New York City FC could have been the third team in-a-row to lose a vital late-season match to the Houston Dynamo.<\/p>\n
Instead, against the team that defeated Real Salt Lake and the Portland Timbers, City were in control, helping them end the weekend in a tie with the New York Red Bulls for first in the East.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a tough place to come and try to play,\u201d head coach Patrick Vieira said, \u201cbut I think\u00a0<\/span>tonight<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>we did it really well. I\u2019m really pleased with our team performance because I truly believe that we controlled the game. We managed the game really well.<\/p>\n \u201cWe played well when we had possession of the ball and out of possession I think we\u2019ve been really aggressive, and we didn\u2019t give them time on the ball. That was a really good team performance away from home.\u201d<\/p>\n NYCFC were able to dictate the match with 57 percent of the possession. \u00a0They completed 83 percent of their passes and kept the Dynamo without a shot on target. Though The Pigeons needed set pieces and counterattacks to find their goals, they created more of the chances throughout the match. David Villa finished his chances for his second double in as many weeks to go atop the Golden Boot race with 21 goals.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it was a difficult game [after] a long trip almost at the end of the season,\u201d Villa said. \u201cAfter having played many games and the team has given it all since the beginning. We are very pleased for the way we worked throughout the week and for the game we have done in offense and defense.\u201d<\/p>\n Vieira fielded\u00a0an attack-minded starting lineup with R.J. Allen at right back and Jack Harrison entering the lineup for Steven Mendoza who had an injured hamstring. Andoni Iraola often dropped in between the centerbacks to help the team keep possession and play from the back also allowing Allen and Ronald Matarrita to play\u00a0inside.<\/p>\n As a result, City were able to remain compact with and without the ball limiting any openings for the Dynamo.<\/p>\n \u201cWe give players the structure and then they express themselves and they express their talent,\u201d Vieira said. \u201cDavid just played the way that the team played. It was really aggressive up front. We closed them down. We made it really difficult for them. And then when we create chances, they know how to score goals.<\/p>\n