NYCFC Out Of Leagues Cup

 

NYCFC's Maxi Moralez battles for position. @NYCFC.

New York City FC suffered a crushing loss to the Columbus Crew - 4-3 in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in regulation - in the Quarterfinal of the Leagues Cup on Saturday night.

NYCFC wasted no time getting on the board in this one, as forward Alonso Martinez scored just 14 seconds into the match. This was his first Leagues Cup goal, and it was the fastest goal in the tournament's history, as well as NYCFC's across all competitions.

Columbus tied it as the first half was drawing to a close, when Cucho Hernandez buried one in the 41st minute. 

The second half was scoreless - the second consecutive Leagues Cup match in which NYCFC kept their opponent off the board in the final 45 minutes.

NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese had five saves in the game, which matches the highest number of saves by a NYCFC goalkeeper in a single Leagues Cup game, which was done by Luis Barraza. Freese also had a save in the shootout to technically give him six, which is what he had over the prior two League Cup matches.

When NYCFC scores first, they are 7-2-2 in both MLS regular season and Leagues Cup play. When tied at halftime, they are 6-2-2.

NYCFC returns to MLS action this Saturday, August 24, at 7:30 p.m. at Citi Field when they host the Chicago Fire.

With a record of 11-5-9, with 38 points, NYCFC is currently in fifth place in the MLS Eastern Conference. The Fire are 6-7-2, 25 points, and they are in 14th place.