IRISH-QUALIFIED MIDFIELDER Tommy McNamara may have been on the losing side, but he still managed to produced a moment of magic in today’s New York Derby in MLS.
With his side, New York City, 3-0 down as the first half came to a close, McNamara produced a thunderbolt into the top corner to give the team faint hope of a comeback.
Unfortunately for him, the moment failed to inspire his teammates, as New York Red Bulls ultimately ran out 4-1 winners, with Bradley Wright Phillips grabbing a brace, along with goals from Sacha Kljestan and Ronald Zubar.
FOX Soccer / Twitter
FOX Soccer / Twitter / Twitter
It was a bad night for Patrick Vieira’s recently founded team, with Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard and David Villa all starting tonight but struggling to make a substantial impact.
Indeed, former Anderlecht star Kljestan ultimately eclipsed the more high-profile names on show, contributing a goal and two assists over the course of the 90 minutes.
Yet 25-year-old midfielder McNamara certainly didn’t disgrace himself in such esteemed company.
The New York-born player holds an Irish passport, as his paternal grandfather was born in Ireland.
McNamara explained in an interview with the official MLS website back in March that the FAI had expressed an interest in him, with no sign of the player being capped by the US team in the immediate future.
“Obviously I qualify for both and it would be an honor to represent either,” he added.
Vieira is also a fan of the player, who has impressed this season, and who seems to have developed a knack for scoring spectacular goals.
He’s a player who plays football with thinking,” the Arsenal legend said. “He’s really clever, technically he’s really good on the ball, he’s a team player, a positive player. I like him as a player and I like him as a person.”
In addition, check out the clip below from last March, when McNamara’s excellent form was discussed (from about the two-minute mark).
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