After a tough four-game road trip — similar to the one that likely cost them a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference last season — New York City FC had hoped finally playing at home for the first time in nearly a month would help.
It didn’t.
Despite taking a lead against one of the worst teams in the conference, NYCFC squandered two points. They conceded a late equalizer and were tied at home 2-2 by New England in front of 20,186 disappointed fans at Yankee Stadium.
It was an 87th minute equalizer by Ivorian Xavier Kouass — a header from a 5-foot-8 midfielder no less — that felt like a gut-punch to NYCFC (6-5-3, 21 points).