CARSON, Calif. – Omar Gonzalez has stood toe-to-toe with some of the best forwards in Major League Soccer but on Sunday, he’ll get a new test when he tangles with New York City FC forward tandem of David Villa and Kwadwo Poku.
Villa brings a legendary pedigree to StubHub Center having won a FIFA World Cup with Spain and a storied club career that included stops with FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid among others. The 33-year-old has hardly missed a beat with NYCFC this season, scoring 14 goals with seven assists in 22 matches for the expansion club.
On Sunday in front of a national television audience, it’ll be Gonzalez’s task to shut down the talented Spaniard which is something that the LA center back says he’s relishing the challenge.
“Something I noticed during MLS All-Star week is he’s very quick and very fast. It’s going to take a lot to be able to stop him,” Gonzalez said. “It’s going to be very difficult but I have my confidence in our team to be able to play a solid 90 plus minutes and come out with a shutout. That’s one of my goals for Sunday, to not give up any goals.”
But containing Villa will not be the only tough assignment as the defender and the rest of the Galaxxy defense must also stop the red-hot Poku who has scored three goals in his last two matches.
“He’s a big, strong guy. He's very fastand able to get in behind the line as well. He did that to Columbus the other night,” Gonzalez said referring to Poku’s brace in NYCFC’s 2-2 draw with Columbus Crew SC earlier in the week. “We just have to be aware of the space behind us because [Andrea] Pirlo, without even looking twice, will hit a ball over the top and you’re beat. We just have to be aware, be ready to drop quickly and keep them in front of us.”
