Club León v. New York City FC Leagues Cup 2025 - Phase One Match Two Date: Friday, August 1, 2025 | Kickoff: 6pm ET Location: Sports Illustrated Stadium | Harrison, New Jersey Television: MLS Season Pass Radio (English/Spanish): New York City FC App | Tune In App newyorkcityfc.com/radio
NEW YORK CITY FC HEAD COACH PASCAL JANSEN
On what the team needs to do better and what positives to take away from Club Puebla… “Well, the positive was the second half, obviously, when we made a couple of changes and once a few other guys came on the pitch, we created a few good looks and good moments to get back into the game. But the biggest lesson was learned in the first half. The way we started, conceding from the set piece like we did and not sticking to our principles—it came back to hurt us badly. Given the fact that you play games at this level against strong Mexican sides, it’s very hard to get back into a game. But we did try that in the second half. We had our moments, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. That’s the biggest takeaway going into the second game: making sure we get everything right to give ourselves a better chance at a good result.”
On the quick turnaround between matches and the opportunity to rectify the previous game… “I’m all for that, and so are my players in the dressing room. It gives you little time to think, and focusing on the next game becomes the priority. However, like we’ve done from game number one this season, we always take our moment to reflect and review—and that’s what we’ve done again. It’s quite clear: if we want to play a bigger part in this tournament, a few things have to be done differently. Playing the next game in just a few days always helps get the focus right and makes sure we go into it with a solid plan."
NEW YORK CITY FC MIDFIELDER MAXI MORALEZ
On how the team is feeling after the defeat and thoughts on Club León… “Yes, we’re aware of the setback we had in the first match. It wasn’t the result we were looking for or expecting. We knew it was going to be tough, even though Puebla isn’t doing well in Liga MX and is just getting started. But I think they opened the scoring very early, right at the beginning, and from there it got complicated. We also had to rotate some players due to the schedule—the coach had to rotate the lineup. Now, tomorrow, we face a very tough opponent with great players. We know we also have the urgency to win because otherwise we're out, and that's not what we want. It’ll be difficult. We’ll try to fight for it because it’s going to be a tight game. We understand the need, and so do they. Hopefully, it’s a good game, and we come away with the three points.”
Sobre cómo se siente el equipo después de la derrota y sus pensamientos sobre Club León… “Sí, sabemos el traspié que tuvimos en la primera jornada. La verdad que no era el resultado que al menos buscamos y esperábamos. Sin duda sabíamos que iba a ser difícil, más allá de que Puebla no está bien en la Liga MX, que recién empiezan. Pero bueno, creo que ellos abrieron el marcador muy temprano, apenas al comienzo. Y bueno, ya después ahí se nos complicó también. Nosotros, por el calendario, también tuvimos que rotar algunos jugadores, el entrenador tuvo que rotar. Y bueno, después, sin duda, mañana es un rival complicadísimo con grandes jugadores. Sabemos la urgencia que tenemos nosotros también de tener que ganar porque, bueno, si no ya estamos afuera, y no es lo que esperamos. Así que va a ser difícil, trataremos de lucharlo porque va a ser un partido apretado. Pero bueno, sabemos las necesidades que tenemos y ellos también. Así que ojalá que sea un buen partido y podamos nosotros quedarnos con los tres puntos."
CITY IN CUP ACTION
Following the launch of the revamped Leagues Cup competition in 2023, New York City FC has taken part in each edition since. This year is New York City’s third entry.
In the competition thus far, New York City FC’s record stands at 2-4-3 (W-L-D).
New York City won the shootout and advanced forward in two out of three matches that ended in draws.
The wins in regulation were against Toronto FC and Tigres UANL.
The losses came against Atlas Fútbol Club, the New York Red Bulls, FC Cincinnati, and Club Puebla.
The draws were against Querétaro F.C., the New England Revolution, and the Columbus Crew.
The shootout wins were against Querétaro and New England, while the lone shootout loss came against Columbus.
New York City FC’s first match in the competition since the reformulation was against Atlas FC and was hosted by the Club at Citi Field on July 23, 2023.
Atlas FC scored in the seventh minute, and with New York City failing to equalize the game, the result ended in a 0-1 win for the visitors.
New York City’s best finish thus far in the Leagues Cup tournament was in the Quarterfinals in 2024.
New York City played FC Cincinnati and Querétaro in the group stage, ending up second in the group with two points.
Then, New York City faced off against New England in the Round of 32 and advanced to the next round after winning the penalty shootout.
Columbus ended the Club’s run in the knockout stage that year with a 4-3 win on penalties after both teams tied 1-1 in regulation.
The only other year the team competed was in 2023, when the team faced Atlas and Toronto in the group stage, but then got knocked out by the New York Red Bulls on the road in the Round of 32.
When the team is playing away in Leagues Cup, their record stands at 1-2-2 through five matches played on the road.
New York City has scored first on the road three times (v. FC Cincinnati, New England, and Columbus). When that happens, the Club’s record is 0-1-2.
When the team concedes first away (v. New York Red Bulls and Tigres UANL), the Club’s record is 1-1-0.
The away match against Tigres UANL took place at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.
When playing at home in Leagues Cup, the team’s record is 1-2-1.
The team only scored first in one of the four home matches (v. Toronto), and it was a win for the Club.
In the other matches at home (v. Atlas, Querétaro, and Puebla), the team was held scoreless.
The team has hosted home matches at Citi Field (v. Atlas), Sports Illustrated Stadium (v. Toronto and Puebla), and Yankee Stadium (v. Querétaro).
At Sports Illustrated Stadium, New York City FC has won once and lost once, scoring five goals and conceding three.
At Citi Field, New York City has lost once, which occurred on July 23, 2023, resulting in a 1-0 loss against Atlas.
At Yankee Stadium, New York City FC has one draw, which occurred on July 28, 2024, resulting in a 0-0 draw and a 4-3 shootout win against Querétaro.
New York City has been held scoreless on four out of nine total matches played in Leagues Cup (v. Atlas, New York Red Bulls, Querétaro, and Puebla).
Similarly, the team has scored two goals or more in three total matches (v. Toronto, Cincinnati, and Tigres UANL).
In the other two matches, the team scored exactly one goal (v. New England and Columbus).
New York City FC has scored 11 goals in Leagues Cup play, while conceding 12 from opponents.
At home, the team has five goals scored with four conceded.
On the road, the team has scored six goals and allowed eight.
The most goals scored in a single Leagues Cup game by New York City FC was five, which occurred against Toronto at home.
Conversely, the most goals conceded by the Club in a Leagues Cup match were four, which happened against Cincinnati on the road.
Midfielder Maxi Moralez (1G) and Forward Alonso Martínez (1G) are the only active roster New York City players to have scored goals in Leagues Cup.
In total, four other New York City FC players have scored goals in Leagues Cup play, including former Midfielder Santiago Rodríguez (5G), Defender Maxime Chanot (1G), Midfielder Andres Jasson (1G), and Forward Jovan Mijatović (1G).
Just two current New York City FC players have recorded assists in the competition, including Moralez (2A) and Martínez (1A).
Moralez has the most assists for the team in the competition since New York City FC’s participation since 2023.
Three other players for the Club have recorded assists, including Rodríguez (1A), former Defender Braian Cufré (1A), and Forward Talles Magno (1A).
Goalkeepers Matt Freese and Luis Barraza have both played for the Club in Leagues Cup play.
Freese has recorded three more saves (16) than Barraza (13).
Both Freese and Barraza have one clean sheet in the tournament.
Defender Thiago Martins leads in shootout goals for the Club, with three.
Other current players that are on this list include Martínez and Moralez (who both have two shootout goals) and Mounsef Bakrar, Forward Julián Fernández, and Midfielder Justin Haak (who all have one shootout goal).
Other players for the Club that have shootout goals include Midfielder James Sands (two shootout goals), Rodríguez (two shootout goals), and Mijatović (one shootout goal).
Against Major League Soccer teams across matches in Leagues Cup play, the team is 1-2-2.
The win in regulation came against Toronto.
The two losses were against the New York Red Bulls and Cincinnati.
The draws occurred against New England and Columbus.
The Club won the shootout against New England but lost against Columbus.
The Club has scored nine goals against MLS teams and conceded seven in Leagues Cup play.
Against Liga MX teams, the team’s record stands at 1-2-1.
The win in regulation came against Tigres UANL.
The two losses came against Atlas FC and Club Puebla.
The draw occurred against Querétaro, and the Club won the shootout.
New York City FC has scored two goals and conceded five against Liga MX teams in Leagues Cup.
HOSTING IN HARRISON
Since 2020, New York City FC has played 24 games across all competitions hosted by the Club at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
By the numbers, the team has a record of 14-7-3 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in all competitions that have been played there when New York City FC is the home team.
The competitions that have been hosted at Sports Illustrated include the MLS Regular Season, CONCACAF Champions Cup, and Leagues Cup.
The Club has played 19 MLS Regular Season games in Harrison, three CONCACAF Champions Cup matches, and two Leagues Cup matches so far.
In MLS games played at Sports Illustrated as hosts, the Club’s record stands at 12-5-2.
The team has collected 38 points at league games played in Harrison.
New York City has scored 35 goals total in league play at Sports Illustrated when the Club is hosting.
The current goalscorers from the Club include Alonso Martínez (2G), Midfielder Keaton Parks (2G), Defender Mitja Ilenič (1G), Midfielder Andrés Perea (1G), Maxi Moralez (1G), and Julián Fernández (1G).
As for assists, 34 total have been recorded when the Club is hosting.
The players who have assisted and are still currently on the roster include Moralez (6A), Parks (1A), and Forward Hannes Wolf (1A).
While in the other competitions (CONCACAF Champions Cup and Leagues Cup) the team’s record is 2-2-1.
New York City FC players have contributed seven goals scored in these competitions.
However, Mounsef Bakrar (1G) is the only current player to have scored in either competition when the game is hosted by the Club.
Bakrar specifically scored in the 2024 edition of Leagues Cup, when New York City hosted Toronto FC and won 5-0.
For assists in these competitions, five New York City players have recorded them (Alexandru Mitrițã, Thiago Andrade, Santiago Rodríguez, Braian Cufré, and Talles Magno).
However, none of the current squad has assisted.
The most goals scored in a single match by New York City in either competition was the 5-0 win over Toronto in Leagues Cup play.
Conversely, the most goals conceded in a single match for these competitions when played in Harrison was three against Puebla in the 2025 edition of Leagues Cup.
