NYCFC suffers a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Toluca, elimination from the Leagues Cup ensues.
In a disappointing turn of events, New York City FC (NYCFC) has been knocked out of the 2025 Leagues Cup following a 2-1 defeat against Deportivo Toluca at Yankee Stadium.
The match started on a promising note for NYCFC, with Alonso Martínez scoring an early goal in the 10th minute, a well-placed long-range shot that gave the home team an initial lead. However, the celebration was short-lived as NYCFC faced a setback in the 31st minute when Tayvon Gray was injured, forcing a substitution that disrupted NYCFC's defensive setup.
Toluca capitalized on this opportunity, scoring twice before halftime. Jesús Ángulo equalized in the 37th minute with a goal from six yards out, capitalizing on a rebound after a header hit the crossbar. Toluca's second goal came just two minutes later, initially called offside but confirmed by VAR.
Despite NYCFC's spirited second-half efforts, they could not find an equalizer. The closest they came was in the final stages of the game, when Martínez hit the post with a shot, and in the 54th minute when Ilenič's shot bounced out to him about 30 yards out from goal, but the effort went wide.
The match was not without contentious moments, with NYCFC feeling that several referee and VAR decisions went against them. Notably, the referee, Pierre-Luc Lauziere, allowed Toluca's second goal despite an immediate offside flag.
The defeat officially ended NYCFC's Leagues Cup group phase, while Toluca advanced to the knockout rounds. The match was attended by 18,496 fans, with many Toluca supporters present and vocally supporting their team.
NYCFC finished the competition with more possession (57%) but fewer shots on target and lower expected goals (0.62 xG for NYCFC vs. 2.45 xG for Toluca)[1][2][3][4][5]. The team's early exit from the Leagues Cup comes after a 3-0 defeat to Club Puebla on Matchday 1, which left them with too much to do on the final day.
Looking ahead, NYCFC will play the Columbus Crew next in the MLS on Saturday night at Citi Field.
[1] Leagues Cup Results: New York City FC vs. Deportivo Toluca
[2] NYCFC Eliminated from Leagues Cup
[3] NYCFC vs. Deportivo Toluca: Live Updates
[4] NYCFC vs. Deportivo Toluca: Recap
[5] NYCFC vs. Deportivo Toluca: Highlights
During the match, Alonso Martínez scored a goal for NYCFC in the 10th minute, showcasing their prowess in football. However, a setback occurred when Tayvon Gray was injured, disrupting their defensive setup, and Toluca capitalized on this, scoring twice before halftime, securing their victory in the football game against NYCFC.
