Without many of its regulars, New York City FC suffered their first ever defeat in MLS, 1-0, at home against Sporting Kansas City. Already without suspended Shawn Facey and internationals Adam Nemac and Khiry Shelton, NYCFC also had to play without star David Villa. Villa decided to sit the match with a lingering groin injury and make sure it heals fully during the bye week. 

Ike Opara scored the lone goal in the match off a Matt Besler throw in the 13th minute of the first half. Besler utilized the narrow Yankee Stadium pitch, as he said after the match he practiced before the match on a 68 yard narrow field in preparation for the match. That goal insured that NYCFC would be down a goal for the first time this season.

Midfielder Sebastian Velasquez (groin) and defender Josh Williams (precautionary) were also left out of the match. 

NYCFC struggled again during the first half, falling behind the ball and failing to muster up any real chances towards the Sporting goal. Javier Calle and Patrick Mullins, Villa and Nemac's replacements, were slow and failed to create much of anything during the match.

Defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe played well after suffering the first goal, locking down Sporting KC's striker Dom Dwyer. Young and promising NYCFC midfielder Kwadwo Poku finally got his chance as he was subbed on in the second half for his first appearance in MLS this season. Poku controlled the ball well and was very Yaya Toure-esque with his passing, creating many chances during stoppage time. 

NYCFC Tidbits:

-Frank Lampard was at Yankee Stadium this weekend, but only to watch his future club while the EPL is on their international break. Sources told Nick Chavez that there is a chance Lampard could come over before the scheduled July date. Lampard was also photographed at the match and as well as apartment hunting with his fiancée. 

-Longtime NYCFC target Xavi is in Doha to complete his signing with Qatari club Al Saad. Xavi is expected to make double in Qatar than what he would in New York. Xavi used CFG as leverage to gain the power he wanted within the Qatari Organization.

-NYCFC is close to reaching 16,000 season ticket holders.

- Ryan Meara left Wilmington and has returned to rejoin NYCFC in New York.

-NYCFC rookie Khiry Shelton came on as a second-half substitute in the United States U-23 5-2 victory over Bosnia.

-Forward Adam Nemec scored for Slovakia in a Euro 2016 qualifying win over Luxembourg.