3 things we learned from the defensive 2-1 result between NYCFC and New England | OneFootball

On March 15, 2015, New York City FC welcomed the New England Revolution for their first-ever Major League Soccer home game at Yankee Stadium.  The Pigeons won 2-0, and it began a decade full of wins in MLS.

Ten years later, on March 15, 2025, the Boys in Blue celebrated the anniversary by playing against the Revolution at Yankee Stadium.  The team wanted to celebrate properly by beating the fellow team from the Northeast.  Sure, they were the stronger side on paper, but the Revolution was full of talent and potential.

In the end, NYCFC managed to win 2-1 after a tiring and difficult game.  All of the goals were scored by the Pigeons, including the own goal via Thiago Martins.  But the threat of New England forced the team to work in overdrive in the defensive third.  It was not easy, but thankfully, the team earned another three points.

NYCFC’s match was not pretty, but they were mostly diligent and intelligent in their play.  Here are three things we learned from the 2-1 win against the New England Revolution.

3 things we learned from the NYCFC win over New England

3. Nico Cavallo’s first start ended prematurely

Before the season began, NYCFC fans questioned who would back up Kevin O’Toole after Christian McFarlane’s departure to Manchester City FC.  They were calling for someone to be signed, but nobody expected the backup to come from the MLS SuperDraft.

However, draft pick Nico Cavallo proved his value and worth to the squad during the preseason, earning his first professional contract.  He already did well coming off the bench, but with O’Toole’s red card from last week, he earned the start against the Revolution.

And, Cavallo had a good first start.  He was matching up with the opposition, had some solid passes, and defended well with tackles and clearances.  Most notably, he limited New England’s chance on goal in the 24th minute when he forced a corner kick instead.  Without his intervention, there was a high chance the away team would have had a shot.

Unfortunately, the rookie went down injured after Martins' own goal.  He was having a good first start but had to be substituted out.  This moment was a reminder that the beautiful game can be cruel.  Hopefully, it was just a knock that he suffered, but the premature end was sad to see.

2. It was all hands on deck in the NYCFC defense

NYCFC might have won 2-1, thanks to goals from Julián Fernández and Alonso Martínez.  The goals were important, especially since they were down 1-0.  The attack was not the reason they won the match.  Yes, it helped, but without the defensive effort from the Boys in Blue, the Revolution probably would have left with at least a point.

It was not just the backline and Matt Freese who limited the visitors and kept them out of the goal.  Rather, every single player contributed to the defensive work.  Even some of the attackers who are not the best defensive players did everything they could do to limit the Revolution’s chances.  If they did have a shot, then about half were blocked.  They also only had six or seven shots, depending on which website one utilizes for statistics.

The team was on the same page as well.  Players knew where to move and when to close in on someone who had the ball.  They did well with marking, which NYCFC sometimes struggles to do.

Overall, it was a superb defensive match.  More importantly, the Pigeons closed out the game and did not give up a late goal.

1. Two 2-1 wins were needed by NYCFC

After a tough two-game road trip to start the season, NYCFC was fortunate to have two games at home right after.  Nonetheless, they return to the road for two more matches, and they will be difficult ones as well.  The Pigeons have struggled away to the Columbus Crew and Atlanta United FC, meaning whether they can earn any points is questionable.

Therefore, it was vital that they won both of their first two home games.  The 2-1 wins over Orlando City SC and New England guarantee them to be in the middle of the standings once the weekend ends.  Plus, fans were able to see the team win.

The road has historically been tough for NYCFC.  Hence, getting as many points as possible from home fixtures will be important for their position in the Eastern Conference at the end of the season.  Starting with two wins out of two was exactly what the club needed.