• Matchday 2: LAFC vs New York City FC
• Date and Time: Saturday, March 1, 10:30 pm ET
• Venue: BMO Stadium
• Forecast: Clear, breezy, a perfect SoCal night, 56F/13C
• Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
• Apple Broadcast Team: Keith Costigan and Maurice Edu (English), Rodolfo Landeros and Mariano Trujillo (Spanish)
• New York City FC Radio: Glenn Crooks and Matty Lawrence (English), Roberto Abramowitz and Ariel Judas (Spanish)
• Officiating Crew: Chris Penso (referee), Jeremy Hanson and Eduardo Jeff (assistant referees), Brandon Stevie (fourth official), Sorin Stoica (VAR), Mike Kampmeinert (assistant VAR)
It's game day, and New York City FC are in the City of Angles to play the first-ever Maxime Chanot Derby. That's right, NYCFC follow up last week's 2-2 away draw with preseason favorites Inter Miami by flying across the country to face another preseason favorite in LAFC.
Thiago Martins was back in training with the team this week, which means that New York City might finally have a fully-fit defensive line — and could field a Designated Player for the first time this year. But there's no avoiding that this youthful team remains a work in progress: The club's 25-person roster features four players who have yet to make their Major League Soccer debuts, two more who checked that box just last week, and another two who last saw First Team minutes in 2023.
Can the kids get it done on the road against a stacked LAFC? Remember, the hosts will be playing on short rest after Tuesday's 1-0 home win over Colorado Rapids in the Concacaf Champions Cup. New York City will need to exploit every advantage they have if they're to get a result tonight.
Andrew Leigh
New York City vs LAFC H2H
| GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
The matchups between these two teams are few and far between: New York City and LAFC have faced each other just three times since Los Angeles joined the league in 2018. That's the fourth-fewest for any New York City opponent, trailing only Austin FC (1 game) and St Louis City (1 game), plus expansion side San Diego FC (0 games).
The most recent was an away win for NYCFC on May 29, 2021, at what was then called Banc of California Stadium. New York City overcame a one-goal deficit when Jesús Medina scored a 70' equalizer. Nicolás Acevedo was sent off with a straight red card 16 minutes later, but then Ismael Tajouri-Shradi scored the 90' game-winner off a corner kick to a cheering section of traveling supporters that numbered maybe two dozen.
Good times:
New York City Scouting Report
• Player Availability: Malachi Jones is out as his rehabilitation continues after suffering a broken leg in July.
• Center-back Thiago Martins and right-back Tayvon Gray are off the injury report after missing Matchday 1, although it's unclear if they'll see playing time today. The defense could use some help after shaky performance last week when they let a short-handed Miami score a stoppage-time equalizer.
• Expect Alonso Martínez once again to lead the attack. El Clínico scored in the season opener, giving him 1 goal per 90 minutes, and the club rewarded him by offering Martínez a new contract that keeps him at the club through 2027 with options through 2029.
• Will we see Jonny Shore on the field again this week? The 17-year-old midfielder looked composed when facing down Miami's attack.
• One question we posed in last week's Game Day Hub was answered: Tomás Romero is now the team's number-two goalkeeper behind Matt Freese. The 24-year-old spent last season at NYCFC II.
Matthew Mangam
Hudson River Blue Staff
