NYCFC eager to bust out by break

After suffering through a rough five-game stretch, New York City FC is hoping to break their malaise before heading into the international break. That means not just taking a lead Saturday against Philadelphia (1 p.m.; 8 p.m. tape delay, YES), but actually holding it.

NYCFC has just five points — and one victory — in a 1-2-2 skid. Coughing up an 86th-minute equalizer Wednesday against New England may have been the most galling moment of those games. They can ill afford a repeat in a sixpoint swing game at Yankee Stadium against another Eastern Conference foe.

“It’s always good to be at home. We’ve been away for a few games. For us it was a big challenge, so it’s always good to come back home and play in front of our fans,’’ NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira said.

“It’s going to be a really important game for us, of course, knowing that we didn’t get what we wanted against New England. ... When you look at the last five games that we played, it’s going to be really important for us before the break. At the same time, we have to be really smart with the way we approach the game.”

They weren’t smart to close out Wednesday’s game, wasting tons of possession and a 2-1 lead in surrendering the late equalizer. It was the first time all year NYCFC had conceded in the final 15 minutes, but it was a nagging habit last season that they don’t want to fall back into.

“We have to take advantage of games where we have the upper hand,’’ goalie Sean Johnson said. “We have to close out games and make the games matter in this stretch.”

Saturday, NYCFC will be without Yangel Herrera and Rodney Wallace for international duty and Khiry Shelton with a hamstring injury, while Andrea Pirlo (knee) and Ronald Matarrita (ankle) also are questionable. But breaking their slump would be huge going into the international break, during which they have no MLS games and only a June 14 U.S. Open Cup match at the rival Red Bulls.

Philadelphia won’t have Alejandro Bedoya (international duty) or Maurice Edu (ankle/tibia), but C.J. Sapong, who is at the top of their 4-2-3-1, has eight goals, tying NYCFC captain David Villa for third-most in MLS.