BRONX, NY — NYCFC had the 2-0 advantage with first-half penalty goals from Bénie Traoré and Luighi Sunday evening at Yankee Stadium but Philadelphia Union responded. After the break, Philadelphia struck back twice and later got the deciding goal. Gone is NYCFC’s three game winning streak in MLS play and what appeared to be three points for them in the Eastern Conference standings instead went to their division rival.
The 3-2 loss for coach Pascal Jansen and his team was unacceptable, perhaps a loss of energy generated in the first half? Then again allowing a go-ahead goal in the 75th minute is comparable to a star reliever in baseball blowing the lead, resulting in a costly loss.
Philadelphia Union fought all the way back from a 2-0 deficit Sunday night at Yankee Stadium against NYCFC and won by a final of 3-2 – Image Credit: Alan Bautisa/Latino Sports
This loss is costly but does not end their playoff chances and Jansen will make adjustments before Wednesday at Cincinnati, marking the beginning of the club’s next three on the road.
The road though will get more difficult as the stretch run to the MLS playoffs and championship match has commenced. Sunday’s loss may get looked back on months from now with the coach and his players aware that two different halves won’t lead to wins and better position in the Eastern Conference standings.
Fans in the Bronx Sunday night were stunned during the second half after the club’s first half performance had The Boys in Blue up 2-0 vs. Philadelphia Union at the break – Image Credit: Alan Bautisa/Latino Sports
So what occurred in the second half is unacceptable. Jansen in his postgame press conference was not satisfied and had every reason not to be. He said his team initiated their own problems. Perhaps that comment will resonate to his players who quietly exited the stadium and were headed home in what should be an intense few days of preparation before departing for Cincy.
“It’s personal errors which gets Philadelphia back into the game,” Jansen said. “But it doesn’t mean we’re not looking for it on the boat. If you look at the first 45 minutes apart from one or two situations where it becomes a little dangerous on our end of the goal, I think the guys that were on pitch did a fantastic job.”
At the end of July, NYCFC picked up Luighi on loan from Brazilian side SE Palmeiras through the 2026 season – Image Credit: Alan Bautista/Latino Sports
He mentioned Luighi a lot, with the Brazilian scoring his first NYCFC and MLS goal, converting from the penalty spot. He said he can play the No. 9 in his profile well and will get more looks competing with others when they return from injury and yellow card violations.
“We were ready for another 45 today, we pushed another 60 out of them which is very good for the team,” he said referring also to adjustments and the other penalty goal from Traoré. “But if you look around down the line with all the plays that were on page, the level that they got to in the first half was more than decent.”
He added: “Look at the bigger picture because the goal is still the (MLS) playoffs and MLS Cup at the end. The games are not won in the middle of August so that’s what I’ve got to tell myself.”
Bénie Traoré made an impact Sunday night, scoring his first goal with NYCFC but it wasn’t enough for the club to pull out a win and three points in the Eastern Conference Standings – Image Credit: Alan Bautista/Latino Sports
Jansen said it was a “drop off” that’s what’s more concerning. And coming off three matches in Leagues Cup competition offered no excuse of two different halves for NYCFC on the pitch.
He said guys coming on the pitch should be able to offer a lift to that higher level to maintain their first half of play.
NYCFC coach Padcal Jansen believes his club can match their gear from Sunday night’s first half for all 90+ minutes on the pitch – Image Credit: Alan Bautista/Latino Sports
NYCFC had their usual attack, though they went into that lower gear of play after the half and that will be addressed. They are expecting the leading scorer Nicolás “Nico” Fernández back on the pitch Wednesday after serving a one-match yellow card suspension.
Perhaps that also had an impact on the loss.
Nicolás “Nico” Fernández, serving a one-match yellow card suspension, was unable to go for NYCFC in Sunday’s match vs. Philadelphia Union at Yankee Stadium – Image Credit: Frank Hyatt/Latino Sports
Regardless this was more than the forwards Traoré, scoring his first NYCFC goals, and Luighi, converting his sixth and seventh successful penalty shot this season. The club is a perfect seven-for-seven from the spot so patching on goals and allowing a lead to stand was more significant Sunday and will be even more down the stretch.
The team sits seventh in the Eastern Conference (7-7-5, 26 PTs), scoring 33 goals and conceded 27 in MLS play.
“In the first half, we had to take advantage of the penalties that went our way and with those, we were able to score the first two goals,” said forward Agustín Ojeda. “We have a difficult match in three days and we have to try to get the three points.”
Next up for Agustín Ojeda and NYCFC after Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Philadelphia Union at home is FC Cincinnati on the road Wednesday night – Image Credit: Alan Bautista/Latino Sports
Three points that at this juncture are needed, after all this is the stretch of a rigorous MLS schedule. However NYCFC can’t, as Ojeda said, come out of the half “a little sleepy.”
“We let them back into the game,” said midfielder Keaton Parks. “We made some mistakes, we weren’t playing our game and keeping the ball.”
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X:@Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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