New York City FC, with just one win in 12 MLS games, anxiously awaits the arrival of former England international and Chelsea (England Premier League) midfielder, Frank Lampard, to its rescue. Lampard played his last Premier League game on Sunday, with Manchester City, and is now New York bound. His much anticipated arrival date or first game for NYCFC (1-7-4, 7 pts.) was not announced by the club, but the NYCFC fans are anxious, and are hoping for a Frank Lampard Rescue Act.
The team had an unwelcomed return to Rio Tinto Stadium last Saturday in a 2-0 loss to Real Salt Lake, where NYCFC coach Jason Kreis and several NYCFC players made their home until the start of this New York franchise. Kreis led RSL to the 2009 MLS Cup title. New York City FC hosts the Houston Dynamo at Yankee Stadium Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
The 36-year-old Lampard, who scored 259 goals in 882 club matches for West Ham United, Chelsea and Manchester City, said of his warm send-off after scoring in City’s 2-0 win over Southampton on Sunday, “It was emotional but I am very proud…” Lampard continued, “I can go away saying it was an absolute pleasure. I still feel fit and I feel like I can play for a couple more years. Maybe I could have done that in the Premier League, my choice is to play in America.
Lampard said of joining New York City FC: “That is my new challenge now. I feel fit and ready to go for it. I don’t want to go and make up the numbers. I want to go there and carry on and do something good.”
Red Bulls Lose
The New York Red Bulls (4-2-5, 17 pts.) lost for the first time at home this season and for the second consecutive game when the Philadelphia Union (3-7-3, 12 pts.) inflicted a 2-0 defeat on the home team last Sunday afternoon at Red Bull Arena. Vincent Nogueira redirected Cristian Maidana’s shot on goal for the 1-0 lead in the 57th minute, and second half substitute C.J. Sapong scored the insurance goal in the 62nd.
The Red Bulls travel to CenturyLink Field for a meeting with the Seattle Sounders in a 5:00 p.m. game on Sunday (ESPN). The all-time series between the team is even as both teams have won thrice with three draws. In the teams’ last meeting, in September 2014, New York galloped to a 4-1 win at Red Bull Arena behind a hat trick from Bradley Wright-Phillips.
USA in FIFA Cup
The USA is fielding what many believe is the country’s most talented under-20 team to date in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand. Coached by former U.S. forward Tab Ramos, the USA kicks off the 24-team tournament on Saturday, May 29, at midnight against Myanmar (3 AM, Fox Sports I).
Seven MLS players are in the squad, including central defender Matt Miazga of the New York Red Bulls. The recent addition to the team is highly touted Arsenal FC (English Premier League) midfielder Gedion Zelalem. The German-born Zelalem previously played for Germany but since became a U.S. citizen.
The FIFA Under-20 World Cup started in 1977 and has been dominated by Argentina (six titles) and Brazil (five titles). The USA’s best showing came in a fourth-place finish in 1989. In the last tournament, 2013, the Americans were last in their group, which included Spain, Ghana and eventual winners France.
The U.S. is expected to finish in the top two of Group A and advance to the second round, when it competes in group play against Myanmar (May 29, midnight), host New Zealand (June 1, 3 AM) and Ukraine (June 4, 3 AM). All games on Fox Sports I.
Caribbean Cup
The New York Caribbean Cup kicked off its 2015 season on Sunday, May 24, at the Thomas Jefferson Sports Complex in Brooklyn. In the feature game, veteran forward Renson Haynes scored a brace to lead Team St. Vincent and the Grenadines to a 3-0 shutout of Team Antigua and Barbuda; defender Rayvon Jack scored the other goal for the Vincentians.
In the preceding game, Team Haiti got a hat trick from Alfrea Sonthonax and a tally from Chris Pierre to knock off Team Panama, 4-0. Play resumes Sunday at 3:00 PM at the same venue when Team Trinidad and Tobago meets Team Dominica and defending champion Team Jamaica comes up against Team St. Kitts and Nevis in the feature game.
USA Women
The USA Women’s National Team plays Korea Republic at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, May 30, at 4:30 P.M. ET (ESPN, UDN) in its last warm-up game before heading to Canada for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in June. The Americans play Australia (June 8), Sweden (June 12) and Nigeria (June 16) in its group matches.
