When Frank Lampard went down with a calf injury that will sideline him 3-4 weeks, New York City FC coach Patrick Vieira called it a “massive loss.”
But it also is a massive opportunity for players to come off the bench and prove they can do the job in the veteran midfielder’s absence.
“When a player is injured, some of the players have a chance to show how good they are,” Vieira said.
That’s just what Steven Mendoza did Friday night in a 4-1 win over the Chicago Fire that put NYCFC on the brink of clinching a first-ever MLS Cup playoff berth.