New York City FC have bettered their playoff position after having won two straight games against potential postseason opposition in Chicago Fire FC and Columbus Crew SC. Last night’s comeback win over the Crew was yet another example of how head coach Pascal Jansen and his men have met the moment, pulling themselves from on the brink of playoff failure to potentially hosting a home playoff game.
“We had to bounce back,” said Jansen about his team’s need to respond after a tough loss to DC United two weeks ago. “We did with a good game against Chicago away. Now it was also time to set things straight against a direct opponent again in our own house. The way they did it was very impressive and keeps us going towards the end of the season.”
One of those “impressive” performances came from Austrian winger Hannes Wolf, who continues to shine in his second season with City. Wolf now sits on 11 goals in 2025, having added two to his ledger against Columbus last night. Both goals coming as his team was trailing, setting the stage for a dramatic ending where Julian Fernandez became the hero.
Another one of the unlikely heroes has been Agustin Ojeda. Pushed to the brink with the team early in the season, Ojeda has responded by providing the best in every role he’s been asked to play. At times that has been a starter. At other points he’s been asked to shift the game off the bench, which he did last night with two assists as a critical starting point in the team’s offense.
“We knew it was going to be a tough match against a great opponent,” said Ojeda after the game. “We were able to come away with a victory, which is what’s important, and to keep fighting to build on these wins. I think that’s very special.”
What head coach Pascal Jansen stated heading into the team’s final 10 games can’t be understated. He knew it was a pivotal moment for his club, one where players needed to step up and meet the moment. While it hasn’t been a perfect run, City have shown their perseverance and willingness to stay in the fight with just about any team in MLS.
“We were competitive throughout the season,” said Jansen on his team’s form of late. “We had our ups-and-downs, and a few moments. Going into this stretch with everything still possible, as tight as it is in our league, at the moment (every match is like) eight finals.”
photo from NYCFC