We're used to seeing moments of magic from New York City FC forward David Villa – he is the reigning MLS MVP, after all. But he might well have topped them all on Friday evening against the Philadelphia Union
With the clock winding down, Villa chased down a bouncing ball just inside the Union half with two Philadelphia defenders closing in on him. Instead of playing it back to a teammate, though, he went for the spectacular, lobbing 2016 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Andre Blake from well over 50 yards to ice a hard-fought NYCFC win (watch above).
Just minutes later, he breathlessly broke down the goal for ESPN's Julie Stewart-Binks:
Hasta el mismo @Guaje7Villa no se lo cree. ¡CRACK! pic.twitter.com/0FPtx3wmVD
— Fútbol MLS (@futbolMLS) April 15, 2017
While Villa was his typical soft-spoken self when recounting the incredible goal he scored minutes earlier, Patrick Vieira and Andrea Pirlo – who, like Villa, have won a World Cup and played for some of the world's elite clubs – gushed about the effort.
"It is one of the best goals that I have ever seen in my career," Pirlo said after the game. "When David scored one goal like that, it’s incredible, because now it is the best in the history of the club."
Said Vieira: "If you look at the period of the game where everyone is tired and has heavy legs, and to have the eye to see the goal forward and to execute the technical side of the volley was fantastic, and it’s good because that second goal was very important, and of course it was one of the best goals I have ever seen."
According to ESPN's Paul Carr, it was the longest goal in MLS since at least 2012:
All you can really do now is tip your cap to El Guaje – with efforts like that, his fourth goal of the year to go with three assists through six games, it's a safe bet he'll be in the mix for another MVP award this year.
