New York City FC through to the next round

New York City FC pulled off a win on the road and are though to the next round of MLS playoffs. The team needed an extended round of penalty kicks to do it but ultimately hung in as goal keeper, Matt Freese saved four Pks to send the team to a match up with New York Red Bulls on November 23rd.

Nov 9, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese (49) defends the net during the penalty shootout against FC Cincinnati in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match at TQL Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Despite a slow and largely uneventful ninety minutes the tem was all smiles after the match.

“It was a typical playoff game. We are so used to these one-off games that I rely on the [likes of]James Sands, Keaton Parks, Maxi Moralez, and Thiago Martins to play the game that is in front of us and that is to defend incredibly well but have a threat on the other end… In playoff football, the margins are so small that you have to live on the edge at moments and be brave, and you have to try and take your chances on the other end. So, we lived in counterattack a little bit more than we wanted to, but this is a tough place to come and win. Our record here will show that. So, to get to penalties was a positive because it gave us a chance, ” Nick Cushing said after the match.

Defender Mitja Ilenic echoed the sentiment. “What can I say? I’m super happy about it. It’s a relief, but it’s not over. Not a long time ago I said that we would try to go until the end…We are all confident and all super happy. I think everybody in that dressing room deserves this. The club deserve this. [I’m] super happy about this and it’s not end.”

Nov 9, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese (49) congratulates teammate defender Mitja Ilenic (35) after he scored the winning goal against FC Cincinnati in the penalty shootout in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match at TQL Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Nov 9, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; New York City FC midfielder Maxi Moralez (27) gives a thumbs up as Referee Drew Fischer gives a yellow card to FC Cincinnati defender Alvas Powell, not pictured, during the second half in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match at TQL Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Now. New York City host a playoff Hudson River Derby against New York Red Bulls and with the other results around the league even have a path to eventually host the Eastern Conference Finals. There is lots of work to do before that happens but you know that every team in that bracket now is saying “why not us?”