NYCFC Outlasts Orlando City In Opener At Yankee Stadium

 

The pregame ceremonies at Yankee Stadium. Photos by Jason Schott.

New York City Football Club earned their first win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over Orlando City in their home opener in front of 25,846 at Yankee Stadium on Saturday night.

After starting the season on the road with a draw in Miami on February 22 and a tough loss to LAFC last Saturday, NYCFC is now 1-1-1, with four points, on the young season.

This was the 10th anniversary of NYCFC's very first game on March 8, 2015, which was also against Orlando City, but on the road. The home opener at Yankee Stadium was the following week, the first of 11 that have been played in The Bronx. NYCFC will be opening Etihad Stadium in Queens for the 2027 season.

Early action on Saturday night. Photos by Jason Schott.

After a scoreless first half in which it felt like the teams were literally trying to warm up on the pitch, NYCFC broke through early in the second half.

In the 59th minute, Alonso Martinez broke through, as he blasted one from the center of the box to make it 1-0 NYCFC. 

It was Martinez's second goal of the season, as he also scored at Inter Miami in the season opener.

NYCFC celebrates getting on the board. Photo by Jason Schott.

Ten minutes later, Orlando City tied it when Luis Muriel drilled one from the right side of the box, off a set-up from Marco Pasalic.

Astonishingly, soon after, in the 71st minute, NYCFC regained the lead when Hannes Wolf, off a feed from Julian Fernandez, fired one from the center of the box to make it 2-1.

It was Wolf's first goal of the season, and his first since July 20, 2024, which was incidentally also against Orlando City.

Fernandez earned his first assist of the season in his first start. He now has four goal contributions in his four MLS Regular Season starts, with one goal and three assists. His last assist was in April 27, 2024 against Charlotte FC.

NYCFC had to kill of the remainder of the game a man short after Kevin O'Toole was sent off with a red card in the 86th minute. This came after he took a yellow card in the 77th, and another in the 86th. 

This was NYCFC's 125th game at Yankee Stadium, and they have 72 wins, 21 losses, and 32 draws, while scoring 263 goals and allowing 145.

NYCFC has had 15 players who have scored goals in home openers, with David Villa leading the way with six goals. The other scorers are Santiago Rodríguez (two), Jesús Medina (two), and one goal each from Patrick Mullins, Ronald Matarrita, Maxi Moralez, Anton Tinnerholm, Gudmundur Thórarinsson, Valentín Castellanos, Alex Callens, Talles Magno, Thiago Andrade, Hannes Wolf and Alonso Martińez. 

There are eight current NYCFC players have scored at Yankee Stadium, including Maxi Moralez  with 17 goals, Alonso Martínez (6), Keaton Parks (5), Mounsef Bakrar (3), Agustín Ojeda (3), Hannes Wolf (3), Julián Fernández (1), and Kevin O'Toole (1). 

NYCFC has gone nearly eight years since their last loss to Orlando City at Yankee Stadium, which occurred on April 23, 2017. Since then, NYCFC has earned seven wins and one draw against them at home.

NYCFC midfielder Jonathan Shore made his first-ever MLS Regular Season start in this one, which also was his debut in a home game. Shore is a 2023 MLS NEXT Pro All Star, and played in 38 matches for New York City II in MLS NEXT Pro across all competitions.

COACH'S COMMENTS: NYCFC Head Coach Pascal Jansen addressed the media after the game: 

Thoughts on tonight’s goals and opportunities:  “I want to mention that our game, especially our possession, was okay over the past two games until we got close to the final third. Our decision-making in the final third is what we tried to focus on a little more to be more successful. I thought that in the first half, we didn’t reward ourselves enough in that aspect. We went into the second half looking to get more out of that phase. You need a little bit of luck getting a shot on target, being there for the rebound. Those are things we train for a lot. We’re very happy that it worked out today to get our first three points of the season.” 

On Jonny Shore’s performance tonight: “He’s an interesting character. I met him for the first time when I started coaching here, and he was one of the youngsters who was with us during the preseason camp. Let me make one thing really clear, the fact that he started today, and played against Inter Miami is something he earned by competing with the guys during training sessions. I think he’s a very clever kid and very smart on the ball. He sees a lot of situations, he’s aware of his surroundings in midfield, and he’s skillful in short passes, making sure he keeps a good rhythm and control in the middle of the pitch. Those are a few aspects I look for in the way I want my team to play. Seeing him out there today, as if he’s been with one of the guys for the past four seasons, was great to see. There’s still a lot to improve, not just for Jonny [Shore], but for the rest of the team.”