Cristian Roldan made a splash in more ways than one at Yankee Stadium, scoring a goal (Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

BRONX, N.Y. — Leave it to David Villa to create a rainbow on an otherwise soggy and wet day for New York City FC.

In a game played  ina torrential downpour for the first 75 minutes, the New York City FC captain struck twice in the second half to boost the hosts to a 2-1 comeback victory over the Seattle Sounders  at Yankee Stadium.

After equalizing in the 52nd minute, the Spanish international broke the 1-1 tie in the 77th minute. Jack Harrison sent right-wing feed to an unmarked Villa at the far side and the striker ripped the ball the past goalkeeper Stefan Frei for the game-winner against the defending MLS champions.

Both sides had major issues with the torrential rain, which at times made the game a farce and a half in the opening half.

City and Seattle had problems with footing, passing, shooting and running. Except for those problems, everything was fine.

The Sounders took advantage of the slop to score in the 40th minute. Cristian Roldan got a step on center back Maxime Chanot, raced into the box and power a right-footed shot from 10 yards past goalkeeper Sean Johnson into the lower left corner.

A minute into first-half stoppage time, striker Villa tried to equalize with a blast from outside the penalty area, but it bounded off the upper 90 on the right side.

At halftime, about a dozen members of the stadium ground crew worked on the field, particularly the outfield. They presumably were fixing divots and other problems with the pitch.

The hosts finally equalized in the 52nd minute a minute after Villa was taken down in the box by defender Oniel Fisher. Villa took the ensuring spot kick and powered a drive past Frei to the left side of the net for his 50th goal of his MLS career and ninth of the season for a 1-1 deadlock.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.