Match Recap: NYCFC vs New England Revolution

On a nostalgic evening marking the 10th anniversary of NYCFC’s first MLS home game, the Boys in Blue delivered a performance worthy of the celebration, overcoming an early deficit to defeat New England Revolution 2-1 at Yankee Stadium. The victory maintained NYCFC’s impressive start to the 2025 campaign while leaving the struggling Revolution still searching for their first win.

Team Adjustments

Both managers made tactical adjustments heading into the match. NYCFC’s Pascal Jansen brought in Nico Cavallo to replace Kevin O’Toole, who had featured in last week’s triumph over Orlando City. For the visitors, Caleb Porter reshuffled his lineup by introducing Brandon Bye, Matt Polster, and Maxi Urruti, hoping to jumpstart a team that had yet to find the net in regular season play.

First-Half Drama

The Revolution silenced the festive home crowd in the 26th minute when Brandon Bye’s whipped cross deflected off Thiago Martins Bueno and into the NYCFC net. The own goal represented a milestone for New England—their first regular season goal of 2025—but did little to mask their early-season struggles.

NYCFC’s challenges intensified just three minutes later when Jansen was forced into an early substitution, with Cavallo making way for Birk Risa due to an apparent injury.

The hosts showed remarkable resilience, however, equalizing in the 38th minute through a brilliantly executed attack. Hannes Wolf, who had been dominant in the midfield throughout the evening, connected with Julián Fernández on a penetrating run into the Revolution’s 18-yard box. Wolf’s perfectly weighted through ball found Fernández in space, and the forward calmly slotted past New England goalkeeper Aljaž Ivacic, sending the anniversary crowd of 18,892 into celebrations.

Second-Half Dominance

NYCFC seized control after the break, dictating possession and creating several promising opportunities. Their persistence paid off in the 68th minute with a goal that showcased their attacking prowess. Keaton Parks unleashed a powerful shot that Ivacic managed to parry, but Alonso Martínez reacted quickest to the rebound, executing a clinical volley that gave the goalkeeper no chance and put the hosts ahead 2-1.

With the lead secured, NYCFC managed the remainder of the match with composure. Despite conceding a flurry of late corner kicks, their defense held firm, maintaining their shape and neutralizing New England’s desperate attempts to salvage a point.

Looking Ahead

The victory propels NYCFC to seven points from their opening four matches, positioning them among top half of the Eastern Conference. Their fluid attacking play and defensive resilience suggest they could be serious contenders this season.

For New England, who remain winless and have now conceded multiple goals in each of their previous two matches, Porter faces mounting pressure to turn things around. Brandon Bye’s performance offered a rare bright spot on an otherwise disappointing evening for the Revolution.

NYCFC will look to extend their winning streak when they travel to face the Columbus Crew next Saturday at Lower.com Field, while New England returns home desperately seeking their first win against the New York Red Bulls.

Match Details

Competition: Major League Soccer (MLS)

Date: 3/15/2025

Venue: Yankee Stadium

Kickoff Time: 7:30 PM ET

Lineups

NYFCF: Matt Freese, Nico Cavallo (Birk Risa 29’), Thiago Martins Bueno, Justin Haak, Mitja Ilenic, Maxi Moralez, Jonathan Shore (Strahinja Tanasijevic 67’), Keaton Parks, Hannes Wolf (Mounsef Bakrar 82’), Alonso Martinez, Julian Fernandez (Agustin Ojeda 67’).

New England Revolution: Aljaž Ivacic, Will Sands (Ilay Feingold 75’), Mamadou Fofana, Brayan Ceballos, Brandon Bye, Matt Polster (Noel Buck 76’), Jackson Yueill, Alhassan Yusuf (Luis Diaz 85’), Carles Gil, Ignatius Ganago, Maxi Urruti (Luca Langoni 71’).