In a match that both teams needed all three points, New York FC City left it late to beat D.C. United at home and move into first place in the Eastern conference standings as Major League Soccer arrived to New York City on Thursday night.

The match was not one for the purists for most of the time but the last ten or so minutes provided a show that most soccer fans would enjoy as they saw four goals in the last minutes of the match, two coming within five minutes of added time. Frank Lampard was undoubtedly the winner of the night.

NYCFC start off on top

Head coach Patrick Vieira had asked his team to show some intensity in this match and for the most part, his team responded. NYCFC had a majority of the possession in the first half and produced the first real chances of the match due to that control of tempo. In the 13th minute, Andrea Pirlo got forward and found himself with some space at the top of the box. The midfielder then proceeded to try and bend his shot in but his effort was blocked by DC's defenders.

Three minutes later, it was Thomas McNamara's turn to test Billy Hamid in D.C. United's goal. The forward tried a curling right-footed effort which was headed into the near corner. But Hamid was up to the task and made a spectacular save to keep the score line at nil-nil.

It was all NYCFC for the first 25 minutes of the match as DC inexplicably left RJ Allen alone out wide over and over again. The left back took advantage of that space given to him and put in some telling crosses that his teammates were just a touch away from converting. Lampard and his trademark late runs from midfield were also causing D.C. United all sorts of problems, leaving them to make last ditch tackles to prevent Lampard from making a telling contribution

DC's breaking speed pays dividends

From almost the first whistle, D.C. United clearly intended to sit deep and then use the pace up front of Patrick MullinsLuciano AcostaLloyd Sam and Patrick Nyarko to break quickly in transition. One such break in the 30th minute gave them a thrown in deep in NYCFC's half which they almost capitalized on. The ball came in and NYCFC goalkeeper Josh Saunders came for the ball but flapped for it. Bobby Boswell, who had come forward for the set piece got his effort in but slipped as he made contact which allowed NYCFC's defenders to clear the ball. It was a warning sign for NYCFC and they did not take heed to it.

Six minutes later, Jefferson Mena gave the ball away needlessly in midfield to Acosta who drove forward before finding Nyarko with a cute pass. Nyarko then quickly slid a nice through ball to Lloyd Sam who was wide open near the top of the box and the English midfielder made no mistake to give D.C. United the lead in the 36th minute.

Mullins almost got the second in the last minute of stoppage time when Nyarko played a long ball that Mullins latched onto. The former NYCFC man then muscled NYCFC's Maxine Chanot off the ball before forcing an excellent save by Saunders who was 1v1 with Mullins.

Lampard and Vincent battle for the ball | Source: mlssoccer.com
Lampard and Vincent battle for the ball | Source: mlssoccer.com

NYCFC push for a goal early but DC stand firm

The second half started with two substitutions made by Vieira which was clearly a statement for his team to go out and grab a goal early. The team responded and almost did as asked in the 48th minute when a corner kick found the head of substitute Frederico Bravo but he could only direct it wide. D.C. United knew that they were ahead and they decided to stick with their game plan from the the first half as NYCFC continued to struggle to break them down.

The next opportunity of the match fell to DC when NYCFC goalkeeper Saunders came way out to clear the ball in the 58th minute. The ball flew into the sky before being brought down deftly by Acosta. The creative midfielder, who had been lively all game, then found Nyarko out wide and in space. Nyarko squared the ball to Sam, who as once again wide open in the box but the midfielder somehow missed an open net from close range. NYCFC continued to probe but they could not find a way past a resolute D.C. United back line and it looked like they were destined to lose the match.

A costly mistake gives NYCFC belief again

As the second half wore on, it looked like it would take a mistake from a DC player to give NYCFC a clear chance in front of goal and DC head coach Ben Olsen could only watch in disbelief as in the 79th minute, left back Luke Mishu played a blind back pass from midfield to his goalkeeper. His pass did not have enough power and was intercepted by Villa who had been coming back into play. The former Spanish international only needs one chance to score and he made no mistake in putting NYCFC back onto level terms.

That goal sucked the belief and life out of DC and it was all NYCFC from then on. In the 85th minute, Lampard got himself on the score sheet to give NYCFC the lead. Substitute Khiry Shelton's determination won the ball back for NYCFC on the byline and it found Villa in the box. A tackle by Boswell took the ball away from Villa but Lampard was on the spot to pick up the scraps and side-foot the ball home.

Lampard is now on 302 all-time career goals | Source: espnfc.com
Lampard is now on 302 all-time career goals | Source: espnfc.com

Substitutes provide an exciting ending to the match

Many could be forgiven for thinking that the game was done but DC, and substitute Lamar Neagle, had not given up. A long throw was not cleared properly by NYCFC and the ball found another DC substitute, Julian Büscher, outside the box. The midfielder let go a vicious effort on target that Saunders had to tip over for a corner. Büscher proceeded to bend an outswinging corner into the box which found Neagle and he proceeded to outjump his marker and power his header home. DC were back on level terms in the 91st minute and ensured a wild ending to this match.

Both teams pushed for a winner at the end but it was Lampard, who was celebrating reaching 300 goals for both and country before the match began, that had the final say on the outcome. Shelton, who had been effective since coming on for NYCFC pushed forward and found Lampard in the box. The former England international then proceeded to side step his marker and score the winner for NYCFC in the 93rd minute, three minutes into stoppage time.

NYCFC are now top in the east and are level with FC Dallas in the race for the MLS Supporters Shield, having played a game more than the Western conference team while DC are still in the final playoof spot but have now opened the door for Orlando City SC to leapfrog them this weekend.

Coming up

Next up for NYCFC is an away trip against the New England Revolution while D.C. United will be back in New York to face the New York Red Bulls.

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