New York City FC needed three points Saturday night at Citi Field in Queens but had to settle for a 1-1 draw with LAFC, a result that left the club in 11th place in the Eastern Conference with just four games remaining in the regular season.
NYCFC fell behind in first-half stoppage time when midfielder Leo Walta blasted a free kick into the top right corner, catching goalkeeper Matt Freese flat-footed. The free kick came after Aiden O’Neill was shown a yellow card in the 44th minute for a foul just outside the box.
The home side answered in the 59th minute. Nicolás Fernández Mercau delivered a corner kick that found Andrés Perea, who rose for a flying header to level the score at 1-1.
NYCFC nearly lost the match in the closing seconds when LAFC star Son Heung-min broke free inside the box and fired a shot that struck the post and stayed out. The final whistle blew moments later, preserving the draw.
The point keeps NYCFC’s slim playoff hopes alive, but the club has still not won a home game at Citi Field this regular season. The last NYCFC victory at the Queens ballpark, located across the street from the team’s future home at Etihad Park, came against Red Bull New York on May 17, 2025.
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