New York City FC II 3-1 Columbus Crew 2 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season - Matchweek 24 Date: Friday, August 22, 2025 | Kickoff: 7:35pm ET Location: Icahn Stadium | New York, NY
New York City FC II earned a 3-1 win over Columbus Crew 2 at ICAHN Stadium. Leo Guarino opened the scoring before Kevin Bromley equalized early in the second half. Max Murray quickly restored the lead with a header, and substitute Uriel Zeitz sealed the victory late on.
UP NEXT: The ‘Boys in Blue’ are back on the road to face off against Toronto FC II at York Lions Stadium in Toronto, Canada on Sunday, August 31 at 3:00pm ET.
After tonight's 3-1 victory New York City FC II now holds an 8-9-6 (W-L-D) record with 32 points.
This season New York City FC II has netted 44 goals and have conceded 46 goals.
New York City FC II faced off against Columbus Crew 2 for the first-time ever at Icahn Stadium.
Their first home matchup against Columbus Crew 2 was at Belson Stadium this season and resulted in a 2-0 win.
New York City FC II now holds a 4-4-2 (W-L-D) record in the series, having scored 20 goals and conceded 17.
At home against Columbus Crew 2, New York City II now holds a 2-3-0 record.
New York City II has scored 10 goals and conceded nine through five home matches.
Through three matches played this season against Columbus Crew 2, New York City II has recorded a 2-0-1 record.
Through three matches against Columbus Crew 2 this season, New York II netted six goals and conceded two.
In their draw against Columbus Crew 2, Columbus 2 won the penalty shootout 5:4.
New York City II recorded one of their three clean sheets of the season against Columbus 2.
In their final meeting of the season against Columbus Crew 2, New York City II won 3-1. Their three goals in tonight's match marked the most goals in a match against Columbus Crew 2 this season.
New York City FC II went into the half leading Columbus Crew 2, 1-0. This marked the fifth time this season that New York II has had a lead going into the half.
In those five matches New York II holds a 4-0-1 record.
New York City FC II scored three goals in today’s match, marking the third time in their last four outings that the team has recorded at least three goals.
Midfielder Leo Guarino scored his fourth goal of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season. Guarino has accounted for six goal contributions this season (4G, 2A).
Midfielder Max Murray scored his second goal of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro regular season, finding the back of the net for the second time in the last three matches.
Forward Sebastiano Musu recorded his fifth assist of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro regular season. Musu now ranks second in assists for New York City II.
Forward Uriel Zeitz netted his third goal of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro regular season, with two of his three goals coming as a substitute.
Full Match Highlights
GOAL – 27’ - NYC II – Leo Guarino [75] -
GOAL – 56’- NYC II – Max Murray [23] -
GOAL – 76’ - NYC II – Uriel Zietz [99] -
NEW YORK CITY FC II HEAD COACH MATT PILKINGTON
On Sebastiano Musu’s performance tonight... “Sebastiano Musu was excellent. Great energy from him and leads the line well and plays underneath well. Wherever we place him, he's really effective. [He brings] great energy and around the goal he's key. [He provided] two assists — well deserved and shows how important he is for the team.”
On staying consistent in producing team goals... “Keep working and training, doing the right thing, and being progressive. We had [scored from] a set piece, which is good. We're tech-minded [team], so we want to try and create as much as we can and we're constantly working with it.”
NEW YORK CITY FC DEFENDER MAX MURRAY
On scoring his second goal of the season... “It feels great to get on the score sheet and help the team win today. I’m just lucky that we got the ball in [off of] the corner. Sebastiano [Musu] puts in a great ball every time and I do my job to get on the end of it.”
On what's been working offensively for the team... “It really starts on the practice field — just making sure we take every rep seriously and making sure when we step on the field, we work together as a team, because we know as long as we stay solid defensively, we're going to be able to get goals on the other end.”
27’- NYC II - Leo Guarino [75]
Scored with a right footed shot from the left half-space outside the box to the lower right zone.
54’ - CLB 2 - Kevin Gbamblé [31]
Scored with left footed shot from the left side of the box to the central zone.
56’ - NYC II – Max Murray [23]
Scored with header from the center of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Sebastiano Musu [81].
76’ - NYC II – Uriel Zietz [99]
Scored with right footed shot from the center of the box to the lower right zone. Assisted by Sebastiano Musu [81].
New York City FC II returned to ICAHN Stadium on Friday night as they hosted Columbus Crew 2.
Head Coach Matt Pilkington was eager to see his side bounce back from defeat in their last outing against Huntsville City FC. Just four points separated New York City FC II in eighth and Atlanta United 2 in 12th.
A tight early contest saw both sides register chances before the hosts took the lead in the 27th minute. Following a spell of coordinated pressing, the ball broke loose and Leo Guarino converted.
Guarino, a late addition to the starting XI in place of Peter Molinari, steadied himself before producing a composed first-time finish.
Columbus almost found an equalizer minutes later when Kevin Gbamble fired off a snap shot from distance that bounced awkwardly in front of Mac Learned, forcing him to push the ball behind for a corner.
Learned was called into action again just under ten minutes later when Christopher Rogers stepped into midfield and unleashed a shot from distance that forced a fine save from the New York City FC goalkeeper.
At the other end, James Bilden pounced on a short back pass and looked destined to score with a delicate lob, only for the ball to bounce agonizingly wide.
A chaotic end to the half saw Columbus engineer a 3v2 breakaway, only for the final pass to elude both Crew players inside the area and roll away to safety.
New York City almost doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time after Sebastiano Musu whipped a dangerous free kick toward goal that landed on the roof of the net.
The second half began with Columbus carving out two early chances before they drew level in the 54th minute from a corner—Kevin Bromley tapping home from a narrow angle.
An immediate response followed, however, as New York City FC II retook the lead from almost identical circumstances. Max Murray rose highest at the near post to head in from a corner and restore the advantage.
Pilkington turned to his bench just after the hour mark, introducing Molinari and Uriel Zeitz in place of Guarino and Bilden.
Zeitz made the impact even greater in the 76th minute when he found the scoresheet. Assisted by Sebastiano Musu, it was a confident finish — his third of the season.
Pilkington then introduced Jack Loura in the 83rd minute in place of Piero Elias. From there, New York City FC II managed the closing stages to secure a valuable 3-1 win on home soil.
