NYCFC rebound in Leagues Cup clash, defeating Leon
In the world of Major League Soccer (MLS), New York City FC (NYCFC) secured a crucial 2-0 victory against Club León on August 1, 2025, at the Sports Illustrated Stadium. This hard-fought win has propelled NYCFC up the Leagues Cup standings, although they remain 11th on the MLS side with 3 points and a goal difference of minus one after the second matchweek of Phase One.
The game saw NYCFC creating the more dangerous chances despite Club León having 57% of the possession in the first half. Seymour Garfield-Reid, who came on as a substitute in the 80th minute, had two one-on-one chances against Jiménez but was unable to score.
NYCFC's defense shone in the second half, keeping a clean sheet and sending them up to 10th in the Leagues Cup standings. This was NYCFC's sixth clean sheet of the season, their first since a 4-0 win against Atlanta United in early June.
The NYCFC attack was led by the partnership between Fernández Mercau and Martínez, who combined to create several opportunities. Fernández Mercau, who transferred from La Liga side Elche CF last month, provided the reverse pass for Martínez's assist. The first goal was set up by Justin Haak's corner kick, with Alonso Martínez finding the back of the net to put NYCFC in command.
Agustin Ojeda scored the second goal for NYCFC, finishing off a flowing team move in the 32nd minute, making it 2-0. The assist for Martínez's goal came from Fernández Mercau, who demonstrated his skill with a brilliant spin move and drive to the byline.
However, NYCFC almost scored a third goal seven minutes later, but the offside flag was raised. Despite this, the team's performance was a significant improvement from their 3-0 loss against Puebla in their first Leagues Cup match. Head coach Pascal Jansen emphasized the importance of being competitive, particularly after NYCFC's disappointing start.
As the Leagues Cup format awards 3 points for a regulation win, NYCFC is currently outside the qualifying threshold for the knockout stage. To qualify, they need a win against Deportivo Toluca FC and favourable results in the final fixtures. James Rodríguez took a penalty for Club León in the 58th minute, but Matthew Freese saved it, marking the first shot on target for Club León all night.
NYCFC faces Deportivo Toluca at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night to conclude Phase One of Leagues Cup play. Head coach Pascal Jansen commented on the understanding between Fernández Mercau and Martínez, expressing his confidence in the duo as they aim to secure a place in the knockout rounds. With a win and the right results, NYCFC could potentially climb into the top four MLS teams advancing to the next stage.
Football was the sport played between NYCFC and Club León on August 1, 2025, as the match took place at the Sports Illustrated Stadium. Seymour Garfield-Reid had opportunities to score in football, particularly in a one-on-one situation against Jiménez, but was unable to do so.
