Aug 13, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York City FC midfielder Kwadwo Poku (88) battles for the ball with D.C. United midfielder Perry Kitchen (23) during the first half of their soccer match at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK --
Thomas McNamara, David Villa and Kwadwo Poku scored second-half goals and New York City FC beat D.C. United 3-1 on Thursday night in their inaugural matchup.
Villa had a go-ahead goal in the 80th minute. After a D.C. United turnover near midfield, Andrea Pirlo chipped the defense and Villa beat two defenders to poke the ball into the back of the net. Poku finished a nice individual effort with a goal in the 88th.
New York City (7-11-6) snapped a two-game losing skid, while Eastern Conference-leading D.C. United (13-8-5) had their three-game winning streak stopped.
Alvaro Saborio opened the scoring in the 36th minute for D.C. United. Chris Rolfe intercepted a back-pass at midfield, raced down the left side and fed an open Saborio at the penalty spot. Two minutes later, NYCFC had a two-on-two counterattack, but Villa's close-range shot was blocked off the line by defenseman Bobby Boswell.
McNamara tied the match at 1 in the 51st minute. Villa played a through ball to Poku, who beat goalkeeper Bill Hamid at the top of the 18-yard box and fed McNamara for a redirection.
The goal ended Hamid's 400-minute shutout streak, the longest in the MLS this season.
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