NYC FC builds lead, but settles for tie vs. Toronto FC

Sometimes old habits die hard.

Take, for example, New York City FC’s home-opening 2-2 draw with Toronto FC at Yankee Stadium Sunday night.

The hosts squandered a two-goal lead and surrendered the equalizing goal by Sebastian Giovinco in the 76th minute, denying them back-to-back wins to start its second season.

In some respects, the game followed last year’s script, when NYC FC led the league in goals allowed in the final 15 minutes, helping define a 10-17-7 season.

“When you’re in a 2-0 lead and you draw 2-2, there is a lot of frustration from our side,” NYC FC coach Patrick Vieira said. “We had to control the game a little bit better.”

Asked what he had to do to change his team’s mentality on closing out games, Vieira replied, “I don’t think it’s a mentality problem. It’s about how we deal in a situation where we are under pressure.”

After last Sunday’s surprising 4-3 season-opening victory win at Chicago, New York City FC (1-0-1) was optimistic against Toronto (1-0-1), using an attack-minded 3-4-3 system. It worked well enough to grab a 2-1 halftime advantage behind David Villa’s first two goals of the season.

But reigning MLS MVP Giovinco had other ideas. He wound up playing nemesis to both of New York’s MLS teams within eight days. Last week he converted the game-winning penalty kick and set up the insurance goal off a counterattack in a 2-0 win at the Red Bulls.

This time he created the first goal, drilling a 25-yard free kick that a sliding Damien Perquis put home past goalkeeper Josh Saunders.

“We conceded goals at the wrong time,” Vieira said. “If we go back to the dressing room at two-nil, it’s a completely different game.”

After a dominant first half, the wind left NYC FC’s sails and Toronto took advantage as Giovinco turned a Will Johnson pass into the tying goal from 16 yards.

“If we didn’t make the error when it was 2-1, we would have walked away with the win,” Villa said. “We worked really hard during the game.”

Villa could have finished the opening half with at least a hat trick. He settled for two goals, converting a penalty kick in the 23rd minute and putting in a poor clearance that glanced off his right arm that beat keeper Clint Irwin from close range in the 28th minute.