NYCFC lose to Montréal on Decision Day

The opportunity to finish Fourth Place in the Eastern Conference was there, but New York City FC did not take it. Instead, they were held scoreless on Decision Day by CF Montréal, who won 2-0 to end NYCFC's three-game winning streak in disappointing fashion.

That result means NYCFC finished the 2024 season in Sixth Place and will play FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium the weekend of October 25 in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Montréal were the better team and deserved the shutout victory. They earned their first win over New York City at Stade Saputo, which was also their first win in the rivalry since 2021.

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Montréal's dominant first half

Montréal started the night in Ninth Place and in the final Wild Card spot, but needed a result on Decision Day to make the playoffs. They showed that intensity and ambition from kickoff.

That early pressure paid off, and Caden Clark scored his fourth goal of the season in the 18th minute when NYCFC were caught out of position on a sloppily defended goal.

Making his fourth straight start, Justin Haak was too far up the field, allowing Montréal winger Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty to dribble past Kevin O'Toole and pass the ball to Bryce Duke. Duke played the ball across to Josef Martínez, whose impressive dummy let the ball roll behind him to Clark.

BUUUUTT CADEN CLARK SUR UNE PASSE DE BRYCE DUKE 🤩

Clark scores the first goal of the night in Montréal 🌟#CFMTL @BMOfr pic.twitter.com/jfHRmZ4QHT

— x - CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) October 19, 2024

Matt Freese and the New York City defense were completely outplayed — Clark had the time and space to place his shot perfectly in the right corner of the net.

From there, NYCFC had a few decent looks to level the game but lacked that clinical touch in the final third.

In stoppage time of the first half, Montréal extended their lead to two goals in what was once again poor defending from New York City.

Miscommunication from Tayvon Gray and Keaton Parks saw Clark easily win the ball back and dribble into the box, playing a short pass to Martínez, who poked it past Freese.

Josef Martínez marque le deuxième but de la soirée 😤

Caden Clark ➡️ Josef Martínez ⚽️#CFMTL @BMOfr pic.twitter.com/Rj0gAZTTMc

— x - CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) October 19, 2024

NYCFC were outshot Montréal in the first half 11-4 but only placed three of those shots on goal, and none of them looked dangerous.

Montréal 2 - 0 New York City: Rate the players

NYCFC lost on Decision Day for just the second time in club history. But hey, they open the playoffs next week at FC Cincinnati. That’s good, right?

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Star players disappoint

Alonso Martínez and Santiago Rodríguez were the marquee players heading into Saturday night's matchup. Martínez had four goals in his last three games and Rodríguez was coming off a brace in the 3-1 win against Nashville.

New York City's star attackers had chances against Montréal but lacked any real threat. Rodríguez attempted a bicycle kick goal in the first half, but it was easily saved by Montréal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois. Martínez totaled 19 touches, the fewest out of any outfield player to play 90 minutes.

Good players have bad games: It happens, but NYCFC will need Martínez and Rodríguez to be back to their A-tier performances in the playoffs next week.

Playoff opponent confirmed

It may be for the better that New York City will face Cincinnati in Round One of the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs. After all, NYCFC was largely projected to face Orlando City, the best team in MLS since the return from Leagues Cup heading into Decision Day.

For New York City to finish in Fourth Place and secure home-field advantage, they needed to defeat Montréal and Orlando to lose to Atlanta United. Orlando lost at home, but NYCFC also lost on the road, and with Charlotte FC road win over DC United, New York City will now open Round One at TQL Stadium against Cincinnati.

New York City defeated Cincinnati 3-2 at Red Bull Arena, their first win over the 2023 Supporters Shield winners since 2021. Cincinnati limp into the playoffs with just one win in their last five games, while NYCFC have only lost once in their last five.

To go by recent results, New York City are in better form than Cincinnati, but it will be a tough task to find a way to win TQL Stadium. After all, the last time New York City played Cincinnati in Ohio things didn't go so well as the team gave up four goals in 11 minutes in the worst defensive collapse in club history.

New York City will try to block the memory of that catastrophic performance, and instead look to build on their more recent 3-2 win over Cincinnati in New Jersey.

New York City FC to face FC Cincinnati in MLS Cup Playoffs

A Decision Day loss in Montréal means that New York City will begin the best-of-three Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs on the road at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.

Hudson River BlueAndrew Leigh