Overcoming a deficit and two red cards made Wednesday’s 1-1 draw feel like a win for New York City FC. Flushing a lead and a two-man advantage left the rival Red Bulls trudging out of Yankee Stadium feeling like they’d given away two points.
David Villa scored a 52nd-minute equalizer to help lift an NYCFC team that saw two men sent off, another leave hurt and missed several because of injuries and suspensions. Then he dismissed reports saying he was mulling retirement and NYCFC was hesitant to resign him.
Wednesday underscored exactly why NYCFC better hold on to their star captain as long as they can.