NEW YORK – Will Bruin and David Villa traded first-half goals Saturday evening as New York City FC and the Houston Dynamo played to a 1-1 draw at Yankee Stadium.
It was Villa’s penalty kick in first-half stoppage time that won the point for the hosts after falling behind on Bruin’s goal in the 16th minute.
Still, NYCFC’s woeful stretch of results is stretched to 11 straight games without a win, and they sit in last place in the Eastern Conference with eight points from 13 games.
Houston bounced back from their loss last weekend the LA Galaxy, putting them in a tie for seventh place in the West with 17 points from 14 games.
NYCFC had the better of the run of play in the first half but conceded in the first 30 minutes of a match for the ninth time when Bruin first-timed David Horst’s headed pass off a corner kick past NYCFC goalkeeper Josh Saunders.
The hosts continued to control possession but struggled to create chances.
Their best look at a goal in early action came just two minutes into the match when Sebastian Velasquez laid off for Villa, who struck a right-footed curler that sizzled just outside the far post.
NYCFC would catch a break on the stroke of halftime when Houston defender Raul Rodriguez handled inside the box. Villa drove his spot kick past Saunders, who guessed right but was unable to reach the drive.
NYCFC gained footing as the game went along, and had a number of looks at a potential game winner with Mix Diskerud and second-half substitute Kwadwo Poku becoming more active in the attack.
In the 89th minute, Poku created his team’s best chance with bullish run to the left corner for a cross back to Jeb Brovsky for a diving header that Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric turned away with a fine diving save. Brovsky had another strong opportunity minutes later on the far post but side-footed his effort wide and the game ended in a share of points.
Houston nearly found a game winner of their own in the 83rd minute, when Giles Barnes got free in the box for a one-on-one with Saunders, who was able to turn away the close-range attempt.
The Dynamo return to action when they play host to the New York Red Bulls on June 5, while NYCFC will travel to Philadelphia to take on the Union on June 6.
