#LA Galaxy’s late heroics help NYCFC advance at MLS is Back tournament

Because of the LA Galaxy, idle New York City FC is feeling out of this world and advancing to the knockout stage of the MLS is Back tournament.

Cristian Pavón’s penalty kick in second-half stoppage time helped the Galaxy (0-2-1) eliminate the Houston Dynamo (0-1-2) with a 1-1 tie on Thursday night in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Dynamo opened up a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute on a Darwin Quintero goal, but Maynor Figueroa fouled Diedie Traore in the penalty area to set up the penalty kick equalizer by Pavón in stoppage time.

Thanks to tiebreakers — including total number of points, goals differential, goals for and fewest disciplinary points — NYCFC (1-2-0) was elevated into the 16th and final spot of the league’s in-season tournament. NYCFC, who fell to Philadelphia and Orlando City before holding off Inter Miami on Monday, will square off against Toronto FC on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. (FS1).

The trip to the knockout stage is a welcome respite for NYCFC, which is investigating claims of sexual harassment by a former intern against former star David Villa. The 38-year-old Villa, who played for NYCFC from 2014-18, has denied the accusations.