In a symbolic day of remembrance for the City of New York, NYCFC hosted Toronto FC at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on 9/11.

After moving to first place in the in the MLS Eastern Conference, NYC was looking to widen the gap from second-place Philadelphia Union.  Toronto was trying to cement its playoff position and take away its first three points at Yankee Stadium.  A 1-1 draw made both sides split the points and put a dent in their plans.

The first goal of the match came early in the night, with NYCFC’s Designated Player Alexandru Mitria launching a beautiful free kick from 20 yards out, past Toronto’s wall and goalkeeper Quentin Westberg, into the top corner (6’).

📽️ MITRIGOL ⚽️🚀 #NYCFC pic.twitter.com/n6Zqz9PMoQ

— New York City FC (@NYCFC) September 12, 2019

Towards halftime, the hosts lost their lead as New York’s Sebastien Ibeagh pulls the shirt of Toronto’s Jozy Altidore and drags him down with him in the box. This resulted in a penalty kick that was calmly converted by Alejandro Pozuelo into an equalizer (40’).
Toronto missed a great chance to take the lead, when an NYCFC handball in the 18-yard box gave them another penalty kick. Again taken by Pozuelo, but this time denied by New York’s keeper Sean Jonson.

This was the second faceoff the season between the two sides, with NYCFC losing back in March 4-0 in Toronto’s BMO Field.