailing gloriously into the net.
The boys held on, and nabbed themselves a third straight—and very hard-earned—win for the first time on the season.
Mexican Wave – Austin Schindel
One of my favorite moments of the year didn’t actually happen during a league match. I loved going to Mexico for our friendly against Necaxa.
The passion, atmosphere, and good will towards the team was second to none. Once the game came around, despite being an exhibition, both teams played well and throughout the match fans were chanting for Villa and Pirlo, something you never see from an opposing fanbase.
It was in that moment that I realized what NYCFC could mean on the world stage.
Tommy Mac Solidifies the “Hot Spot” - Carter Daly
In the young history of New York City Football Club one thing is for certain – Thomas McNamara will score from long-range. Maybe none of his curling efforts has been as awe-inspiring and important to the team as this strike over the then-defending MLS Cup Champion Portland Timbers in front of the Timbers Army at Providence Park.
This one has it all – the setting, the dip, the result (NYCFC took 1st place in the Eastern Conference on this day) – and a no-look assist from one Andrea Pirlo to top it off.
After hitting similar goals in the Club’s Inaugural Season, and of course the stunning MLS season opener in Chicago earlier in the year – Tommy Mac, in true NBA Jam fashion – officially solidified the “hot spot” with this one in the Pacific Northwest. It wouldn’t be the last time we saw the midfielder find that upper right corner…
Return of the Lampard – Andrew Quirk
Frank Lampard returned from the offseason in 2016 fresh and ready to go. Little did Frank know that he would sustain a calf injury in the preseason that would hold him out for a prolonged period of time, much to the dismay of the supporters. Initial timetables were unclear as to his return but the team carried on.
June 18, 2016. Frank Lampard was slated to make his first start of the season. Yankee Stadium erupted as Frank scored the opening goal and a full DP hat trick ensued.
Frank scored 12 goals and assisted 3 more in 15 starts, becoming a crucial cog in the midfield machine, scoring the first hat trick in the Club’s history and helping NYCFC reach its first ever MLS Playoffs.
A Win Over the Red Bulls – Jose Medrano
One of my favorite moments was our win over the Red Bulls at home. Everyone had been working so hard leading up to the game and it was amazing to see all that work pay off. It felt even more amazing to get our first derby win!
