NYCFC concedes late against LAFC, suffers first defeat of 2025

The first two games of the season were always going to be a tough test for New York City FC. But both results – first a 2-2 tie with Inter Miami and now last night's 1-0 loss to LAFC – left much to be desired.

NYCFC were close to earning a strong point on the road and shutting out LAFC, but an 86th-minute strike from Ryan Hollingshead proved to be the game-winner for the home side.

New York City now have just one point from their first two games of the season, and still has work to do in the transfer window given the lack of depth within the roster.

Two changes in the starting lineup

Ahead of the LAFC match, Head Coach Pascal Jansen confirmed that right-back Tayvon Gray would be back in the lineup for last night's game. He started over Mitja Ilenič, but was forced to come off after eight minutes due to leg pain.

"We're still dealing with Tayvon's situation, there is no clarity on what happened exactly, but, he felt pain in his right leg and we're trying to examine him and find out what the problem is," Jansen said. "We'll have to wait and see first."

Mounsef Bakrar started on the left wing over Agustín Ojeda and had a quiet night. Jansen also tried this in the preseason with Alonso Martínez playing alongside Bakrar, which seemed to work well. Against LAFC, the two struggled mightily.

"Playing with Mounsef in this position, there was a specific situation that I was trying to create with the team on and off the ball," Jansen said. "In possession, Mounsef had the freedom to go a little bit closer to Alonso and create the one-v-one situation in the middle. The opponent, however, started with three defenders, so that changed just a little bit, but out of possession, we have to reset in a new shape, and there were two choices for Mounsef to play either next to Alonso or come down and play next to Keaton or Justin out of possession."

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An improved defense

NYCFC scrambled to defend against Inter Miami. Granted, facing the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez is no easy task, but a New York City that allowed a goal from a Miami reduced to 10 players last week looked much-improved against LAFC.

The backline, consisting of Birk Risa and Strahinja Tanasijević for the second straight game, looked more composed. LAFC's threatening forwards – Denis Bouanga, Jeremy Ebobisse, and Olivier Giroud – had quiet nights and were left frustrated.

After Tanasijević left in the 75th minute with an apparent injury, he was replaced by Thiago Martins, who was back in the lineup for the first time this season.

Just eleven minutes later, left-back Ryan Hollingshead scored to give LAFC the three points, capitalizing on a moment when New York City switched off defensively.

Bouanga played a cross to the back post, which was cleared sloppily by Risa right to Hollingshead, who struck it into the back of the net and past Matt Freese.

NYCFC – who led LAFC to no shots on goal in the first half – eventually broke and conceded a late goal for the second straight game, a troubling trend just two games into the 2025 season.

"The game overall was in balance, a tough game away," Jansen said. "LA, strong squad with good players. I think it was a very competitive game, a very tight game. Details will make the difference when the game is in balance, and unfortunately, one detail, when we conceded the goal, we switched off for just one or two seconds and got punished for it. So, that's the biggest difference in this game."

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Focus on the home opener

After two challenging road games, New York City will return to Yankee Stadium to face Orlando City in its home opener. NYCFC snapped its undefeated streak in home openers last season, losing 1-2 to the Portland Timbers after a late goal from Evander.

This season, New York City could restore its dominance in home openers against an inconsistent Orlando side, which lost its season opener but most recently defeated Toronto FC 4-2.

"Very excited to get back home and play in front of our fans again," said Keaton Parks. "It's been a long time, and obviously, the last time we were playing in front of them, it didn't go our way, so, very excited to get back to New York. It's time for a win as well. I think if we would've got the point tonight, which I think we should've, it would've been a good two points to the season, but we'll learn from this, we'll move forward, and we'll bring a strong performance home."