Andres Perea delivered the 59th-minute equalizer to help host New York City FC rescue a 1-1 draw against Los Angeles FC on Saturday night at Citi Field.
Nicolas Fernandez whipped in an inswinging corner and Perea connected with an emphatic header to level the match. Perea’s third goal of the season was enough for New York City (8-12-10, 34 points) to fight back and earn a point.
Despite combining for 24 shots, both sides generated only seven shots on goal. Hugo Lloris was required to make two crucial second-half stops for LA and Matt Freese finished with a pair of saves for New York.
While New York City dominated possession in the first half, LAFC (12-9-10, 46 points) created the first chance of the game in the 16th minute.
Leo Walta delivered an inviting cross from the right wing, but Denis Bouanga’s close-range effort sailed well over the crossbar.
In just his fourth game on loan from Swansea City, Walta was the standout performer for Los Angeles. He was responsible for the lone shots on goal in the first half.
Walta broke the deadlock just before halftime. He curled a right-footed free kick into the bottom right corner past Matt Freese in the first minute of stoppage time. Walta nearly struck again in the final seconds of first-half stoppage time, but Freese was up for the challenge.
Trailing for the third consecutive game, NYCFC came out of halftime looking to score the game-tying goal.
They nearly found it after Tayvon Gray fired a shot toward the top of the goal, forcing Lloris to make a spectacular diving save. But Lloris couldn’t stop New York City’s fourth shot of the second half as Perea netted the equalizer.
With the momentum in their favor, NYCFC kept their foot on the gas.
New York City fired seven second-half shots, with Lloris later denying Fernandez’s 92nd-minute strike.
Son Heung-Min nearly found the game-winner in the 93rd-minute, but his shot bounced off the far post and trickled wide.
–Field Level Media
