New York City FC extended its unbeaten run away from home on Saturday night with an impressive 3–1 win over the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field. Goals from Phillip Zinckernagel, Nicolás Fernández Mercau, Alonso Martínez, and a history-making strike from Homegrown forward Seymour Reid highlighted a night of milestones as the “Boys in Blue” continued their climb up the Eastern Conference standings.
Back-and-Forth First Half
NYCFC wasted little time asserting itself in the early stages. Danish playmaker Phillip Zinckernagel opened the scoring, capping off a sharp attacking move that immediately put Chicago on the back foot. The Fire responded, however, and just before the halftime whistle, Nicolás Fernández Mercau delivered his first goal in an NYCFC shirt, leveling the score at 1–1.
For Mercau, the breakthrough was the product of sustained pressure and tactical positioning—something head coach Pascal Jansen later credited to focused work in training. His composed finish injected confidence into the side and ensured New York carried momentum into the second half.
Martínez Stays Clinical
The second half belonged to Alonso Martínez, who continued his torrid scoring pace by firing home in the 57th minute to restore NYCFC’s lead. The Costa Rican forward has now scored 15 goals in MLS regular-season play for the second straight year, placing him alongside club legend David Villa as the only NYCFC players to achieve back-to-back 15-goal campaigns.
Martínez’s tally was also his ninth away goal of the season, further cementing his reputation as one of the league’s most reliable road scorers. His contributions over the past seven matches—seven goals and an assist—have turned him into the focal point of NYCFC’s attack.
Reid Makes History
While Martínez provided the veteran presence, it was 17-year-old Seymour Reid who delivered the moment of the night. Deep into stoppage time, Reid latched onto a clever ball from Agustín Ojeda, steadied himself with a composed first touch, and slotted home his debut MLS goal.
The finish not only sealed the 3–1 win but also etched Reid into the record books as the youngest goalscorer in NYCFC history. He becomes the sixth Homegrown player to score for the club, joining names like James Sands, Justin Haak, and Tayvon Gray. Post-match, Reid described the moment simply: “At 17, this is every kid’s dream. Scoring their first goal and making history is an amazing feeling.”
Milestones and Contributions
Saturday’s victory carried several additional storylines:
- Raul Gustavo made his MLS debut, slotting into the starting XI and helping stabilize the back line.
- Kevin O’Toole picked up his first assist of the season, while Hannes Wolf added his 16th goal contribution with an assist on Mercau’s equalizer.
- Justin Haak reached 100 career appearances for the club in all competitions, underlining his steady presence in the squad.
These performances underscored Jansen’s point after the match about the importance of players stepping up when given their opportunities.
Road Form Reaches New Heights
The victory pushed NYCFC’s road record this season to 5-5-5, surpassing last year’s total of four away wins and marking the third-best road campaign in club history. The team is unbeaten in its last five away outings (4-0-1), a stretch that includes victories over Orlando, Dallas, and Cincinnati.
Historically, the win continued NYCFC’s dominance over Chicago, extending its unbeaten streak in the series to nine matches (6-3-0). It also secured the club’s fourth season sweep of 2025—a new record—having already taken full points off Toronto, Orlando, and Cincinnati.
Looking Ahead
With momentum surging, NYCFC now turns its attention back to the Bronx. The Boys in Blue will host reigning champions Columbus Crew at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, September 17 (7:30 p.m. ET | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV). With Martínez in red-hot form and Reid breaking through, the home crowd will have plenty to cheer for as the playoff push intensifies.
