New York City FC vs. FC Dallas | 2016 MLS Match Preview

NEW YORK CITY FC vs. FC DALLAS
Yankee Stadium | Bronx, New York
Saturday, September 17 | Week #28 | MLS Game #286
7 pm ET (MLS LIVE, TXA-21, TWCSC-TX, YES)

A meeting of a pair of clubs which have designs on winning their conference titles is ahead when New York City FC play host to FC Dallas on Saturday evening at Yankee Stadium. NYCFC are on the verge of clinching a berth in the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs, sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference, two points off the top spot, following their 3-1 loss at the New England Revolution last weekend. FC Dallas are also on the brink of booking their passage to the postseason, sitting atop the Western Conference and the MLS overall table after their 1-0 home loss to the Colorado Rapids at Toyota Stadium last weekend.

• NYCFC lost their second consecutive road game, their winless run away from Yankee Stadium now at five matches following their 3-1 loss at the New England Revolution on Saturday evening. Frank Lampard netted his 12th goal of the season, all coming over the last 14 matches, dating back to June 18. Lampard has 12 goals and one assist over the span.
• FC Dallas suffered a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday evening at Toyota Stadium, putting an end to their club-record home undefeated streak after 19 games, dating back to last Aug. 29, the sixth-longest such streak in MLS history.
• The teams met once last year in NYCFC’s inaugural season, FC Dallas claiming a 2-1 win Sept. 12 at Toyota Stadium.

REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): Claudiu Badea; AR2 (opposite): Jason White; 4th: Jose Carlos Rivero
MLS Career: 54 games; FC/gm: 25.7; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 12; pens: 23

SUSPENDED: NYC: Federico Bravo (through Sept. 18)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: DAL: Matt Hedges
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: NYC: R.J. Allen … DAL: Maynor Figueroa
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (1 meeting): NYCFC 0 wins, 1 goal … FC Dallas 1 win, 2 goals … Ties 0
AT YANKEE STADIUM: First meeting.

LAST YEAR (MLS):
9/12: DAL 2, NYC 1 (Akindele 45; Michel 49+ -- Mullins 70)

• This is the only league meeting between the teams this season.
• The teams met once last year in NYCFC’s inaugural season, FC Dallas claiming a 2-1 win Sept. 12 at Toyota Stadium.
• Coaches record: Oscar Pareja vs. NYC: P1 W1 L0 D0 … Patrick Vieira vs. DAL: first game

LAST MATCH

• The Revolution went in front on 21 minutes when Juan Agudelo was played behind the NYCFC defense by Diego Fagundez before cutting inside and burying a shot inside the far upper corner. The lead was doubled three minutes before halftime when Kelyn Rowe cut back a ball from the right to the top of the box where Lee Nguyen calmly finished.
• NYCFC pulled a goal back four minutes into the second half when Frank Lampard knocked home RJ Allen's cross at the edge of the six-yard box. But the Revs had one final answer as Diego Fagundez made it 3-1 in the 58th minute when he struck from the top of the box.
• NYCFC manager Patrick Vieira made four changes to the team that came back for a late 3-2 win against D.C. United at RFK Stadium.
• Jason Hernandez and Ronald Matarrita came into the back four in place of Maxime Chanot and R.J. Allen, Federico Bravo started in the midfield for Andoni Iraola, and Steven Mendoza started in the attack in place of Jack Harrison.