New York City FC began its 2026 Leagues Cup journey in impressive fashion Thursday night, defeating Liga MX side Santos Laguna 2-0 in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs. The victory continued the Boys in Blue’s tradition of strong Leagues Cup performances, as the club has now advanced beyond the group stage in each of its previous three appearances and improved its all-time tournament record to 4-5-3 (15 points).
The result also marked Head Coach Pascal Jansen’s 65th match in charge across all competitions and provided another encouraging glimpse into the club’s growing depth.
Defender Tayvon Gray opened the scoring with New York City’s first goal of the 2026 Leagues Cup, continuing his development as one of the club’s most reliable homegrown products. The milestone goal came during Gray’s 170th appearance across all competitions, making him just the second player currently on NYCFC’s active Leagues Cup roster to score in the tournament.
The second goal carried another milestone as defender Nico Cavallo netted his first goal for the club in his 30th appearance across all competitions. Cavallo’s finish also represented his first Leagues Cup goal, joining Gray and Agustín Ojeda as active NYCFC players to score in the competition.
Midfielder Andrés Perea added his first Leagues Cup assist, while the attack received an encouraging boost from Brazilian newcomer Luighi, who made his highly anticipated club debut after entering in the second half. Jansen praised the 20-year-old’s physical presence and ability to connect play through the middle, noting that his arrival immediately improved the team’s attacking rhythm and movement.
Several other players enjoyed memorable evenings as New York City’s squad depth continued to shine. Homegrown midfielder Cooper Flax made both his First Team and Leagues Cup debut, becoming the 14th Homegrown player to debut for the club and the first to do so during Leagues Cup competition. Defender João Loiola also made his First Team debut after entering as a second-half substitute, while defender Max Murray earned his first-ever start for NYCFC after battling through injuries over the past 18 months. Jansen applauded Murray’s composure and resilience following the match.
Goalkeeper Matt Freese once again proved why he has become one of MLS’ top shot stoppers. Wearing the captain’s armband for the first time with New York City FC, Freese produced several crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet. Jansen highlighted Freese’s commanding presence and leadership, particularly during Santos Laguna’s limited but dangerous scoring opportunities.
The evening also featured the return of defender Kevin O’Toole, who made his first start since suffering an injury against CF Montréal on April 25. Jansen praised O’Toole’s hard work during rehabilitation and indicated the versatile defender remains on a managed minutes plan as he regains full match fitness.
With the victory, NYCFC improved its Leagues Cup scoring totals to 16 goals while recording its fifth clean sheet in tournament history. More importantly, the Boys in Blue opened the competition with confidence, integrating several new faces while showcasing the defensive organization and attacking balance that could make them a dangerous contender once again as the knockout rounds approach.
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