NYCFC score first, settle for draw with DC United

A well-rested New York City FC traveled to Audi Field on Saturday night and drew 1-1 with DC United. NYCFC scored first via a Santiago Rodríguez penalty, but the home side leveled the game with a penalty of their own in the second half. It was the seventh time this season that New York City dropped points from a winning position, and the team remain winless in MLS play since July 3.

With Orlando City's 3-0 win over New England, NYCFC dropped to 6th Place in the Eastern Conference but they are now just three points off the New York Red Bulls in 4th Place after they lost 2-1 to Chicago Fire.

Dominant first half

New York City started the game in control and dominating possession. They looked fully capable of taking all three points and ending DC's two-game winning streak.

In the 30th minute, a great link-up play between Kevin O'Toole, Hannes Wolf, Alonso Martínez, and Keaton Parks gifted the away side a penalty after a reckless tackle from Pedro Santos.

Up stepped Rodríguez, who went with the panenka penalty, lifting the ball over DC goalkeeper Alex Bono for his ninth MLS goal this season. Rodríguez now has 12 goals in all competitions, and is even with Martínez for the team's leading goal scorer.

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DC thought they leveled the game a few minutes later through Gabriel Pirani, but referee Ramy Touchan went to VAR and deemed the goal offside. Many DC fans at Audi Field thought it was the wrong decision, but the replay showed that the VAR call was correct.

NYCFC then had a disallowed goal, as James Sands picked out Martínez who went in behind the DC backline. The assistant referee flagged the goal for offsides, and the call on the field stood without even going to VAR even though replays showed that Martínez was arguably onside.

Despite the drama, New York City had a 1-0 lead at halftime. They dominated possession and kept MLS Golden Boot leader Christian Benteke quiet — but that would change in the second half.

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Another lead slip

For the third straight game, NYCFC couldn't hold their lead in the second half. With DC having more of the ball and creating chances, the home side was knocking on the door.

In the 63rd minute, a tackle from Sands on Theodore Ku-DiPietro went to VAR and was called a penalty. Now it was DC's turn to benefit from the officiating, as Benteke scored his league-leading 19th goal of the season.

Matt Freese, who went down with an injury against Columbus two weeks ago, played the full 90 minutes and made several crucial stops down the game's final stretch. He finished with five saves, and was the main reason New York City left the nation's capital with a point instead of zero.

"The mentality of our team, the hunger and desire of our team it definitely feels like two points dropped," said head coach Nick Cushing after the game. "We want to win and solidify our league position, we want to continue to show improvement, like we have all year. We play really well in the first half ... So it does feel like two points dropped but we gotta be realistic, it's difficult to come to a place like DC."

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A capsule collection from LiveBreatheFutbol featuring a hat, hoodie, and T-shirt brings New York City FC’s updated club crest to life.

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Six games left

After the result against DC, NYCFC have only six matches left in the MLS regular season. Four of those are at "home," with two at Yankee Stadium and two at Red Bull Arena.

It will start when they play Philadelphia Union on Wednesday in the Bronx. Philadelphia are better on the road than at home this season despite losing to Inter Miami in Ft. Lauderdale last night, and are battling to climb into playoff contention. Three days later Miami will travel to New York City, and Lionel Messi will set foot on the Yankee Stadium pitch for the first time ever.

Every match counts for NYCFC, who are comfortably above Ninth Place but who are far from guaranteed a playoff spot. If they can make use of their home-field advantage and hold on to leads, then they could be in contention for Fourth Place and open the playoffs in New York City.