The club was missing its top striker for the second consecutive game as it fell in Chicago.
New York City's painful month of April came to a close on Friday night, as the team lost 1-0 to the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park.
The loss capped a month in which NYCFC lost three of its four matches. After an encouraging 1-0-2 start, the expansion side has lost four of five games to fall to a 1-4-3 record.
Making matters worse for NYCFC, designated player David Villa missed his second straight game with a hamstring injury. The 34-year-old has managed to start five of his team's eight matches so far, and has two goals.