Los Angeles Football Club remained undefeated on their first four-game homestand of the season as they played to a 2-2 draw with the New York Football Club, at Banc of California Stadium on Mother's Day.
Household names, Carlos Vela and David Villa each scored for their respective teams as the two clubs earned a point in a matchup of two of the top tier teams in Major League Soccer.
The east coast powerhouse NYCFC found a goal early in the game after a video review caught midfielder Edward Atuesta touching the ball with his left hand for a handball in the box.
"I'm not going to complain about it," joked NYCFC manager Patrick Veira about the replay review. "I personally support VAR because I want referees to make the right decision. Today it went in our way, but maybe next time it will go against us."
NYCFC was awarded a penalty kick and captain David Villa stepped up for what seemingly would be the game's first goal.
However, LAFC keeper Tyler Miller dove to his right and made the save, but the rebound went right to Villa who headed it back into the net for the goal.
Remember kids, always follow your shot.
LAFC leveled the scored in the 23rd minute off a set piece that saw Walker Zimmerman head a shot that deflected off the foot of NYCFC defender Sebastian Ibeagha and into the right post for the own goal.
"I saw a little bit of a mismatch going to the second post," said Zimmerman. "Carlos [Vela] and made some pretty good eye contact and were on the same page. He hit a great ball and I was able to get a good head on it and send it back towards goal. I was fortunate to get the deflection, but that's what you're supposed to do. Put it on target."
All equal at the half, Mexican superstar Carlos Vela put the home team in front when he smashed a right-footed shot into the back of the net in the 67th minute.
"Always score goals is a good feeling for me," said Vela after scoring his first goal at home this season. "It was the first with my fans. It was a special goal. I hope I will score many more goals in this stadium."
The golazo was Vela's sixth of the MLS season, tied for third in the league behind only Atlanta's Josef Martinez and Columbus' Gyasi Zardes.
Unfortunately for the LA-based black army, the lead was shortlived as super-sub Ismael Tajoun-Shradi found the equalizer after a cross by Alexander Callens deflected off the foot of Omer Gaber and into the leaping fist of Miller who punched the ball away, only to find it land in front of the foot of Tajoun-Shradi for the tight-angled goal.
"He's a goal scorer," said Vieira of Tajoun-Shradi. "I think 9 times out of 10 he will take it. He's really composed and calm in front of the goal. Today he scored a really difficult one and it allowed us to take one point. I'm happy we're going back to New York with a point."
Tajoun-Shradi had been out with a hamstring injury since April 21st, but he was back like he never left, scoring his fifth goal of the season just five minutes after he entered the game for Ben Sweat.
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"He looked good in training and is back in the squad," continued Vieira. "We're going to face a different team with different challenges, so it's good to have all the players available for me to make a decision."
The draw earned each team a point and helped NYCFC bounce back after a brutal 4-0 defeat at the hands of their rivals, the New York Red Bulls in the Big Apple derby last week.
Meanwhile, Bob Bradley's boys finish off an undefeated four-game homestand that keeps them in second place in the Western Conference table.
"Ten games in the report card is not bad," said Bradley of his expansion team in their inagural season. "We're going in a good direction."
They will travel to Portland, OR next week where they will take on the Timbers on Saturday, May 19, at 12:00PM PST.
