NYCFC drops first points of season in draw at New England Revolution

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:32 am

New York City FC dropped its first points of the MLS season on Saturday but fought back for a 2-2 draw at the New England Revolution.

New England twice took the lead, but NYCFC responded with a pair of goals from Ismael Tajouri to salvage a point after winning its first three games of the year.

Diego Fagundez gave the Revolution a lead in the 11th minute with a shot from distance that went in off the post.

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But NYCFC answered early in the second half on the counter-attack as Saad Abdul-Salaam cut the ball back for Tajouri to slot home.

The Revs were not deterred and retook the lead 12 minutes later when Juan Agudelo headed in a cross from Cristian Penilla, but NYCFC equalized when Yangel Herrera played in Tajouri to net his second of the day.

"Every game is going to be a challenge but this [was] one of the biggest of the season and we have to be ready for it," NYCFC boss Patrick Vieira told the club's website. "We have to work even harder as a team."

Before the game, NYCFC announced that midfielder Alexander Ring suffered an MCL sprain on Finland duty and will be out four weeks.