FLUSHING, N.Y. (Oct. 18, 2025) — On a brisk Decision Day in Queens, New York City FC saw its regular season close with frustration rather than celebration. In front of 24,832 fans at Citi Field, the Boys in Blue battled back from a goal down to equalize through Nicolás Fernández Mercau, only to concede a late winner to the Seattle Sounders, falling 2–1 in the final minutes.
The defeat capped off NYCFC’s 2025 MLS regular season at 17-12-5, securing a playoff berth for the ninth time in ten years—a remarkable streak considering the club’s youthful roster. Head coach Pascal Jansen’s side will now shift its attention to a Round One Best-of-Three series against Charlotte FC, beginning on the road later this week.
A cagey first half with missed chances
Jansen’s team began brightly, controlling early possession and pushing forward through Alonso Martínez, who nearly put NYCFC ahead within the opening minutes. His close-range effort was deflected out for a corner, setting the tone for a first half in which New York created more of the ball but struggled to capitalize.
Seattle had its own close calls, most notably when defender Raúl Gustavo blocked a dangerous attempt from Jesús Ferreira midway through the half. Play was then halted for several minutes after an unfortunate injury to Pedro de la Vega, disrupting both teams’ rhythm.
In first-half stoppage time, midfielder Justin Haak came inches from opening the scoring with a curling shot from 20 yards that clanged off the post—leaving goalkeeper Stefan Frei rooted to the spot and the crowd holding its breath.
The two sides entered the break level at 0-0, with NYCFC holding an even 50-50 share of possession and nine corners earned to Seattle’s six, but without the finishing touch to show for it.
Seattle strikes first, NYC fights back
The second half opened with renewed intensity. Martínez and Hannes Wolf drove at the Sounders’ back line, while Matt Freese remained alert to Seattle’s counterattacks, denying a low effort from Kalani Kossa-Rienzi just before the hour mark.
Moments later, Seattle made their breakthrough. In the 61st minute, Albert Rusnák swung in a free kick from the right, and Jordan Morris out-leaped his marker to power a header into the net for a 1-0 lead.
Jansen responded quickly with a triple substitution, bringing on Julián Fernández, Agustín Ojeda, and Jonathan Shore to inject creativity and pace. The changes immediately shifted momentum. Thiago Martins nearly equalized from a corner, his header forcing a sharp save from Frei, while Kevin O’Toole and Fernández Mercau both tested the keeper from distance.
New York finally broke through in the 82nd minute thanks to a perfectly constructed sequence. Substitute Máximo Carrizo, who had entered moments earlier, intercepted a loose ball near midfield and surged forward. He fed Julián Fernández, who slipped the ball across to Nico Fernández Mercau at the top of the box. The Argentine fullback’s left-footed drive took a slight deflection and soared into the top corner, igniting the home crowd and leveling the score at 1-1.
The goal marked Fernández Mercau’s third of the season and his first at Citi Field, continuing a strong run of form with two goals in his last three matches. The finish also gave Carrizo his first career MLS assist, making him the fifth homegrown player in club history to record one.
Ragen’s late header silences Citi Field
Just as NYCFC seemed poised to push for a winner, Seattle snatched the game back. In the 87th minute, defender Jackson Ragen rose above the pack on a Danny Leyva corner, directing his header into the top right corner to restore the Sounders’ lead at 2-1.
The Boys in Blue pressed furiously in stoppage time, with Martínez nearly equalizing after breaking free inside the box, but his right-footed shot flashed across goal and inches wide of the far post. Seattle held firm through the final whistle to claim the win.
Despite the loss, several positives emerged for New York: Moralez and Haak each completed all 34 regular-season starts, a testament to their consistency, while Ojeda appeared in every match this year—an impressive feat for the young Argentine attacker.
Postgame reactions
After the match, Jansen emphasized accountability and focus heading into the postseason:
“We set up to win this match, and the players gave their best game possible today like we always do,” he said. “Unfortunately, we were not playing our A-game. It was slow and predictable at times. But now the switch is made—the focus goes into playoff mode. I trust my guys that we’ll be ready once we head for Charlotte.”
Defender Kevin O’Toole echoed that sentiment, stressing belief in the squad’s recent performances:
“It’s disappointing tonight, but we feel confident against Charlotte,” O’Toole said. “We’ve shown we can dominate possession and create chances. If we bring that intensity down there, we’ll be in a good spot.”
Midfielder Justin Haak kept it simple:
“Even if we’d won, our position wouldn’t change. Now we think only about Charlotte. They’re strong at home, but we’re ready for the matchup.”
Looking ahead
New York City closes the season with a home record of 11-6-0, notably the first full-length campaign in club history without a home draw. The club also maintains a solid overall record at Citi Field: 12-5-6, with 33 goals scored and 27 conceded over 23 regular-season matches in Queens.
As one chapter ends and another begins, NYCFC will take its second-youngest roster in MLS into the knockout rounds. A road trip to Charlotte now awaits—a chance to transform Saturday’s frustrations into the fuel for a deeper postseason run.
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