New York City FC needed three points Saturday night in Queens but came away with only one, playing LAFC to a 1-1 draw at Citi Field that leaves the club’s playoff chances hanging by a thread.
NYCFC fell behind in first-half stoppage time when midfielder Leo Walta curled a free kick into the top right corner, beating goalkeeper Matt Freese after Aiden O’Neill was shown a yellow card in the 44th minute for a foul that set up the chance.
The home side answered in the 59th minute. Nicolás Fernández Mercau delivered a corner kick that Andrés Perea met with a flying header to level the score.
NYCFC nearly lost the point in the final minutes of stoppage time, when LAFC’s Son Heung-min broke free inside the box and struck a shot off the post. The ball stayed out, and the referee blew the final whistle moments later.
The draw drops NYCFC to 11th in the Eastern Conference with four games remaining on the schedule. The club still has not won a home game at Citi Field this regular season, a venue it has used while its permanent home, Etihad Park, is built across the street. NYCFC’s last win at Citi Field came against Red Bull New York on May 17, 2025.
