New York City FC delivered a statement performance on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium, defeating Toronto FC 3-1 in front of 19,395 fans and earning their 100th regular-season home victory since joining MLS in 2015.
The win was fueled by goals from Hannes Wolf, Mitja Ilenič, and Kevin O’Toole, while Toronto’s lone goal came via a deflected own goal that briefly threatened to swing momentum. With this result, NYCFC improves to a league-best 8-3-0 home record on the season and continues their dominance over Toronto with a five-game winning streak dating back to 2023.NYCFC opened the scoring through in-form forward Hannes Wolf, who notched his ninth goal of the season. The Austrian attacker has been on fire, contributing six goals and three assists over his last six matches. Head coach Pascal Jansen praised Wolf’s work ethic and adaptability postgame, calling him “the ultimate team player.”Toronto responded late in the first half, capitalizing on a deflected own goal to level the score, but NYCFC wasted little time regaining control. Defender Mitja Ilenič restored the lead with a well-placed shot and later added an assist on the third goal — his first multi-contribution match of the season. It was a breakthrough performance for Ilenič, who had not scored since February.
In the 75th minute, substitute Kevin O’Toole sealed the win with a tidy finish from close range — ironically against the same team and in the same stadium where he scored his first MLS goal 474 days earlier. O’Toole credited Wolf and veteran Maxi Moralez for the setup, calling it a “critical moment in the match” following Toronto’s push to equalize.The match was also one for the NYCFC history books. Maxi Moralez, at 38 years, four months, and six days, became the club’s oldest-ever starter and assist-provider, eclipsing records previously held by legends Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard. His experience and vision were on full display, providing calm leadership in a high-pressure game.In goal, Tomás Romero made his third straight start in place of Matt Freese, who is away with the U.S. national team. Facing his former club, Romero made a pair of key saves to preserve the lead. “I prepared mentally and physically for this opportunity,” he said, calling the win “a big moment” in his career.
With their home stretch complete, NYCFC now embarks on a challenging four-game road trip, beginning with Charlotte FC on July 12. While the road ahead is demanding, the team appears locked in and unified — a point echoed by fullback Ilenič. “Me and Kevin [O’Toole] scoring shows our versatility,” he said. “We’ll just try to keep this momentum going.”With 19 goals scored at home and contributions coming from across the lineup, NYCFC’s balance and belief are growing by the week. Thursday night wasn’t just a win — it was a milestone, a message, and a glimpse of what could be.
