The latest edition of the Leagues Cup kicked off at Sports Illustrated Stadium. New York City FC hosted Liga MX side Santos Laguna for the first of 3 fixtures of the group stage. Having failed to advance in the previous edition of the tournament, they will be looking to turn their luck around this time. Luckily, they arrived with two good consecutive results to gain good momentum. The biggest surprise, however? Having Nico Fernandez Mercau start on the bench.

The perfect start

New York City FC had to make changes to face Santos Laguna given the ongoing injury situation on the team. Nevertheless, they each played their part to hold off Santos Laguna for most of the match in Harrison. The visitors continue their rebuilding process following a couple of seasons of poor results. Carlos Acevedo, Carlos Gruezo, and Fran Villalba were among the names called to stand out for the Liga MX side, but the lack of team chemistry played a key role in their performance against New York City.

Both teams decided to study each other through the first half. A lot of misplaced passes and rough tackles dictated most of the game. Malachi Jones was improvised as a striker, but he was unable to have the expected impact. The biggest test, however, was on the defensive line. Losing Thiago Martins through injury meant that the team had to look for a new defensive foundation. Max Murray and Nico Cavallo were called to take part on the team’s defensive line. They met expectations and helped the team obtain the win against Santos Laguna. It was, in fact, Nico Cavallo who helped seal the win for New York City. A perfect start, first start, and first goal in the same game.

Manager Pascal Jansen had to bring in Nico Fernandez to change the dynamic of the game. Having him on the field gave the team a new face and gave them the chance to have more flexibility on the field. But had it not been for Matt Freese and his man-of-the-match performance, the story would have been different. The goalkeeper has been able to turn the page and leave the World Cup memories behind. He continues to be solid and will be the USMNT’s number one for many years to come. 

The result and game tone also allowed New York City the chance to see new faces with the team. Midfielder Cooper Flax and newest signing Luighi saw action in this Leagues Cup fixture. The previously mentioned injury situation might push more debuts down the line, but Luighi will be the one many will keep a close eye on. The Brazilian just joined from club Palmeiras and will be looking to fill the void left by Alonso Martinez up front. The win was a good confidence boost for the newcomer, but this is only the beginning for him. Nevertheless, a win is a win, and the team can use the result to boost their chances to qualify for the knockout stages. 

New York City FC will now face Cruz Azul for the second fixture of their group. ‘La Máquina’ will also arrive at the match with a win after defeating the Philadelphia Union in their opening game. Everything is set up to be a “winner takes all” fixture since whoever wins will practically seal a qualification spot in the knockout rounds. Hopefully the fan turnout improves for that game following this game’s poor attendance numbers.