Alexander Ring salvages point for NYCFC as Ezequiel Barco makes MLS debut

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Atlanta 2-2 NYCFC: Barco makes debut - Via MLS

Ezequiel Barco came off the bench to make his MLS debut, and David Villa scored career goal No. 399 as Atlanta and NYCFC split the points.

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:31 am

Alexander Ring scored his first Major League Soccer goal to help New York City FC to a 2-2 draw with Atlanta United on Sunday night.

David Villa, playing his second match after a three-game absence with a quadriceps injury, had a goal and an assist for New York City.

Ring made it 2-2 in the 73rd minute. Villa, at the top-left corner of the box, drew three defenders and dropped it back to Ring, who trapped it a ripped a right-footer off the crossbar from well outside the area.

Greg Garza tapped in, from point-blank range, the rebound of a shot by Miguel Almiron to give Atlanta a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute.

Maximiliano Moralez & Ezequiel Barco
Maximiliano Moralez & Ezequiel Barco
EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

Villa came on for Ismael Tajouri-Shradi in the 35th and tied it about three minutes later, converting from the penalty spot after Jo Inge Berget drew a foul in the area conceded by Michael Parkhurst.

Chris McCann answered in the 56th minute, heading home a perfectly-placed cross from Almiron. Parkhurst's long header off a clearance by Villa led Almiron down the left side and, from the goal line, he lofted it to McCann at the top of the six-yard box for the finish.

In the 70th minute, Atlanta boss Tata Martino subbed on Ezequiel Barco -- the most expensive player in MLS history -- for his league debut. The Argentine wonderkid, however, was unable to help United keep out Ring's 73rd minute equaliser.