Alex Callens celebrates with Santiago Rodriguez after the latter scored. (Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports)
New York City FC’s 2-2 draw at Toronto FC is a perfect definition of good news and bad news.
The good news is that City recorded a road point.
The bad news? NYCFC could not keep a two-goal lead in the second half at BMO Field Saturday night.
Third-place NYCFC (8-5-4, 28 points) extended its unbeaten run to five matches while 12th-place Toronto (15) moved to 3-9-6.
The visitors struck twice within a nine-minute span in the opening half as they dominated the first 45 minutes.
First, newcomer Santiago Rodriguez scored his second goal in as man matches in the 12th minute before Ismael Tajouri-Shradi doubled the lead in the 21st minute. Tajouri-Shradi has scored seven goals in his last 11 matches.
“There is so much positive with this game in the first half–the pressing, the play, the goals,” NYCFC head coach Ronny Deila said, adding that City “looked like a top team. It’s about doing that for 90 minutes.”
A stunning, sweeping move from your Boys in Blue finished off by @23SRodriguez for his second #NYCFC goal 🤩 pic.twitter.com/8czX2XdLxQ
— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) August 8, 2021
That's 7️⃣ goals in his last 11 games for our guy @isitj29 🇱🇾⭐️ pic.twitter.com/TFz1ehcG3K
— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) August 8, 2021
At halftime, interim head coach Javier Perez made a stunning double substitution by replacing long-time U.S. internationals Michael Bradley, the team captain, and Jozy Altidore.
The strategy worked as Richie Laryea sliced the lead in half four minutes into the half and Alejandro Pozuelo equalized in the 55th minute past goalkeeper Sean Johnson.
When asked about the opening 10 minutes of the second half, Deila replied, “It’s impossible for me to say right now. We have to look at it one more time. They played good. They are a good team. They scored on their two chances and the stadium goes with them. They get more energy, belief. It was a tough second half.”
Added Johnson: . “They came out on the front foot. They made some changes, put a few guys higher up the pitch. We could have been better on the ball. They had a good spell of possession there, and some good moments when they got behind our back line. Turning us over in good spaces. Hats off to them for how they came out in the second half.
“It’s up to us to recognize that and make the adjustments and weather some tough periods of the game. There are going to be moments when the other team has the upper hand, but unfortunately that span we conceded two goals in the time period. It’s a learning experience for us moving forward.”