With nine matches left in the MLS regular season, New York City FC (NYCFC) will need every point to ensure another year in the playoffs.
In their way this week is FC Cincinnati at the TQL Stadium, a side that has given the Boys in Blue some trouble since their first match in 2023. NYCFC has only three out of 10 matches played against each other.
An early Julián Fernández goal separated the two sides when they last met in May. However, New York has never beaten the Garys at home.
“It’s obvious that they are a good team,” Jansen said in his pre-match press conference. “However, they’ve been somewhat struggling in the past few games…Then they got back together [and bounced back] the last game against Portland, if I’m not mistaken. We have to make sure that we keep them in that spot and try to get that level of play that we did in game one.”
Cincinnati had lost three straight matches before playing Portland last weekend, losing their last two matches of the 2025 Leagues Cup and falling 1-0 to FC Charlotte after Tah Anunga was sent off.
However, a hard-fought 3-2 win at Providence Park proved Cincinnati deserved the top spot of the Eastern Conference. The Garys put three goals past Portland in the first half, but conceded the second goal with 20 minutes left to play. Cincinnati defended well and staved off wave after wave of Portland attacks to bring all three points back to the East Coast.
They are currently tied-first with San Diego FC on 52 points and are on a quest for a second MLS Supporters’ Shield after entering the league in 2019.
While NYCFC is on a four-match unbeaten streak in the MLS — the longest of head coach Pascal Jansen’s short tenure, questions over consistency still hang over the team’s head.
New York currently sits precariously in eighth in the Eastern Conference, holding a two-point lead over the Chicago Fire in ninth and cross-town rivals the New York Red Bulls in 10th.
The goal-scoring burden has rested on striker Alonso Martínez’s shoulders this season, leading the side with 13. He is followed by winger Hannes Wolf on nine, while others have tallied two or one.
The Costa Rican has scored seven game-winning goals for his side this season, including winners against Orlando, Dallas and Nashville most recently.
However, Jansen has added two names to the squad over the Secondary Transfer Window — attacking midfielder Nicolás Fernández Mercau from Spanish side Elche and center back Raul Gustavo from Jansen’s former side Ferencváros in Hungary. The latter was confirmed a week ago, but has not been cleared to play yet.
The former arrived after helping Elche CF back to La Liga in Spain, and has combined with Martínez for a goal so far. Jansen expects more from his “creative forces,” and had no doubt that goals and assists will come when he was asked about their partnership.
The window shut on Thursday evening, meaning MLS teams cannot make changes to their rosters until the season is over.
“I’m happy with the roster,” Jansen said. “We use the windows to strengthen our squad. With Raul Gustavo coming in, we made a good choice, and we can’t wait to see him.”
The return of captain Thiago Martins will boost the Boys in Blue, after he underwent surgery on his left knee four weeks ago.
Jansen called his remaining MLS matches “nine finals,” but reinforcements have come for the final push.
