Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, making the second MLS start of his career, scored twice in the second half to lift New York City FC to a 2-2 draw at the New England Revolution.

Libya's Tajouri now has three goals in two games standing in for star Spanish forward David Villa, who remained sidelined on Saturday with a calf injury.

Thanks to him NYCFC twice came from a goal down to earn a point, despite a litany of absences that included, along with Villa, injured Alexander Ring and Ronald Matarrita and Rodney Wallace, who was on international duty with Costa Rica.

"I think we are not so happy with the first 20 minutes," Tajouri-Shradi said. "But I think after we tried to make our game, we came two times back and it shows the quality the team has.

"It's a very big point for us."

Diego Fagundez put the Revolution up in the 11th minute, firing from 20 yards out and finding the back of the net off the inside of the post.

Six minutes into the second half, the visitors got an equalizer through a stunning counter-attack.

Jesus Medina found Saad Abdul-Salaam, whose crisp pass let Tajouri-Shradi calmly slot the ball home.

Ten minutes later the hosts were back on top after substitute Juan Agudelo's header made it 2-1.

But Tajouri-Shradi came through again, running onto a pass from Yangel Herrera and slamming the ball into the roof of the net.

Coach Patrick Vieira was also pleased with his team's resilience.

"What was positive was that any time we went behind we managed to score and get back into the game," he said. "I think we showed a lot of character, and that's what I loved about the team today."