A Late Equalizer Changes the Mood
James Sands scored from close range in first-half stoppage time to help New York City FC end its four-game losing streak with a 1-1 draw against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Sands equalized in the 45+1st minute after a corner kick from Nicolás Fernández, with Talles Magno providing the assist. The goal canceled out Dor Turgeman’s opener and sent the teams into halftime level.
The result was important for an NYCFC side that had endured a difficult stretch across MLS and Leagues Cup play. The team had lost to Cruz Azul and Club Necaxa in Leagues Cup before returning to MLS action, where it squandered a 2-0 lead in a 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Union and then suffered a 2-1 defeat to FC Cincinnati on a 90th-minute goal.
Turgeman gave the Revolution the lead in the 36th minute. Jack Harrison started the move with a cross to Peyton Miller, who redirected the ball into Turgeman’s path for a first-time finish.
Sands responded in stoppage time to make it 1-1. Neither side found a winner in the second half, and the teams settled for a point.
Coach Jansen Admits Tough Stretch
New York City FC head coach Pascal Jansen addressed the team’s recent struggles after the match.
“The fact of the matter is, we are coming off a few bad results,” Jansen said. “Played pretty decent in the majority of the games, but didn’t get the results that we were looking for.”
Jansen said it was important for NYCFC to remain competitive against New England, particularly after the club’s recent run of losses.
“And then you come to a point where you have to settle for a draw, and that is what we needed in order to get away from the performances that we’ve made so far,” Jansen said.
Going into the match, NYCFC had posted one win, one draw and four losses across all competitions since defeating the Chicago Fire. The sequence included a draw against Toronto FC, a win over Santos Laguna, and four consecutive defeats to Cruz Azul, Club Necaxa, Philadelphia and FC Cincinnati.
The draw against New England stopped that losing streak and gave NYCFC a point after falling behind in the first half.
The injury to Talles Magno could also be a concern going forward. Magno appeared to suffer a muscle issue and was substituted during the second half. Jansen did not provide extensive detail after the match, leaving his status for the club’s next game unclear.
For NYCFC, the immediate significance of the result is straightforward: the team stopped its four-game losing streak and earned a point on the road. The next challenge will be turning that result into a stronger run of form as the regular season continues.
