NYCFC settles for disappointing tie as playoff hopes continue to dim
New York City FC needed a win Saturday night in Queens.
Instead, they had to settle for a 1-1 draw with LAFC.
NYCFC managed to erase a first-half deficit with a goal from Andrés Perea early in the second half to prevent a loss, but the club still dropped to 11th in the Eastern Conference standings when all was said and done.
While the point came at a crucial time, with four games now left on the schedule, the home side was lucky enough to escape after NYCFC nearly handed LAFC star Son Heung-min the winning goal in stoppage time.
Son broke free and managed to get a shot off from inside the box that hit the post and stayed out. The final whistle sounded seconds after that.
New York City FC found itself down after a stoppage-time goal in the first half had goalkeeper Matt Freese frozen in place on a free kick.
Aiden O’Neill was shown a yellow card in the 44th minute after a bad foul that gave LAFC a free kick outside the box. Midfielder Leo Walta blasted the ball into the top right corner of the net with a right-footed shot to give Los Angeles the 1-0 lead in stoppage time while frustrating Freese.
But a desperate NYCFC squad managed to even the game with a goal in the 59th minute.
New York City FC was awarded a corner kick, which star striker Nicolás Fernández Mercau took, setting up Perea for a flying header in the box to pull the home side level with LAFC.
While the club played to a draw Saturday night, New York City FC has yet to win at Citi Field this regular season. The last time the club won at the Queens baseball venue, located across the street from NYCFC’s future home, Etihad Park, was a victory over Red Bull New York on May 17, 2025.
