Sporting Kansas City 1-1 New York City FC 2025 MLS Regular Season - Matchday 26 Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025 | Kickoff: 8:40pm ET Location: Children's Mercy Park | Kansas City, KS Attendance: 16,987
New York City FC recorded a 1-1 draw against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night. Andrés Perea’s early goal gave New York City FC the edge in Kansas City, but a second-half equalizer from Dániel Sallói saw the teams share the points. Sebastiano Musu impressed on his MLS debut, nearly scoring twice.
UP NEXT: The ‘Boys in Blue’ continue their slate against the Western Conference as they head to Texas to take on FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Friday, July 25 at 8:30pm ET | Apple TV: MLS Season Pass | Radio (English/Spanish) newyorkcityfc.com/radio
This is New York City’s seventh meeting against Sporting Kansas City in series history. The Club has the slight edge over Kansas City in respect of the record in the series, with a 3-2-2 (W-L-D).
This is only the second draw in the series, with the first occurring in the most recent meeting prior to this one in the 2022 MLS Regular Season.
New York City FC’s first draw against Sporting Kansas City occurred at Citi Field on May 7, 2022. Both sides did not record goals in this match, and it ended 0-0.
This evening marks the second overall draw in the series, however, both teams scored, and it ended 1-1.
Additionally, this is the team’s first tie away at Kansas City. The Club’s road record against SKC now stands at 1-1-1.
New York City has eight goals scored and six conceded in the series.
Defender Thiago Martins (1A) and Midfielders Maxi Moralez (1G, 1A) and Andrés Perea (1G) are the only three players on the current New York City FC roster to register a goal contribution against Kansas City
Perea and Moralez are tied with six other former New York City FC players for most goals scored in the series.
Andrés Perea scored his first goal of the 2025 MLS Regular Season, which is his fifth with New York City FC since his arrival in 2023 and his ninth overall in Major League Soccer.
This is Perea’s second goal contribution of this season (1G, 1A).
Forward Sebastiano Musu made his Major League Soccer debut tonight coming off the bench in the 77th minute.
Musu signed a Short-Term Agreement for this match from MLS NEXT Pro affiliate New York City FC II
This evening’s goal was New York City’s fourth scored on the road at Children's Mercy Park.
It is their eighth goal scored overall in the series.
The Club’s road record now stands at 2-5-5 through 12 matches away from home.
Forwards Alonso Martínez and Hannes Wolf lead in away goals scored with four each, and both Defender Mitja Ilenič and Andrés Perea have one apiece.
As for assists, Maxi Moralez has three, Midfielder Keaton Parks and Forward Julián Fernández both have two apiece, and Thiago Martins has one.
Andrés Perea scored his first goal of the 2025 MLS Regular Season, which is his fifth with New York City FC since his arrival in 2023 and his ninth overall in Major League Soccer.
This is Perea’s second goal contribution of this season (1G, 1A).
Forward Sebastiano Musu made his Major League Soccer debut tonight coming off the bench in the 77th minute.
Musu signed a Short-Term Agreement for this match from MLS NEXT Pro affiliate New York City FC II
With his assist today, this marks Moralez’s sixth of the 2025 Regular Season.
This is his eighth goal contribution overall (2G, 6A).
It was his 30th assist for New York City FC.
Thiago Martins recorded a second assist, marking his second overall for this season.
NEW YORK CITY FC HEAD COACH PASCAL JANSEN
On Midfielder Andrés Perea’s goal tonight... “It's a beautiful play. It’s something that we anticipated going into this game because he [Andrés Perea] had a slightly different role compared to the game against Orlando [City SC], but we knew these opportunities for his runs would appear in this game as well. This was a good setup, good play, and a good finish because Pepe [Andrés Perea] has the quality to get himself into these situations. And then it's all about making sure you control your emotions and your impulses to get it on frame. And that is what he did. It's a beautiful goal and a good moment for Pepe [Andrés Perea] as an individual.”
On the importance of getting three points in Dallas... “It's a huge game, not only because of the situation in the rankings, but just because of being on the road. The game against Charlotte [FC] gave us far too little, then the game against Orlando [City SC], eventually we got lucky, but we had a good part in the game, especially in the second half. And today, it feels like a loss because we had the momentum to win this game, which was our belief. Going to Dallas [to play FC Dallas] will be a huge one for us in the away stretch that we're having at the moment, but also looking at the table in general, because we want to be in the playoffs. And to do so, you need to get a good result in Dallas.”
NEW YORK CITY MIDFIELDER AIDEN O'NEILL
On playing on short rest and the hot conditions... “It's been a quick turnaround, with three games quickly. We've done all the right things, and you could see that tonight. We're full of energy and we came out here to get three points and we're a little bit disappointed with the [one] point but we take it, and we move forward.”
On the mentality of the squad and the younger players stepping up... “The young lads tonight were exceptional. Some of them coming on and making their debut as well. They really changed the game, and I told them after the game as well: ‘just keep working, we're going to need you guys because there's a lot of games coming up.’ They were fantastic tonight.”
Scored with a right footed shot from the central position outside the box with an xG of 9% to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Maxi Moralez [10], second assist by Thiago Martins [13].
74’ - SKC - Dániel Sallói [10]
Scored with a right footed shot from the right side of the box with an xG of 26% to the lower right central zone.
New York City FC returned to the road on Saturday night, facing off against Sporting Kansas City at Children's Mercy Park.
With momentum behind them following a dramatic midweek win over Orlando City SC, Pascal Jansen’s men were eager to cap off the week on a high note.
The Dutchman made three changes to the starting XI, bringing in Tayvon Gray, Jonny Shore, and Julián Fernández in place of Strahinja Tanasijević, Hannes Wolf, and Agustín Ojeda.
New York City started brightly, asserting themselves early and carving out a pair of chances inside the opening five minutes through Fernández and Alonso Martínez.
The Costa Rican remained a lively presence, going close again in the seventh and thirteenth minutes, only to see a first-time finish denied by a superb last-ditch block from John Pulskamp.
Sporting Kansas City responded with attacking intent of their own. Shapi Suleymanov tested Matt Freese in the 17th minute, and Logan Ndenbe followed that up with a low effort that forced a sharp save from the NYCFC goalkeeper.
The breakthrough, however, belonged to the visitors. In the 22nd minute, Andrés Perea broke the deadlock after a well-timed run through the middle was rewarded with a pinpoint pass from Maxi Moralez. Perea calmly drove toward goal before dispatching a low, accurate strike past Pulskamp to make it 1-0.
Sporting pushed for a quick equalizer, with Suleymanov once again cutting inside from the right and forcing Freese into action.
The shot-stopper’s busy night continued on the brink of halftime, when he acrobatically tipped a dangerous half-volley from Daniel Sallói over the bar to preserve New York City's lead heading into the break.
The visitors showed no signs of easing off as the second half began. Justin Haak carved out New York City’s first opportunity of the period, rising to meet a cross with a firm header that was blocked.
Haak came even closer just after the hour mark. Driving the move himself with a powerful run and incisive pass in behind, he continued his run and latched onto a loose ball, firing goalward, only for Pulskamp to produce a strong save.
In response, Jansen turned to his bench four minutes later, introducing Ojeda in place of Shore.
With the game creeping past the 70-minute mark, the hosts rallied. Ndenbe found space in the heart of the area, but his header looped narrowly over.
Sporting KC would find their breakthrough in the 74th minute, as Dániel Sallói pounced on a rebound to draw the sides level.
Jansen reacted swiftly, making a triple substitution: Sebastiano Musu came on for his MLS debut, joined by Seymour Reid and Nico Cavallo. Departing the action were Martínez, Kevin O’Toole, and Fernández.
Musu nearly made an instant impression, unleashing an ambitious strike from distance that whistled just wide of the target.
Moments later, he combined with Reid to burst in behind the Kansas City backline, only to be halted by a firm challenge. Determined to mark his debut in style, Musu tried his luck again from range soon after.
The momentum was firmly with New York City. A slick move involving Musu, Maxi Moralez, and Perea saw the ball break kindly to the latter, but he couldn't quite set himself, and his shot skidded wide.
As stoppage time approached, the tempo refused to relent. New York City pressed for a late winner, but despite their persistence, they were ultimately made to settle for a 1-1 draw on the road.
