New York City 4, Colorado 0 - as it happened

FT: NYCFC defeat the Rapids 4-0. The Blues continue to be unbeatable at home.

From the opening kickoff, City was looking forward and dedicated as much effort as they could into the attack. Everyone pulled their weight and filled their role appropriately. David Villa was — obviously — the star of the contest, scoring a brace on his own holiday.

Overall, it was a party-like atmosphere from beginning to end in the Bronx on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

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78’: Tommy McNamara comes on for Yangel Herrera. Herrera also looked solid all game long. T-Mac gets a much needed appearance and a chance to show what he can do.

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74’: GOOOOOOOOAAAALLLLLLLLL!!! David Villa! The Spaniard gets a brace on his own holiday. NYCFC have come out in this second half with much more efficiency, and have been deadly on the attack

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71’: Rodney Wallace comes in for Jo Inge Berget. Quality shift from the Norweigan. Berget constantly worked hard on the attack, held up the play nicely, and made some good passes as well. Best shift I’ve seen from him in a while.

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63’: Jesus Medina comes on for Ismael Tajouri-Shradi. ITS, while not perfect, looked really strong today. His early chance in the very first minute set the tone for the one-sided onslaught we’ve witnessed thus far.

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56’: GOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!! Maxi Moralez! NYCFC have broken the game wide open and have gone on an offensive rampage in the second half. City takes a 3-0 lead, and all but seals a victory.

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49’: GOOOOOOALLL! Ronald Matarrita! The Costa Rican heads the ball in on the rebound from Berget’s shot. City takes a 2-0 lead and gives themselves breathing space.

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HT: NYCFC leads 1-0 at the half. David Villa’s 69th goal for the Boys in Blue remains the game’s lone tally.

City has looked pretty solid in their 3-4-3 formation. Everyone is getting involved and every attack has seemed dangerous. And though there were some scary moments in the half’s dying minutes, NYCFC have maintained control and have not committed any glaring mistakes.

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33’: The Blues have not relinquished control. through the first half hour of the game, City has outpossessed the Rapids 70% to 30%.

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22’: GOOOOOOAAAAAL! David Villa! Tim howard’s forward pass is intercepted by Yangel Herrera, who lays it off to Maxi Moralez. The Argentine finds an unmarked Villa in the box, who effortlessly finesses it around Howard. NYCFC now lead 1-0.

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12’: NYCFC has stayed sharp. David Villa and Jo Inge Berget have been a constant presence in the opposing third and have put Colorado’s defense under immense pressure. They are still looking for a goal, though.

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5’: City is on the front foot to start. Ismael Tajouri-Shradi almost put the blues up in the first minute, but was saved by Tim Howard.

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1’: David Villa day is under way! NYCFC in their signature home blue as they look to return to winning form against the struggling Colorado

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Rosters

New York City Starting XI (3-4-3, L-to-R): Johnson; Matarrita, Callens, Ibeagha; Herrera, Ofori, Ring, Moralez; Berget, Villa, Tajouri-Shradi

Bench: Stuver; Hountondji, Tinnerholm, Sweat, McNamara, Medina, Wallace

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: MF Alexander Ring, MF Yangel Herrera
• Injury: QUESTIONABLE: D - Maxime Chanot (undisclosed injury)

Colorado Rapids Starting XI (3-5-2, L-to-R): Howard (c); Smith, Wilson, Wynne; Castillo, Nicholson, Azira, Boateng, Martinez; Mason, Badji

Bench: Boli, Colvey, Gashi, MacMath, McBean, Serna, Sjöberg

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: F Dominique Badji
• Injury: OUT: D - Kortne Ford (left MCL sprain), D - Marlon Hairston (right knee surgery)

Referees: Christopher Penso (referee); Jeremy Hanson, Nick Uranga (assistant referees); Baldomero Toledo (4th official); Kevin Terry, Jr. (VAR)

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How To Watch

Match date & time: May 13, 2018, 1:00 p.m. EST

Venue: Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, NY

Online streaming: FOX Sports Go

TV: YES

Local radio: WNYE 91.5 FM — English (Crooks, Kolker, Masur, Lawrence); WADO 1280 AM — Spanish (Abramowitz, Judas).

All-time series: To say the Rapids are struggling is to merely be blunt about things. They are. Then again, aside from a sparkling 2016 season — the best in club history — Colorado has largely struggled since winning their sole MLS Cup in 2010.

New York City and Colorado have met three times. Two of those occasions have ended in draws. Their lone encounter in The Bronx, however, resulted in a 5-1 pasting of the Rapids. Frank Lampard scored a hat trick, and Tony Taylor and Stiven Mendoza added a goal apiece on July 30, 2016.

If anything, the New York City squad lining up today is even more potent. But if manager Patrick Vieira has learned anything, it’s that it’s potentially the easiest games on the schedule that can prove the most stout of challenges.

This post will update with highlights and information as we receive it.