New York City FC delivered one of their most thrilling performances of the 2025 MLS season on Wednesday night, securing a dramatic 3-2 comeback win against defending champions Columbus Crew at Yankee Stadium. In front of 17,413 fans in the Bronx, Pascal Jansen’s side fought through two separate deficits before emerging victorious thanks to late heroics from Hannes Wolf and Julián Fernández.
A First Half of Twists
The match began with Columbus showing their intent, as Dániel Gazdag found the opener, forcing NYCFC to once again play from behind—a familiar theme this season. The Boys in Blue responded through Hannes Wolf, who continues to flourish in Jansen’s system. The Austrian midfielder leveled the score with a composed finish, ensuring momentum was back with the home side going into halftime.
Columbus Strikes Back, Wolf Responds Again
The second half opened with more drama. Abou Ali restored the Crew’s lead on the hour mark, punishing a brief lapse in NYCFC’s defensive organization. Yet Wolf once again stepped up, producing his second goal of the evening to bring the game level at 2-2.
Wolf’s brace was historic for the club: it marked his fourth career multi-goal game in MLS play and his fourth of the season, placing him alongside some of NYCFC’s most prolific names. The performance also pushed him into double figures for 2025, with 11 goals—making him just the tenth player in club history to hit that milestone.
Substitutes Steal the Show
While Wolf’s contributions kept NYCFC alive, it was the substitutes who stole the spotlight in stoppage time. With the match seemingly destined for a draw, Agustín Ojeda surged down the wing and delivered a clever pass to Julián Fernández. The young Argentine, fighting for minutes this season, bent a clinical shot into the corner to send Yankee Stadium into chaos.
It was Fernández’s third goal of the campaign and seventh overall contribution, a testament to his professionalism and patience despite limited starts. For Ojeda, the assist was his fifth of the season—and his third in the past two games—continuing his emergence as one of the team’s most valuable attacking weapons off the bench.
A Season of Comebacks
The result underscored NYCFC’s resilience, marking their seventh comeback victory of 2025. Remarkably, six of those wins came after conceding the opening goal. Alongside comebacks against New England, Orlando, Nashville, Dallas, and twice against Chicago Fire, Wednesday’s triumph against Columbus further cements the club’s identity as one of the league’s toughest teams to kill off.
This knack for late rallies has not only boosted confidence but also kept NYCFC firmly in the playoff hunt. With 15 wins on the year, the club now sits tied for the second-most victories in MLS, trailing only Cincinnati, Charlotte, San Diego, and Philadelphia (17 each).
Wolf Joins Elite Company
Wolf’s double placed him in elite NYCFC company. He is now the fourth player in club history to record four or more braces in a single season. His 11-goal tally also makes him the second double-digit scorer for NYCFC this year, joining Alonso Martínez (15). This marks just the fifth time the club has had multiple players reach 10+ goals in the same campaign—a hallmark of balanced attacking firepower.
Quotes of the Night
Head coach Pascal Jansen praised the team’s resilience, calling the result “very impressive” and stressing the importance of handling the final stretch like “eight finals.” He highlighted Fernández’s professionalism, pointing out how the forward has remained dedicated in training and seized his chance to deliver the winner.
Wolf, meanwhile, credited the collective effort: “Today we went down twice and still came back. That’s not just me, but all 11, and also the players who came in did great.” Fernández summed up his match-winning strike in one word: “Beautiful.”
Looking Ahead
The victory improved NYCFC’s all-time home record against Columbus to 7-3-2, and their overall home form this season remains among the league’s best at 10-4-0. Yankee Stadium, in particular, has become a fortress with a 7-4-0 record.
Next up, the Boys in Blue remain in the Bronx for a Saturday matinee clash against Charlotte FC. With momentum, confidence, and playoff positioning on the line, NYCFC will look to extend their late-season surge and keep their place among the East’s elite.
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