FLUSHING, NY — “There seems to be a bigger problem with a sort of mentality, sort of like finishing off games and being able to do that with this team, it’s a pattern this season.”

The postgame comments Saturday evening from NYCFC head coach Pascal Jansen after his team was eliminated from 2026 MLS Cup playoff contention at Citi Field. A late stoppage goal again, a theme of too many throughout this season as CF Montreal (26 points, 6-19-8), with nothing to play, equalized the scoring for an eventual 1-1 final.

Yes, one too many of those late stoppage goals from the other side. This time striker Daniel Ríos a minute into the seven minute mark of extra time went through defenders and on a shot off his right foot to the center passed keeper Matt Freese. 

In Saturday afternoon’s must win for NYCFC at Citi Field, Montreal CF’s Daniel Ríos equalized the score in stoppage time, leaving The Boys in Blue with a 1-1 draw which ended the club’s playoff hopes – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports

With their playoff hopes in balance for the ninth seed in MLS’ Eastern Conference Standings and the clock ticking down, it was over.

Columbus (3-0 over DC United) had won their game and Cincinnati (1-0 over Philadelphia) did also. NYCFC needed three points to keep those hopes alive, the others to lose or draw. Instead their home season finale ended with one point and elimination with hopes they could have taken this to MLS Decision Day next Saturday.

They slowly left the pitch with their heads down, various players and coaches greeted disappointed supporters by the field among the 17,529 fans who cheered when NYCFC took the lead in the first half. Andrés Perea finished Nicolás Fernández’s pass for their lone goal. 

Following Saturday’s draw in Queens, players and coaches of NYCFC took a moment to thank the fans in attendance for all of their support throughout this season at home and on the road – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports

There wasn’t much to say afterwards, one player after another slowly taking that walk down the corridor to answer questions from the media about their season that ended with the same theme.

Not enough to close the door, coming up short, NYCFC (39 points, 9-12-12) for the first time since 2023 will not make a run for their second MLS Cup. Instead they put an end to a failed season next Saturday on Decision Day at DC United who also have nothing to play for except pride and looking forward to a different outcome in 2027.

Jansen, though with a contract, is not concerned about his job security, like a counterpart manager in another sport played across town, the Yankees manager Aaron Boone was not to blame for his team failing to achieve. In the end it’s the players on the pitch, perhaps a mentality of not finishing the job.

It’s back to the drawing board for head coach Pascal Jansen and NYCFC as this year’s club fell short of their goal in securing a spot in the 2026 MLS Cup playoffs – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports

Jansen mentioned the mentality of finishing the job at Orlando last week. a late goal and off the bench from midfielder Jonathon Shore, an equalizer that kept their playoff hopes alive. He mentioned finishing the job this week and getting three needed points at Citi Field with a win over Atlanta United FC which came via Bénie Traoré subbed in late and converting in the net. 

NYCFC needed to win outright and three wins of nine points, combined with others losing or getting a draw could have kept their playoff hopes thriving.

“We can do way better like in the final third defending that final moment by making sure you do everything that you possibly can in order to avoid that dangerous situation that can follow from today’s loss,” said Jansen.

Nicolás Fernández and NYCFC (39 points, 9-12-12) will finish off their 2026 MLS regular season this coming Saturday on the road vs. D.C. United (33 points, 7-12-14) – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports

The coach was not distraught, disappointed of course. He and his team had this one as were so many others that got through the net from teams in stoppage time they needed to beat in the conference. When looking back, those late minute or stoppage time balls that went into the net possibly played a factor in why NYCFC will be watching the playoffs from the outside.

Jansen was asked about Alonso Martínez, the key forward who missed a significant amount of playing time having returned from knee surgery. He was unavailable for this significant game Saturday in Queens.

“Obviously we are all very sad and disappointed that we didn’t make it. Being so close as we were today with the result in Orlando would have helped a lot,” noted Jansen. “Alonso is one of the best strikers in the league. He’s proven that for two seasons in a row. It’s not fair to put everything on Alonso’s shoulders because other people have to step up as well. And you’ve seen that throughout the season.”

Alonso Martínez, recently returning from a lengthy absence due to an ACL injury, was ruled out for Saturday’s MLS clash against Montreal after suffering an apparent muscle injury (thigh) during last Wednesday’s encounter against Atlanta United – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports

But for weeks after World Cup play it appeared that NYCFC lost their ability to be confident about holding a lead, scoring goals, and preventing that stoppage time goal from going through the net.

Said Jansen, “But at the end of the day, it’s about the team and it’s about the objectives that you have, the targets that you want to hit as a club and as a team and we failed and that is something that is a very dominant factor today.” 

And NYCFC midfielder Perea said through an interpreter, “sometimes you have to accept things as they are. A lot of times you put in the work for a better outcome. This time we didn’t get the result we expected. So that is in the past now. We need to focus on working, improving and starting a new process.”

In NYCFC’s match against CF Montreal on Saturday, The Boys in Blue had a 1-0 lead into halftime after Andrés Perea took a pass from Nicolás Fernández in the 41st minute and scored his career-high fourth goal of the season – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports

Said 19-year-old Shore about the outcome, his playing time contributions and look ahead to next year: “Obviously everyone wants to play more minutes but as a team it was a disappointing season. Just train harder and be more consistent as a team.”

Shore will be in the equation, so will Agustín Ojeda who had a first half tear as a team leading scorer, though wasn’t a factor down the stretch and these final few games towards that playoff survival.

“Nobody likes to lose,” said midfielder Keaton Parks. “It is motivating for everybody. As a professional soccer player, you want to win every game. There’s no doubt nobody’s not trying out there. It just wasn’t clicking for us and it’s something everybody loves to learn from.”

Regardless not one player put blame on another, it was a team effort and failure from start to finish. In the end, NYCFC players and the head coach thanked their supporters looking to make improvements.

Despite their home games split up at Citi Field and Yankee Stadium, fans of NYCFC still showed up and showed out this season, ranking in the top third of overall MLS team attendance—11th according to WorldFootball.Net — Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports

Regarding the mentality question, they could not answer it. They knew they were a good team but not good enough to finish the job.

“We didn’t make the playoffs,” Jansen said. “That is very disappointing. We believe we should be in the playoffs. That is a target that is always there for us as a team and always there for us as a club. Thank every supporter for their massive support. That’s not only the Latino community but that goes for every New York City fan.”

And he concluded, “We didn’t meet our challenges and goals. This is disappointing and we have to do better next year again. That’s also how it works in sports.”

The Spirit of Halloween made its way to Citi Field Saturday afternoon for @cfmontreal vs. @newyorkcityfc 🎃⚽️👻

Visit https://t.co/rMmlz13ps7 #NYCFC #MLS #Halloween #LatinoSports #Soccer #Halloween2026 | @newyorkcityfc | @MLS pic.twitter.com/ZJfnaqdaSo

— Latino Sports (@LatinoSports) November 1, 2026

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