NYCFC draw LA Galaxy in season opener, can’t take advantage of late man-advantage

New York City FC (NYCFC) came back from 1-0 down to tie 1-1 in Carson, CA, against the Los Angeles Galaxy in its Sunday Night Soccer season opener.

Former Hoffenheim man João Klauss opened the scoring after 85 seconds, but the Galaxy lost all momentum when Carlos Garcés was sent off for a foul inside his box on Nicolás Fernández Mercau. It was the defender’s second yellow card.

The Pigeons could not capitalise on the man advantage in the closing minutes, despite dominating the second half.

NYCFC struggled in the first half to unlock the Galaxy’s low block, though. The Boys in Blue managed to 63% of the ball in the opening 20 minutes, but could not produce a shot on target during the first half.

“The first half was way too slow for our level,” head coach Pascal Jansen told the media after the match. “The first 10, 15 minutes, the lights were on, but nobody was home, so that’s why we conceded an easy goal as we did. ”

Klauss’s first goal allowed Galaxy to sit deep after the opener. The home team didn’t let Jansen’s team play their high-intensity football, sitting in a low block to frustrate the City front five.

Fernández Mercau started in the false nine position, replacing the injured Alonso Martínez , and could not register a shot on target until his equaliser in the 66th minute.

The Costa Rican was dearly missed as City struggled to string together attacks. He is not expected to return until the summer, after the MLS breaks for the upcoming World Cup.

Los Angeles continued to pile on the pressure, outshooting NYCFC 6-3 in the first 45, but could not double their advantage.

“Eventually, the quality in the final third from us today was not good enough to get that second goal,” Jansen said.

The second half looked like a completely different game — the Galaxy could not create more than a set piece in the opposition half after the break. NYCFC was organised and comfortable on the ball while still holding the majority of the possession.

They got their reward for their composure in the 61st minute. Garcés was trailing Fernández Mercau when his falling right arm swiped the Argentine’s feet. The Video Assistant Referee took more than a minute to check the foul and had to send on-field referee Victor Rivas to the monitor. After two minutes of tense waiting, Rivas pointed to the spot and sent Garcés off for a second yellow card.

NYC’s No. 7 promptly dispatched the spot kick, sending Novak Micovic the other way.

New Boy in Blue Kai Trewin made his debut in midfield, partnering fellow Australian Aiden O’Neill in the double pivot. The former Melbourne City number 27 got to grips with MLS soccer quickly, playing tidy, quick passes and looked every bit a City Football Group product.

Talles Magno returned for the Boys in Blue for the first time since his departure under Nick Cushing in 2024. He replaced Hannes Wolf on the left wing but couldn’t affect the game.

Keaton Parks also returned to the pitch after 267 days out injured. Whilst the LA defenders were occupied with NYC’s front three, Parks was repeatedly the late runner into the box, almost nodding in a chance in the 80th minute.

He had another penalty shout turned down — former Philadelphia Union defender Jack Glesnes hacked Parks down in the box, but after a VAR review, Parks was already going down when Glesnes made the challenge, so play continued.

Drew Baiera played the ball to Parks for that chance, showing signs of his talent during his MLS debut. The home-grown player joined NYCFC at the Under-12 level and made his first-team debut last year in the U.S. Open Cup.

“Once it was his moment, he showed that he can [do it],” Jansen said.

The Boys in Blue are in Philadelphia for their next MLS matchup on March 1 at 4:30 p.m. ET.