Nicolas Fernandez scored for the fourth straight game early in the first half, but New York City FC lost the lead just before halftime and settled for a 1-1 draw with visiting Toronto FC on Friday night.
NYCFC (7-6-5, 26 points) were unable to win three straight for the second time this season as the offense stalled after Fernandez converted a penalty kick in the ninth minute.
Following a foul by Toronto’s Richie Laryea on Agustin Ojeda in the penalty area, Fernandez scored on a penalty kick, powering a left-footed shot by Toronto goalie Luka Gavran. Fernandez scored his 13th goal and moved into a tie for the league lead with Peter Musa of FC Dallas and Hugo Cuypers, formerly of the Chicago Fire.
Fernandez had one of New York’s better scoring chances in the 69th minute only to see his left-footed shot from outside the box hook to the left. Before Fernandez’s shot hooked left, Talles Magno and Andres Perea were denied by Gavran. Ojeda missed the net in the 54th minute.
NYCFC needed another goal because of a miscue with about 30 seconds left in first-half stoppage time, which allowed Djordje Mihailovic to net the tying goal.
After a giveaway by NYCFC’s Thiago Martins, James Sands blocked a shot by Toronto’s Josh Sargent but could not gain possession.
Goalie Matt Freese stopped a shot by Daniel Salloi, but NYCFC was unable to secure the rebound. Mihailovic swooped in alone and buried a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner for his second goal of the season.
Freese made four saves, including a stop on Salloi late in second-half stoppage time.
Gavran finished with four saves as Toronto (3-7-8, 17 points) saw its winless streak reach 12 games. Toronto is 0-5-7 since beating Colorado on April 4 and has scored one goal or fewer in nine of those games, including the past six.
–Field Level Media
