Harrison the hero with late winner as NYCFC tops Sporting KC 1-0

Well, that was 90 minutes of football.

A soaked and slick Yankee Stadium pitch not made any easier to navigate thanks to the narrow dimensions played host to two of Major League Soccer's best sides Wednesday.

In the end, New York City FC escaped with a 1-0 win and the three points against a Sporting Kansas City that remains locked on 40 points.

An unmarked Jack Harrison was the hero for NYCFC with an 84th-minute left-footed dribbler that bounced beyond the reach of lunging Sporting KC 'keeper Tim Melia.

The deciding moment was a microcosm of a match with loose marking and heavy touches as the Englishman waited for what seemed like an eternity as the ball fell to his feet.

Patrick Vieira's lot was without nine players, including influential pair David Villa and Alexander Ring, while Sporting missed USMNT internationals Matt Besler and Graham Zusi.

The victory was NYCFC's 10th home win of the campaign, moving the Eastern Conference power six points adrift of table-topping Supporters' Shield favorites Toronto FC. For Sporting, it's a missed opportunity to vault Cascadians Portland and Seattle for top spot in the west ahead of Sunday's trip to Ohio to face the Columbus Crew.