New York City FC 2-3 Montreal Impact

Frank Lampard made his long-awaited debut for New York City, but could not prevent the Major League Soccer side from slipping to a 3-2 home defeat by Montreal Impact.

Lampard, 37, joined another big-name signing, Andrea Pirlo, in midfield.

Team-mate and ex-Barcelona striker David Villa scored the New York opener.

New York-born winger Thomas McNamara grabbed the other goal for the club, whose majority owners are Manchester City.

Ghanaian forward Dominic Oduro gave Montreal the early lead before Argentine Ignacio Piatti doubled the advantage.

Villa reduced the deficit from the spot, before Piatti scored his second, and seventh of the season, also with a penalty in the 84th minute.

McNamara scored New York's second moments later, but the hosts could not force an equaliser.

Lampard's impact?

The former Blues and Manchester City midfielder signed for New York last summer, before he was loaned back to English parent club City, for what turned out to be a season-long deal.

He is one of three Designated Players - an MLS club can sign up to three whose wages exceed the salary cap - alongside Villa and Pirlo.

An injury delayed his debut, but he made the bench for Saturday's home MLS match in front of more than 27,000 spectators inside baseball's Yankee Stadium.

His side were 2-1 down when he came on with 21 minutes remaining; following Montreal and fellow former West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker onto the pitch.

Lampard slotted into the centre of New York's midfield alongside Pirlo - a combined age of 73 years.

The former England captain switched between playing deep and further forward with his Italian colleague, but did not manage to get into that familiar position of arriving late in the area to get on the end of a cross.

New York have now lost 10 of their 22 games and are seventh in the Eastern Conference, with only six teams set to play in the latter stages of the competition.