Minnesota United defender D.J. Taylor (27) dribbles past New York City FC midfielder Santiago Rodr9guez (10).  (Jonathan Jones-USA TODAY Sports)

If New York City FC has any illusions of reaching the MLS Cup playoffs, the team will have to find a way to score goals.

Once one of the most feared attacking teams in the league, the Cityzens have been reduced to one of the more pitiful scoring sides.

Case in point:

City was shut out at home by Minnesota United at Citi Field, 2-0, in Queens on Sunday night.

Not even the return of Argentine midfielder Maxi Moralez could spark the lackluster offense.

Substitute Jan Gregus and Mender Garcia did the damage in the second half for United (8-8-7, 31 points).

The result left NYCFC (5-9-11, 26) in 13th place out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference.

The Cityzens, who have scored only 25 goals in 26 games, outshot the visitors, 19-12. But little good did that do them as they stumbled yet again.

Gregus opened the scoring in the 53rd minute when his shot took a deflection off City’s James Sands and looped over goalkeeper Luis Barraza.

Garcia added an insurance tally five minutes into second-half injury time.

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.