3 things we learned from the NYCFC 2-0 loss to the New England Revolution | OneFootball

When New York City FC plays on the road, the team usually struggles.  Recently, in 2023, they won just one game.  2024 was a little better, for they won four times.  So far in 2025, they had yet to win entering the match against the New England Revolution.

As such, the Pigeons entered Saturday’s fixture seeking to earn that needed road win.  However, over their last four games, with the exception of the 4-3 loss to Atlanta United FC, NYCFC has struggled to find the back of the net.  In those three games, including last week’s win over the Philadelphia Union, the Bronx side scored one or no goals.

Unfortunately, the offensive effort was there, but the goal scoring was not.  NYCFC lost 2-0 after issues with both the attack and defense were highlighted in the loss.  The Pigeons failed to clear the ball during the first goal and failed to mark threatening players during the second.

As always, there is plenty to discuss.  Here are three things we learned from NYCFC’s 2-0 loss to New England.

3 things we learned from NYCFC’s 2-0 loss

3. Where are the goals?

As mentioned, NYCFC has struggled to score as of late, with the exception of the Atlanta United game.  Now, after Saturday’s loss, the Boys in Blue have scored once in two of their last five fixtures, and then no goals in two others.  In these five games, the team is 1-3-1.

This is clearly not a good thing, for NYCFC cannot win without scoring goals.  It also illuminates that they cannot rely on Alonso Martínez to score most of the goals.  Like most strikers or goal-scoring forwards, he will not score every single game.

So the question is this: why are the other expected scorers not scoring at the rate they should?  Why are some players, like the wingers, not consistent with their crosses and offensive effort?  Where are the goals?  Did the Atlanta loss impact the team’s scoring ability?  For a while, it looked like NYCFC would earn their first road win of the season after a superb offensive performance.  Of course, that did not happen.

The pressure will be on the Pigeons to score in the next match, which will be away to Toronto FC.  Sometimes the offensive effort is there, but that is not good enough without goals.

2. NYCFC’s second half was stronger than the first

In the first half, NYCFC had a decent amount of attacking sequences.  However, the Revolution limited the team to only four shots, with none on target.

Then, the Pigeons gave up a goal at the end of the first half and at the beginning of the second.  But the second half was better offensively.  They had 12 shots.  Two were on target.  Notably, as Pascal Jansen made his substitutions, the effort in the final third improved significantly.  NYCFC might not have scored, but at least that was a positive to take from the game.

1. NYCFC is still adjusting to Pascal Jansen

Nobody thought the beginning of the season would be all sunshine and rainbows under Jansen.  He has only been the head coach for a few months, and sometimes it can take players a while to adjust, even if the tactics are a little similar to the previous head coach and the general style of play for the club.

NYCFC is undoubtedly struggling to adjust to the new head coach.  Yes, they have won some games, but the tactics Jansen wants from his team have not fully clicked.  In addition, they need a few signings, but at this rate, that will probably not occur until the summer.

However, between the transparency and the fact that fans can see what Jansen wants out of his players, many are willing to give him some time and not quickly call for his head.  He also has a history of success.  Plus, as seen on Saturday, he often makes the right substitution choices.

Ideally, NYCFC will start to click over the next month or two.  It can take time to adjust to a new head coach, especially when there is a night-and-day difference between the last one.  There is also a chance the scoring problems are just that, and the Pigeons must figure that out to start winning more consistently.  There is enough time in the season for NYCFC to figure everything out, and maybe games like the one against New England will be left in the past.