New York City 2-2 Toronto: David Villa finds the back of the net twice but ace Sebastian Giovinco earns the travelling side a point

New York City surrendered a two-goal lead as Patrick Vieira’s side were forced to share the points with Toronto in their MLS clash at Yankee Stadium.

David Villa’s first-half brace put the home side in control before Damien Perquis pulled a goal back for the visitors on the stroke of half-time. Sebastian Giovinco’s classy finish levelled matters in the 76th-minute.

Vieira’s reign as New York manager got off to the perfect start last week with a thrilling 4-3 win over Chicago Fire but the former Arsenal midfielder was unable to secure a second successive victory ​for the men in blue.

New York City forward David Villa scores a penalty against Toronto at Yankee Stadium on Sunday 

Toronto midfielder Marco Delgado fouls New York City midfielder Thomas McNamara

Now in their second year of existence, New York have settled into life at Yankee Stadium; the iconic Bronx ballpark that the New York Yankees call their home.

Still shorn of Frank Lampard, who has missed the opening two rounds with a calf injury, New York were looking to their veteran Italian maestro Andrea Pirlo to boss matters in midfield.

The former AC Milan and Juventus star has pretty much seen it all at this stage. Certainly, the 36-year-old midfielder appears to be enjoying his new life here in the Big Apple. When the starting line-ups were announced over the PA system prior to kick-off, Pirlo’s name drew the most deafening roar from the sizable home support.

Fittingly, it was a trademark sweeping pass from Pirlo that almost unlocked the Toronto defence in the seventh minute. The Italian’s probing ball almost picking out an unmarked Villa.

Once of Barcelona and now a hometown hero in the Bronx, Villa was in the thick of the action minutes later as the Spanish striker freed up Tony Taylor on the left wing who whipped in an inviting cross across the Toronto goal. Midfielder Mix Diskerud did brilliantly to get on the end of Taylor’s inviting cross forcing a brilliant save from Toronto keeper Clint Irwin before the ball broke to Khiry Shelton who fired into the side netting.

Villa was causing the Toronto defence all sorts of problems with the veteran forward bamboozling Justin Morrow and Drew Moor before unleashing a curling effort just wide of the far post.

New York finally made the breakthrough in the 23rd minute when Marko Delgado made a clumsy challenge on Thomas McNamara with referee Alan Kelly showing no hesitation and pointing to the spot.

Villa strutted up to take the spot-kick and dispatched his effort with ease to put the home side ahead.

Former Barcelona attacker Villa passes the ball past goalkeeper Clint Irwin as he comes out to claim the ball

Comical defending by Toronto, the visitors failing to clear a Pirlo free-kick three times, gifted Villa his second goal of the evening five minutes later. The Spaniard pouncing from close-range to send the Yankee Stadium faithful into raptures.

Villa should have had a hat-trick in the bag before the break when another deft Pirlo pass put him clean through on goal. Villa chipped over Irwin but Toronto centre back Moor was on hand to clear the ball off the line.

The visitors were enduring a tough evening despite the best efforts of veteran midfielder Michael Bradley who looked to drive his side forward at every opportunity.

Villa battles for control of the ball between Toronto defender Drew Moor and Michael Bradley (left)

The Canadians stunned the home side just before the break, however, with defender Perquis guiding in Giovinco’s cross to make 2-1.

Protecting a slender lead, New York were looking far more tentative in the early stages of the second-half. Giovinco, who was starved of possession in the opening exchanges, wasted a gilt-edged chance to even matters up when he skewed a close-range effort after Will Johnson had teed up him up perfectly for the shot.

Slick passing from Villa and Diskerud released McNamara but a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Steven Beitashour snuffed out the danger.

That intervention proved to be a seismic moment in the contest with Giovinco firing in the equaliser at the other end minutes later.

Substitute Mikey Lopez spurned a glorious opportunity to win it for New York late on as he failed to connect properly with Villa’s fizzing effort from wide on the right.

A frustrating night for the hosts but early days still in this campaign.