Photo by Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports

By RYAN TOLMICH

NEW YORK – Standing with his arms raised in front of his club’s supporters’ section, a massive weight was suddenly removed from the shoulders of Frank Lampard.

Exactly 420 days since being revealed as a New York City FC player, Frank Lampard scored his first goal for the club, leading NYCFC to a 2-0 victory over Toronto FC Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

In terms of practical meaning, Lampard’s finish, paired with a second half tally from Patrick Mullins, means that NYCFC’s fight for the postseason pushes on with the faintest of hope. Yet, in personal meaning, Lampard’s goal means that much more for a midfielder that has endured a stop-and-start campaign to say the least.

“Brilliant. It was brilliant,” Lampard said of the goal. “Obviously, I don’t think it was the best. It just sort of rolled into the corner, but it was great to get off the mark. It’s been a tough start for me with the injuries. With the first goal, I’m getting fitter.”

“It felt good for everyone. Everyone was really excited for him,” added midfielder Andrew Jacobson. “He’s worked so hard since he’s got here. He’s a great guy in the locker room, great guy on the practice field. Everyone’s rooting for him.”

Following the much-discussed Manchester City fiasco, the Englishman joined his new teammates in June, eager to prove his value after a frustrating start to his relationship with supporters.

Perhaps overzealous, Lampard rushed into action for NYCFC, despite nursing an injury.

Facing with the rival New York Red Bulls, Andrea Pirlo and Lampard were mocked, depicted as old men by Red Bull Arena’s tifo display. Citing the display as “good fun,” Lampard said he found the funny side in the display, saying the supporters’ depiction was much more friendly than some of those against him back in England.

Yet, after 85 minutes, the tifo proved prophetic, as Lampard and his 38-year-old legs limped off again due to injury, one that once again threatened to doom his inaugural NYCFC campaign as little more than a waste.

Thursday’s goal is one that is far from a heal-all, something Lampard was quick to admit. Yet, no matter how small, it’s a start.

“All I can do is speak to the frustration that I’ve heard from him about the injury situation and not being able to contribute to finally contribute to the group,” said head coach Jason Kreis. “He’s an unbelievable professional and he’s an unbelievable person. He really has desperately wanted to help this group for a really long time. I think that he felt, I’m sure, quite relieved by that goal.”

“It’s been frustrating for me,” Lampard added. “Nobody is more frustrated when you’re not playing than the player himself, and I found that out. You want to get back. I want to show everyone what I can do. It’s a goal, and I’ll get fitter.”

Now, with a goal in his back pocket and the fans once again cheering his name, Lampard remains focused on getting his team into the postseason.

As thing stand, the end of the season look bleak, a fact Lampard is quick admit. Faced with a series of “cup finals,” Lampard and NYCFC face an uphill climb into a postseason spot.

“There will be more goals, I hope, and I’m confident of that,” Lampard said. “For me personally, it was nice, and for the team, like I said, it’s never nice when you lose games, so it’s very important to get back on the winning track and it will be important to do it again on Saturday.”