Philadelphia Union v. New York City FC 2025 MLS Regular Season - Matchday 38 Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025 | Kickoff: 7:40pm ET Location: Subaru Park | Chester, PA Television: MLS Season Pass Radio (English/Spanish): New York City FC App | Tune In App newyorkcityfc.com/radio
HEAD COACH PASCAL JANSEN
DEFENDER THIAGO MARTINS
NEW YORK CITY FC HEAD COACH PASCAL JANSEN
On the resiliency of the team... “It says a lot about the character of the team, bouncing back from a bad result against [Inter] Miami [CF]. I think Miami was a game where we played pretty well for 70 minutes, but didn’t reward ourselves in the first half, and then got punished for a few mistakes at a high level. That was discussed last week. So, the focus was on Red Bull bouncing back and keeping it really simple, because we knew that apart from their strategy, there was a lot of pressure there. Getting the goal at an early stage of the game helped us, and we showed great character in the way they came back. Still, getting the three points like we did is a massive compliment to the team. I’ve seen that before throughout the season, and we’re fully aware we’re capable of doing those things. It’s a good weapon to have in your toolbox.”
On what has changed with being able to close out games... “What has changed is the development of the whole team. The game management and [overall] game understanding are at a much higher level. That develops throughout a season with analysis, conversations, training sessions, and making sure [the players] recognize certain situations and communicate well throughout the team. When you sense those moments, you need to keep your focus and stick to the plan we made going into the game.”
NEW YORK CITY FC DEFENDER THIAGO MARTINS
On the contributions that’s Head Coach Pascal Jansen has brought to the team this season... “Since day one, he has implemented a culture here. His presence and the way he approaches the players and the team are different from before. That’s the most important thing. He always says he wants to build something, and he’s trying to do something different. As players, we are following him because we know we can get better, and he always pushes us to give 100% every day.”
On the noticeable differences that Head Coach Pascal Jansen has brought... “Nothing really surprised me. I’ve worked with many head coaches. But it feels different. I don’t like to compare coaches or players, but [Head Coach] Pascal [Jansen] brings [a lot of] energy and wants to implement his culture. That’s the most important thing, because we can’t build anything without [a strong] culture and a winning mentality. He wants to win, and I like that. It helps me as captain to talk with the guys, to bring more energy, and to help build [the right] mentality for the games.”
SWEEPING ASIDE THE COMPETITION New York City has stepped up to the task in big moments throughout this 2025 MLS Regular season.
With a win against the Philadelphia Union in New York City’s upcoming match, New York City would equal their highest ever win total in Club history with 18.
The team won 18 matches in the 2019 MLS Regular Season.
With his 17 wins, Head Coach Pascal Jansen is one win away from tying the Club record of most wins attained by a head coach in a single season with 18.
This record is held by former Head Coach Domenec Torrent, who recorded 18 wins with the Club in the 2019 MLS Regular Season.
If Jansen and New York City can defeat Philadelphia and Seattle Sounders FC, and reach 19 wins, they would achieve a new Club record for most wins in a single season.
New York City has been on a good run of form in their last ten matches, having posted a record of 7-2-1 (W-L-D).
During the first eight games of this stretch, New York City only lost once.
The Club went unbeaten in its first four games during this stretch:
The Club tied Sporting Kansas City 1-1 at Children’s Mercy Park on July 18, 2025. The Club then won three in a row, beating FC Dallas 4-3 at Toyota Stadium on July 25, 2025, downing Nashville 2-1 at Yankee Stadium on August 17, 2025, and shutting out Cincinnati 1-0 at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2025.
This stretch also included another three-game winning streak:
The Club defeated Chicago Fire FC 3-1 at Soldier Field on September 13, 2025, downed the Columbus Crew 3-2 at Yankee Stadium on September 17, 2025, and shut out Charlotte FC 2-0 at Yankee Stadium on September 20, 2025.
In the 2025 MLS Regular Season, New York City has faced 13 opponents who were ranked above them in the MLS standings at the time of the match, and 18 opponents who were ranked below them. Their opening match of the season, a 2-2 draw against Inter Miami CF, is not included, as neither team held a higher position in the standings at that point.
Against opponents ranked above them in the MLS standings when entering the match, New York City holds a record of 9-2-2. The Club has scored 19 goals, conceded 10 and recorded six clean sheets.
Against opponents ranked below them in the MLS standings when entering the match, New York City holds a .500 record of 8-8-2. The Club has scored 28 goals, conceded 29 and recorded three clean sheets.
With their 3-2 win over the New York Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby at Sports Illustrated Stadium on September 27, 2025, New York City completed their fifth sweep (two victories against one opponent in a single season) of the 2025 MLS Regular Season. This is a new Club record for the most sweeps in a single MLS Regular Season.
Their other win against the Red Bulls this season was a 2-0 clean sheet at Citi Field on May 17, 2025.
New York City has also swept Toronto FC, Orlando City SC, FC Cincinnati and Chicago Fire FC this season.
Against Toronto, their first win was a 1-0 clean sheet victory at BMO Field on April 26, 2025, and the second was a 3-1 victory at Yankee Stadium on July 3, 2025.
Against Orlando, both of their wins were 2-1 victories at Yankee Stadium on March 8, 2025, and at Inter&Co Stadium on July 16, 2025.
Against Cincinnati, both of their wins were 1-0 shutouts. One was at Citi Field on May 4, 2025, and the other was at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2025.
Against Chicago, both of their wins were 3-1 victories at Yankee Stadium on May 25, 2025, and at Soldier Field on September 13, 2025.
In addition to the teams already swept this season, New York City can still sweep Philadelphia (New York City won 1-0 at Citi Field on April 12, 2025).
With a sweep against Philadelphia, New York City will double their second-best single season sweep total of three, occurring in the 2020 and 2024 MLS Regular Seasons.
The 2020 and 2024 MLS Regular Seasons are tied for having the second most sweeps by New York City with three:
In 2020, the Club won twice against Chicago, Cincinnati and Inter Miami.
In 2024, the Club won twice against the New England Revolution, the Red Bulls and Toronto.
New York City FC has consecutively swept the same opponent four times in Club History.
First was against Cincinnati, as New York City won six consecutive MLS Regular Season matches in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Overall, New York City has swept Cincinnati the most, sweeping them four times. In addition to the 2019, 2020 and 2021 MLS Regular Seasons, New York City swept Cincinnati this season.
The most goals scored in a single series sweep by New York City was also against Cincinnati in 2019, where the Club recorded nine goals with three conceded.
Second was against Inter Miami, where New York City won four straight games over the 2020 and 2021 MLS Regular Seasons.
Most recently, New York City has won the last four regular season matches against both Toronto and the Red Bulls over the 2024 and 2025 MLS Regular Seasons.
New York City has swept Toronto and the Red Bulls the second most times (along with Chicago), doing so on three occasions. Besides the 2024 and 2025 MLS Regular Seasons, New York City swept Toronto in the 2018 MLS Regular Season and the Red Bulls in the 2022 MLS Regular Season.
Chicago was swept in the 2020, 2022 and 2025 MLS Regular Seasons.
In addition to this season, New York City swept Orlando in the 2018 MLS Regular Season. This is the only time that New York City recorded three consecutive wins against a team in a single MLS Regular Season.
All three of those wins were clean sheet victories. The team shut out Orlando 2-0 at Yankee Stadium on March 17, 2018, 3-0 at Yankee Stadium on June 2, 2018, and 2-0 at Exploria Stadium on July 26, 2018.
New York City has completed six sweeps where all the matches were shutouts.
New York City achieved this most recently against Cincinnati, holding them scoreless 1-0 both times this season.
The first time New York City accomplished this feat was against Orlando in the 2018 MLS Regular Season, where New York City scored seven goals and conceded zero across three matches.
New York City attained this milestone on four other occasions, against four different teams, scoring three goals in each of these series: Chicago (2022 MLS Regular Season), the Red Bulls (2022 MLS Regular Season), CF Montréal (2023 MLS Regular Season), and the Revolution (2024 MLS Regular Season).
Like in the 2022 MLS Regular Season, New York City can achieve its second clean sheet sweep of the 2025 MLS Regular Season by defeating the Union in the Club’s upcoming match.
The team won 1-0 against the Union at Citi Field on April 12, 2025.
14 current players have scored in games that helped New York City achieve a sweep over a team: Forward Alonso Martínez (9), Midfielder Maxi Moralez (8), Midfielder Hannes Wolf (4), Midfielder Keaton Parks (3), Midfielder Andrés Perea (3), Forward Julián Fernández (2), Defender Kevin O’Toole (2), Forward Nicolás Fernández Mercau (2), Forward Agustín Ojeda (1), Forward Malachi Jones (1), Forward Seymour Reid (1), Defender Mitja Ilenič (1), Defender Tayvon Gray (1), and Defender and Captain Thiago Martins (1).
14 current players have assisted in games that helped New York City achieve a sweep over a team: Moralez (22), Wolf (6), Parks (4), Fernández (4), Gray (3), Ojeda (3), Midfielder Justin Haak (3), Midfielder Aiden O’Neill (2), O’Toole (2), Defender Raul Gustavo (1), Martínez (1), Ilenič (1), Jones (1), Martins (1).
This season, the following players recorded at least one goal contribution in the team’s first season sweep against Toronto:
On April 26, 2025, at BMO Field, Martínez scored a goal.
On July 3, 2025, at Yankee Stadium, Wolf recorded a goal and an assist, Ilenič recorded a goal and an assist, O’Toole scored a goal, Ojeda recorded an assist, O’Neill recorded an assist, and Moralez recorded an assist.
This season, the following players recorded at least one goal contribution in the team’s second season sweep against Orlando:
On March 8, 2025, at Yankee Stadium, Martínez scored a goal, Wolf scored a goal and Fernández recorded an assist.
On July 16, 2025, at Inter&Co Stadium, Martínez scored a goal and Fernández recorded an assist.
This season, the following players recorded at least one goal contribution in the team’s third season sweep against Cincinnati:
On May 4, 2025, at Citi Field, Fernández scored a goal.
On August 23, 2025, at TQL Stadium, Martínez scored a goal, Moralez recorded an assist and O’Neill recorded an assist.
This season, the following players recorded at least one goal contribution in the team’s fourth season sweep against Chicago:
On May 25, 2025, at Yankee Stadium, Wolf recorded a goal and an assist, Martínez scored a goal, Former Forward Mounsef Bakrar scored a goal, Fernández recorded an assist and Haak recorded an assist.
On September 13, 2025, at Soldier Field, Martínez scored a goal, Fernández Mercau scored a goal, Reid scored a goal, Wolf recorded an assist, Ojeda recorded an assist and O’Toole recorded an assist.
This season, the following players recorded at least one goal contribution in the team’s fifth and most recent season sweep against the Red Bulls:
On May 17, 2025, at Citi Field, Martínez recorded a goal and an assist, Moralez scored a goal and Haak recorded an assist.
On September 27, 2025, at Sports Illustrated Stadium, Fernández Mercau scored a goal, Perea scored a goal, Martins scored a goal, Gustavo recorded an assist and Haak recorded an assist.
This was Gustavo’s first ever goal contribution for New York City.
Martínez has scored at least one goal in each of the five season sweeps this season.
He scored one goal in each of New York City’s 2-1 victories over Orlando.
He scored one goal in each of New York City’s 3-1 victories over Chicago.
He scored in New York City’s 1-0 clean sheet win versus Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2025.
He scored in New York City’s 1-0 clean victory against Toronto at BMO Field on April 26, 2025.
He scored in New York City’s 2-0 clean sheet victory against the Red Bulls at Citi Field on May 17, 2025.
In these sweeps, Martinez becomes the first New York City player all-time to face an opponent multiple times within a season, winning each time, while scoring in at least one of the contests, and doing so against five different opponents in the same season.
Former Defender Anton Tinnerholm had previously accomplished this feat against three opponents: Chicago, Cincinnati, and Inter Miami.
ACHIEVING AWAY New York City looks to wrap up a two-game road trip with a victory in their final away match of the MLS Regular Season against Philadelphia.
With a win against the Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium in their most recent match, New York City now holds a road record of 6-5-5 (W-L-D).
Out of 16 away matches, the Club is on a six-game unbeaten run, with a 5-0-1 record since July 16, 2025.
The four most recent matches of this current streak were victories. The Club defeated FC Dallas 4-3 at Toyota Stadium on July 25, 2025, shut out Cincinnati 1-0 at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2025, downed Chicago 3-1 at Soldier Field on September 13, 2025, and won the Hudson River Derby against the Red Bulls 3-2 at Sports Illustrated Stadium on September 27, 2025.
This is the first time in Club history that the team has won four consecutive away matches in a row during the MLS Regular Season.
The last time the Club held a six-game unbeaten streak in away matches was in the 2023 MLS Regular Season.
The team posted a record of 1-0-5: The team drew 1-1 to Orlando at Exploria Stadium on May 17, 2023, fought in a scoreless draw to Real Salt Lake on June 10, 2023, tied 2-2 to Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 21, 2023, drew 1-1 against the Portland Timbers at Providence Park on June 24, 2023, shut out Montréal 1-0 at Saputo Stadium on July 1, 2023, and tied the Crew 1-1 at Lower.com Field on July 8, 2023.
Martínez has scored six goals over the course of this current six-game unbeaten away match streak.
In three of the last four consecutive road match victories, Martínez has scored the game-winner.
Thus far in the 2025 MLS Regular Season, Martínez ranks first in the Eastern Conference for game-winning goals in away matches with five.
With his five game-winning goals in away matches, he ranks second in the MLS. He sits only one goal behind San Diego FC Forward Anders Dreyer with six.
Martínez has scored the game-winner in five of New York City’s six away victories in the 2025 MLS Regular Season, doing so against Toronto, Orlando, Dallas, Cincinnati and Chicago.
Martins scored the game-winner in New York City’s most recent road win against the Red Bulls in a 3-2 victory at Sports Illustrated Stadium on September 27, 2025.
This marks Martins first career game-winning goal.
All-time, Martínez is one goal way from entering the top three in away goals scored for the Club. His total of 14 puts him one behind former (and current Seattle Sounders) Forward Héber with 15.
With a goal in the Club’s most recent match against the Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium (3-2 W), Perea scored his third goal of this MLS Regular Season, scoring two of his three goals on the road.
His other away goal was also during New York City’s current six-game unbeaten stretch in away matches. He scored in the lone draw during this streak in a 1-1 result against Sporting Kansas City on July 19, 2025.
With his three goals, he has equaled his total from the 2024 MLS Regular Season, tying his career high in goals scored in a single MLS Regular Season.
With a goal in the Club’s most recent match against the Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium (3-2 W), Fernández Mercau scored his second goal of the season, scoring both of his goals on the road.
His other goal was also during New York City’s current six-game unbeaten stretch in away matches. In addition to his goal against the Red Bulls, he scored in a 3-1 win against Chicago on September 13, 2025, scoring in the last two consecutive away matches for New York City.
His assist was also during New York City’s current six-game unbeaten stretch in away matches. He recorded an assist in New York City’s 4-3 win against Dallas at Toyota Stadium on July 25, 2025.
With a win in their next match, New York City will equal their highest win total on the road in Club history with seven wins.
The Club attained seven road victories in the 2016 and 2019 MLS Regular Seasons.
With six road wins in the 2025 MLS Regular Season so far, the Club has already surpassed their combined road win total from the 2023 and 2024 MLS Regular Seasons.
In the 2023 MLS Regular Season the team won once on the road. In the 2024 MLS Regular Season the team won four times on the road.
With one away match remaining in the 2025 MLS Regular Season, New York City is tied for their record for the fewest number of road losses in Club history in a full, 17 away-game, MLS Regular Season with five.
The team had five away losses in the 2019 MLS Regular Season as well.
The Club officially had the fewest away losses in the shortened 2020 MLS Regular Season with four in 11 matches played.
A TOP THREE TILT New York City FC will face off against Philadelphia for the second and final time in the 2025 MLS Regular Season at Subaru Park.
New York City sits in third place in the Eastern Conference with 56 points.
Philadelphia currently sits atop the table with 63 points.
FC Cincinnati sits in second with 59 points.
Thus far, New York City has shut out Philadelphia and Cincinnati 1-0 in all their matchups this season. They shut out Philadelphia at Citi Field on April 12, 2025, and Cincinnati at Citi Field on May 4, 2025, and at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2025.
All-time in the MLS Regular Season, New York City and Philadelphia have the exact same record against each other with a record of 10-10-2 (W-L-D).
New York City won the most recent matchup, winning 1-0 at Citi Field on April 12, 2025.
With a win in their most recent matchup, New York City has won two of the last three contests against Philadelphia.
Their other victory was in their most recent away meeting at Philadelphia, a 2-1 result at Subaru Park on May 15, 2024.
The Club’s longest unbeaten run against Philadelphia came in the form of two separate three-game winning streaks. These two separate three game-winning streaks occurred over a period where New York City went 6-1-0 against Philadelphia.
The first three game-winning streak included a 3-2 result at Yankee Stadium on June 18, 2016, a 2-0 shut out at Subaru Park on April 14, 2017, and a 2-1 result at Yankee Stadium on June 3, 2017.
The second three game-winning streak included a 3-1 result at Yankee Stadium on October 28, 2018, a 4-2 result at Yankee Stadium on June 29, 2019, and a 2-1 result at Subaru Park on October 6, 2019.
The lone loss in between these two winning streaks was a 2-0 clean sheet win for the Union at Subaru Park on August 18, 2018.
With a victory, New York City has a chance to sweep Philadelphia this MLS Regular Season.
Thus far in the 2025 MLS Regular Season, New York City shut out Philadelphia 1-0 at Citi Field on April 12, 2025. If New York City can achieve the sweep:
It would mark the third time in Club history New York City has swept Philadelphia in an MLS Regular Season, having already done so in 2017 and 2019.
With a shutout victory against Philadelphia in the team’s upcoming match, it would be the first time in Club history New York City swept Philadelphia where both matches were shutouts.
Four current New York City players have recorded goal contributions against the Union in the MLS Regular Season: Martínez (three goals), Midfielder Maxi Moralez (two goals, five assists), Perea (two goals, one assist), Wolf (one goal), Ilenič (one assist), O’Toole (one assist).
The following players have recorded game-winning goals against the Union: Martínez (one) and Wolf (one).
Martínez accomplished this feat in the team’s most recent matchup, a 1-0 win at Citi Field on April 12, 2025.
The following players have recorded game-winning assists against the Union: Moralez (one) and Ilenič (one).
Ilenič accomplished this feat in the team’s most recent matchup, a 1-0 win at Citi Field on April 12, 2025.
Martínez has three goals in his three appearances against the Union, dating back to a 2-1 win at Subaru Park on May 15, 2024. He then scored in a 5-1 loss at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2024, and in New York City’s most recent match against the Union; a 1-0 shut out win at Citi Field on April 12, 2025.
All-time against the Union, Moralez is in a tie for first in goal contributions for the Club with seven. He is tied with former Forward Valentín Castellanos.
All-time against the Union, Moralez leads the Club in assists recorded with five.
All-time against the Union, Martínez ranks third in goals and in total goal contributions for the Club with three.
All-time against the Union, Moralez ranks in a tie for fourth in goals scored for the Club with two. He is tied with former Defender Maxime Chanot.
