1. The defense bent, then broke
A defensive line that was easily rattled last week against Inter Miami looked like it was going to keep its composure tonight against LAFC. New York City held the hosts scoreless for much of the game, frustrating a forward line featuring Denis Bouanga, Jeremy Ebobisse, and Olivier Giroud.
That ended in the 86th minute, when LAFC's Ryan Hollingshead jumped on a deflected ball and sent it past goalkeeper Matt Freese.
It was an unfortunate end to what had been a promising night for New York City. LAFC had no shots on target in the first half. But LAFC Head Coach Steve Cherundolo brought on six substitutes in the second half, and they changed the direction of the game. An attack that couldn't shoot straight early in the game had four shots on target in the second half — including Hollingshead's game-winner.
We're just two games into the 2025 season, but New York City have allowed late goals in both of them — last week, an Inter Mimi reduced to 10 players scored in the 10th minute of stoppage time to earn a draw.
Is this a troubling pattern? Or is it to be expected when you open the season with two games on the road against two of the best teams in Major League Soccer?
Side note: Head Coach Pascal Jansen said in his postgame press conference that Tayvon Gray, who was removed in the 8th minute with an apparent leg injury, is still being evaluated.
2. A Santi-shaped hole in the attack
Santiago Rodríguez could be a frustrating player to watch over the years. Petulant and wasteful, he could be his own worst enemy.
He was also a magnificent attacker, especially last season. A tireless runner who continually tested the opposing defense, his creativity and energy paid dividends even when he didn't score a goal or provide an assist: He worked over the other side, softening up the defense so that other New York Players could feast on the exhausted back line.
Two games into the 2025 season, and we can see the Santi-shaped hole in the attack. The team's forwards are more than capable of doing damage, but none of them have the same high-frequency energy that Rodríguez brought to the game.
Hudson River Blue Staff
3. An incomplete squad, for now
The cautious optimists will look at the two points above and see that they're fixable.
This defense needs time to gel, and to develop newly-signed center-backs Prince Amponsah and Max Murray. As for the attack, the squad is a couple of international transfers away from bettering last year's results.
In other words, New York City wasn't built in a day.
The pessimists are maybe experiencing flashbacks from 2023, when an incomplete roster came up short week after week. The holes in that squad weren't filled until the end of the summer, which is why then-head coach Nick Cushing once tapped Richy Ledezma, a 5' 6" midfielder (now right-back) with zero First Team goals to his name, to fill in at striker.
The optimists arguably have the edge in this one. Head Coach Pascal Janesn was hired, in part, because of his reputation for developing young players – he gave 23-year-old Nico Cavallo and 17-year-old Jonny Shore their MLS debuts last week – and we should expect to see Amponsah, Murray, and other debutants as the season continues.
As for signing players on the transfer market, that seems to be less a question of if than when:
Jansen is hoping that NYCFC will be active in this transfer window: "We need a little bit more depth in the squad"
— The Outfield (@theoutfield.nyc) 2025-02-28T12:13:24.571Z
