The MLS Cup Playoffs arrived but New York City FC didn't do much to trouble FC Cincinnati, losing 1-0 at TQL Stadium in Game 1 of this best-of-three Round One series.
It's not hyperbole to call this a historically bad attacking performance from New York City, and your player ratings were not generous to the players held scoreless for a ninth time in MLS play this season.
This was the club's 17th match in the MLS Cup Playoffs and NYCFC's two shots on target were the second-fewest ever produced across that playoff history – ahead of only a 2018 home loss to Atlanta United FC in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in which Domé Torrent's team put zero of its eight attempted shots on target.
When looking at 2024 results, this was the most anemic match of New York City's MLS season from the perspective of expected goals (xG). NYCFC posted 0.3 xG in this loss, the lowest expected goals number in an MLS match in 2024 – while Cincinnati was credited with 3.3 xG, the second-highest opponent xG NYCFC allowed in an MLS match this season.
That it remained only a 1-0 scoreline in Cincinnati's favor was thanks to another incredible showing from Matt Freese in goal, who earned yet another Player of the Match for the latest in what's been a season full of standout performances.
These ratings liked Freese's game but didn't like what was seen from the rest of New York City's team. No non-Freese player rated higher than a 6.1, with the Starting XI averaging a middling 5.3 for their collective efforts at TQL Stadium.
Note: FotMob ratings are in parentheses.
Alonso Martínez, off 87' (6.3) – 5.1
Santiago Rodríguez (4.8) – 4.8
Hannes Wolf, off 62' (6.2) – 4.2
Andrés Perea, off 87' (6.9) – 6.1
Keaton Parks, off 76' (6.6) – 4.6
James Sands (6.6) – 5.8
Tayvon Gray (6.3) – 4.2
Kevin O'Toole (6.6) – 4.8
Thiago Martins (6.4) – 5.8
Birk Risa (6.9) – 5.8
Matt Freese (8.6) – 7.0
