Khiry Shelton grabbed a stoppage-time equaliser as 10-man New York City FC came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Chicago Fire at Yankee Stadium.

After losing to Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake already this month, Frank Yallop's side travelled to the Big Apple hoping to avoid a hat-trick of setbacks.

However, the visitors looked in full control against lowly City - making their MLS debut this season - early on.

Six minutes passed when it seemed as if Shaun Maloney had fired Chicago ahead but his goal was ruled offside, with replays suggesting otherwise.

Unperturbed, Maloney continued on in the same vein and turned provider on 14 minutes when Razvan Cocis headed his cross over goalkeeper Josh Saunders.

Despite boasting the high-profile David Villa in attack, New York struggled to get the legendary Spaniard involved as the visitors continued to dominate the half.

Things went from bad to worse shortly before the half-hour mark when RJ Allen was red-carded for fouling David Accam inside the box, with Jeff Larentowicz coolly converting from 12 yards.

Joevin Jones and Accam both went close to piling the misery on City before the break, but the hosts, without a win in eight outings, threw themselves a lifeline despite the numerical disadvantage.

Villa gradually grew into the contest and the former Barcelona man's stinging effort was fumbled by Sean Johnson, allowing Mehdi Ballouchy the opportunity to tidy up and he made no mistake on the stroke of half time.

New York, bidding to avoid a fifth successive defeat, defied their numerical handicap for much of the second period but struggled in the final third, with Villa and Mix Diskerud going close.

Nevertheless, the 10 men looked to be tiring in the final quarter and Accam spurned two chances to kill the contest - and both proved costly as Villa set up Shelton in the dying minutes as the hosts snatched a point from the jaws of defeat.