New York City FC broke its scoreless streak and put a pause on questions about its offense Sunday.
And still, they couldn’t get a win.
NYCFC drew for the third consecutive game, this time with visiting Los Angeles FC, 2-2, at Yankee Stadium. The club relinquished a late lead in the second half on a penalty kick after jump-starting the offense behind goals from captain Alexander Ring and Alexandru Mitrita.
Ring scored on a 62nd minute strike off a pass from Ben Sweat to give NYCFC (0-0-3) a 2-1 lead. Sweat saved the ball from rolling across out next to the goal and made a play out of what looked like a lost cause.
The margin vanished in the 76th minute, when Carlos Vela slotted in a penalty to even the score for LAFC (2-1-1).
Early in the game it seemed the scoring drought stretching back to the team’s opener might continue. Then, in the 39th minute, 2019 newcomer Mitrita found his opening and beat a defender in the midfield.
Mitrita dashed down the sideline, entered the box against three more defenders and banged a powerful strike past them and goalkeeper Tyler Miller for Mitrita’s first NYCFC goal. Blues fans let out their pent-up excitement, celebrating the team’s first score in 173 minutes.
It looked like the floodgates might open moments later, when Mitrita took a set piece that slammed off the crossbar. The offense did open up the game, however, as LA’s Vela answered in the 43rd minute to even the score at 1 apiece.
The Blues enter the international break before visiting Toronto FC on March 29.
