Orlando City coach Jason Kreis called for greater respect from his New York City FC counterpart Patrick Vieira after the Lions lost 3-0 on Sunday night.
The game was already the third match of the season between the two clubs -- which both started play in MLS in 2015 -- and Orlando had won both previous games by a single goal.
But in the lead-up to Sunday's clash, Vieira insisted his side had "outplayed them in both games" and "were the better team in both games." Vieira then took a similar tone after Sunday night's victory.
"I thought the way we played today was quite similar to the last two games," Vieira said. "The difference this time was that we created chances and we took our chances. We dominated tonight like the last two games we played against them."
Kreis, who was fired by NYCFC after the 2015 season to make way for Vieira, hit back following the loss, suggesting the former France star's comments were disrespectful.
"I'm not quite sure if you looked at the possession statistics that they controlled the game," Kreis said. "I think it was darn near 50-50. In my opinion, I think that we as coaches need to do a better job in respecting our opponents after performances."
Vieira was right that NYCFC controlled possession in the first two games -- 68 percent in Orlando on March 5 and 62 percent at Yankee Stadium on April 23. But despite Sunday's one-sided scoreline, Orlando improved in the possession game with a 48 percent share.
Kreis said the difference came down to a pair of penalties. A Kaka handball allowed David Villa to open the scoring after 14 minutes -- a decision Kreis called "questionable" -- and with NYCFC leading 2-0, Orlando striker Cyle Larin hit the post with his spot kick after halftime.
"At the beginning of the game I really felt like things were going to go in a positive direction but then the [Kaka] penalty decision was made," he said. "I think that took some air out of us. And then I thought we were doing OK and the second goal comes and takes some more air out of us.
"So it was one of those games where I feel like, as stupid as this is to say, goals for me change games. It's very cliche-ish, but I really felt like that was where we were at tonight. And then we had an opportunity to score our goal, which I think could have changed the game in our direction, and we didn't take it."
Kreis then alluded to Vieira's comments a second time while conceding that the visitors were worthy of becoming the first opposing team to win at Orlando's new stadium in seven tries.
"All in all it wasn't our night and I'm not going to stand here and say anything crass and disrespectful, as if we were the better team, because we weren't," he said. "New York City was very good tonight and deserved to win."