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Taty Castellanos Heads to West Ham

BQE Admin on January 15, 2026

Former NYC striker scores in FA Cup

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

Former New York City FC star and 2021 MLS Cup and Golden Boot winner Valentin “Taty” Castellanos has landed in London, joining West Ham United on a contract running through 2030 with an option for 2031.

Castellanos was a vital part of New York City’s first ever title-winning team. He scored the last of his 19 regular season goals on the final matchday, winning the Golden Boot via assists tiebreaker.

In the postseason, Taty scored in each of NYC’s first two matches, opening the scoring in a 2-0 win over Atlanta and briefly putting them ahead in extra time against New England before an eventual win in a penalty shootout. In the MLS Cup Final in Portland, Taty scored his third playoff goal and converted in the cup-deciding penalty shootout, etching himself into club history.

The Argentine striker was loaned to Spanish side Girona FC to begin his European career in 2022 before being sold to Italian club SS Lazio the following year. In nearly 100 matches over three seasons in Rome, Taty netted 22 goals and 16 assists, a fraction of what he provided NYC in just 36 more matches played.

Now Taty heads to the British capital to help the Hammers in their quest to avoid relegation. A meager 14 points through 20 matches has West Ham four points behind safety in Nottingham Forest, but with 18 matches to play there is ample time to secure a 14th consecutive season in the Premier League.

“I hope to give my all to the fans. I’ve always defended the jersey of every team with the utmost responsibility, and I want to tell them that I’m going to give everything, to defend this jersey, and obviously, to achieve our goals day after day,” Castellanos said. “That’s the most important thing.”

Castellanos was signed and made available for his West Ham debut on Tuesday against Tottenham Hotspur. He played the full 90 minutes, recording a handful of shot attempts, though he did not find the net.

Taty’s first West Ham goal came over the weekend in FA Cup action, scoring the winner in extra time to defeat Championship side Queens Park Rangers 2-1. He headed home the winning goal from the top of the 6-yard box, finishing a great run and cross from Crysencio Summerville.

With his first West Ham goal scored, will this final stretch of the Premier League season be where the prolific goalscorer once again finds his high-scoring boots? And will it be enough to save the possibly doomed Hammers?

Maxi Moralez Re-Signs With NYC

BQE Admin on January 15, 2026

Club leader in matches played, goal contributions, returns for 10th season in City Blue

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

Long time New York City FC legend Maximiliano Moralez will be returning to the club for the 2026 MLS season. The 38-year-old Argentine has been a mainstay in the midfield, holding club records for matches played, goal contributions, and both goals and assists in the postseason.

Moralez joined the club back in 2017, briefly returning to his first ever club in Argentina’s Racing Club between the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Now NYC’s #10 returns for a 10th Major League Soccer campaign, following up a phenomenal veteran season where he started in every match and came up big in postseason clashes.

Maxi set up a trio of postseason scores, netting one himself and providing assists for the other two. In a heated Eastern Conference Final against Inter Miami, Maxi stood firm, even getting in the faces of Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul.

That clash featured some trash talk about Racing Club, with all three players hailing from Argentina. While it was expected that Moralez would hang up his boots after his return home, he has instead aged like a fine wine in New York City.

While age always gets the final say at the professional level, the club can once again turn to the veteran leadership of Moralez, and in a pinch he is sure to deliver big moments to help push the team forward as they look to return to the Eastern Conference Final and this time make a second appearance in the MLS Cup Final.

“I’m very happy to be back with New York City FC for another season,” said Moralez after penning his new deal. “This Club is home for me, and I’m motivated to keep helping the team and working toward our objectives. We know what we’re capable of as a group, and my focus is on giving everything I have to help us compete and win trophies this season.”

Haak Departs for LA

BQE Admin on December 31, 2025

Boys in Blue lose homegrown defender to Galaxy

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

After a decade with New York City FC, the club’s first ever academy graduate to sign a pro deal is heading to the West Coast. This week, homegrown defender Justin Haak officially penned a deal with the LA Galaxy, joining Major League Soccer’s most storied club on a one year deal with a second year club option.

The departure is a tough blow to the Boys in Blue, who relied heavily on Haak’s hard work this year. Justin saw a clear elevation in his game this past season, making terrific tackles and standing tall in the back line.

It’s a little surprising that it was another MLS club to land Haak, especially after reports that NYC offered more than any other club in the league could and some rumblings about European interest. Nevertheless, it’s a major signing in the Galaxy’s attempted resurrection, finishing second to last in the Western Conference after winning MLS Cup in dramatic fashion in 2024.

Haak will now accompany the Galaxy on their quest for a league-leading 7th championship, set to be paired with another marquee defensive pickup in Jakob Glesnes, who was named Defender of the Year in 2022. Only two teams allowed as many goals as the Galaxy in 2025, so it’s clear defense is at the forefront of their offseason.

The Galaxy have alluded to Haak helping out in the midfield, as he came up as a defensive midfield prospect. While he excelled as a reliable center back last year, Haak’s defensive versatility will be useful for Los Angeles.

NYC’s offseason has gotten more complicated with the departure of Haak, and he may not be the only youngster gone as there is some trade talk regarding youngster Seymour Reid. The 17-year-old became the youngest goalscorer in club history last season, showing plenty of promise for the upcoming season and beyond.

The recent homegrown signings and draftees will also help assist the club as they look to tighten up the squad for 2026. Just as Haak did, perhaps one of the many promising talents can work their way into key roster positions.

The club also has to address the Maxi Moralez question, as the club legend would turn 39 before the start of next season. The Argentine midfielder continued to show moments of brilliance, also providing valuable toughness and leadership for the team.

Perea Re-Signs, but Haak Deal Looms Large for NYC

BQE Admin on December 25, 2025

Boys in Blue add new homegrown players, draft selections, and academy director

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

New York City FC midfielder Andres Perea is returning to the club on a three-season deal running though the transitional 2027 season and until the end of the 2027-28 campaign. There is a club option to retain Perea for the 2028-29 season. 

After joining the team on loan from the Philadelphia Union in 2023 and later re-signing in NYC, the American-born Colombian had a breakout season in 2025, providing an immense defensive presence in the middle of the park and contributing on the offensive end a number of times. That season was cut short in the playoffs when Perea fell after an aerial challenge, breaking his leg in Game 3 of the opening round. 

After receiving surgery, the club made sure to take care of their midfield man. Although they declined Perea’s club option for 2026, NYC remained in negotiations with him to ink a longer term deal.

“I’m really excited to sign a new contract with New York City and continue this journey with Los Celestes,” said Perea after penning his new deal. “I’ve felt so much love from the City, my teammates, the entire staff, and the fans, making me truly happy here.”

Perea wasn’t the only player up for a new contract this offseason, nor the only defensive player to break out this season. Homegrown center back Justin Haak may have seen his final minutes of MLS action against Miami in the Eastern Conference Final, and he’ll be an extremely difficult piece to replace.

Haak was the third homegrown player to join the senior team as an academy graduate and first to sign from the 5 boroughs, playing on the club’s first ever U-14 academy team back in 2015. He made his senior debut in 2019 after inking his first professional contract.

After a few shaky seasons and a pair of loan spells with USL side Hartford Athletic, Haak began to settle in with the club before stepping into a vital role this past year. Paired at CB with Thiago Martins and backed by Goalkeeper of the Year nominee Matt Freese, Haak was central in the team’s terrific defensive record, tied for the 6th least goals conceded in the league.

Unfortunately it appears that contract talks have broken down, making a reunion unlikely. Haak has attracted decent interest from Europe, as well as other MLS clubs. It would be disappointing for NYC to lose out on Haak to another club in the league, but it appears their valuation of the Brooklyn native isn’t in line with him or his potential suitors.

Regardless of Haak’s future with the club, NYC has other homegrown talents waiting in the ranks. This past week they announced the signing of Duke defender Kamran Acito and Wake Forest midfielder Cooper Flax, both on multi-year deals.

The club also made four MLS Superdraft selections in midfielders Ransford Gyan (pick #27, Clemson), Kevin Pierre (#57, Georgia Southern), and Joey Mueller (#71, UCF), as well as defender Luca Nikolai (#87, UNC). 2025 draftees Nico Cavallo and Max Murray, both defenders, are also likely to feature in the near future, progressing well in their first year with NYC.

To help oversee the club’s academy and youth structure, NYC also announced the appointment of Robin Nicholls as Academy Director. Nicholls spent a few years with English club Sunderland AFC, some formative years for the club as they mounted a return to the Premier League after a troublesome 8-season absence.

“New York itself is not only a fantastic city, but the background of the people who live there, the different socioeconomic backgrounds, means the potential for talent is exceptional, one of the best and most diverse talent pools in the world, in my opinion,” said Nicholls about his new home. “I wanted to tap into that and really help develop that level of talent to hopefully go on and play at the highest level one day. The Club is headed in the right direction, and with the opening of Etihad Park, it’s an exciting time to be a part of.”

New York City FC Defeated in Eastern Conference Finals

BQE Admin on December 4, 2025

Miami and Vancouver seek 1st MLS title

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

A wild playoff run for the Boys in Blue came to a screeching halt in Southern Florida over the weekend, conceding five times in a defeat to Inter Miami CF. After allowing just a single goal in their first four matches of the postseason, New York City FC were unable to contain a star-studded Floridian side who punched a ticket to their first ever MLS Cup Final.

After being involved in all 12 of Miami’s playoff goals this postseason, Lionel Messi only contributed to one of their five strikes in the Conference Final. Instead the match was settled by a hat trick from Argentinian youngster Tadeo Allende, with fantastic play by soccer legends Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.

It was a frustrating opening half for the New Yorkers, who were met with physicality and antics as Miami tried to unsettle the visitors. It seemed to work out, as quick breaks downfield resulted in a pair of early goals. The first came from Allende, who was able to beat a lackluster challenge by NYC newcomer Raul Gustavo before thundering the ball past Matt Freese on the near post.

After some words and shoves were exchanged by Messi and New York midfielder Maxi Moralez, Miami quickly struck a second time, again through Allende who found a pocket of space for a header in the 6-yard box. 

Just like that, Miami had scored more in 22 minutes than NYC had given up in their previous four postseason games combined. An already daunting task was made even more impossible.

Homegrown talent Justin Haak was able to claw back a goal for NYC before the first half expired, thumping home a header of his own. With a glimmer of hope, NYC stayed in the match, down 2-1 at halftime.

There were a few golden opportunities to equalize, but just as they did in a few tough defeats this season, New York were unable to convert in key moments. The first came just minutes into the second half, as a giveaway by goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo gave Moralez a chance at the top of the box. Instead of attempting a shot, the midfielder laid off a lackluster pass, and the chance quickly faded.

Novo made up for his mistake in the 67th minute, as another perfect opportunity fell for NYC’s Julian Fernandez inside the box. Fernandez curled a shot towards the far corner, but Novo was able to get his hand to it for a fantastic save. Almost immediately after, Miami broke downfield for their third goal, this time scored by Mateo Silvetti.

With the game already escaping NYC’s grasp, the dagger came in the 83rd minute as Jordi Alba set up the 4th Miami strike with a backheel assist on a counterattack. Six minutes later, Allende finished off his hat trick and Miami coasted to their first Conference Title.

“When I walked in back in January to start this project, one of the things we mentioned was that we had to do better than the previous season. From an objective standpoint, that’s what we did, but to finish the season like this tells us we have a few more lessons to learn,” commented Head Coach Pascal Jansen after the defeat. “With the players that we have, even though we were missing three key players, we shouldn’t be as naive as we showed tonight. It is time to rest now, and our full focus is on next season because we have to do better again.”

Miami will host the MLS Cup Final on Saturday, December 6 at 2:30pm. They will take on  the Vancouver Whitecaps, who defeated debutants San Diego in the Western Conference Final, 3-1.

 

NYC Names Todd Dunivant as Next Sporting Director

Following their exit from the playoffs, New York City FC made a few announcements, including the appointment of new Sporting Director, Todd Dunivant. One of the most decorated players in MLS history, Dunivant won 5 MLS Cup titles, 2 Supporters Shields, and a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, playing over 300 matches in his 13-year career.

Dunivant joins from USL club Sacramento Republic FC, where he served as the General Manager and most recently club President.

“The club’s strong foundation is something we will build upon from day one, and I’m eager to join the incredible players, coaches, and staff that already exist at New York City FC,” said Dunivant in his introductory press conference. “The future has never been brighter for the club and MLS, and I look forward to accomplishing big things together in 2026 and beyond.”

NYC Upset the Union, Head to Miami for Conference Finals

BQE Admin on November 26, 2025

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

In stunning fashion, New York City FC upset the top-seeded Philadelphia Union on the road, punching a ticket to Miami for the Eastern Conference Finals. Even without star striker Alonso Martinez, who suffered a knee injury while on international duty, and midfielder Andres Perea, injured in the Round 1 finale against Charlotte, New York were again able to find the net through a moment of brilliance.

It was NYC club legend Maxi Moralez who scored the lone goal in the match, getting on the end of a gorgeous through ball from Nico Fernandez after a great inside cut by Agustin Ojeda. The 38-year-old Argentine midfielder tucked the ball past Philly goalkeeper Andre Blake just ahead of the half-hour mark, sending the sizable contingent of traveling NYC fans into a frenzy.

For the last hour of the match, the City defense rose once more to the challenge. Despite the Union’s persistent attack, only 5 of their 18 shots were put on target. The centerback pairing of Justin Haak and Thiago Martins was nearly impenetrable, with Raul Gustavo and Tayvon Gray equally impressive on either side of them.

Standing tall between the posts and playing hero multiple times was Matt Freese. The Pennsylvania native made his Major League Soccer debut for the Union back in 2019, and in 2021 manned Philadelphia’s goal against New York City as the Boys in Blue won 2-1 en route to their first MLS Cup title.

In his first postseason appearance against his former club, Freese put on a remarkable display. “Matty Ice” saved all 5 Union shots on goal, including an otherworldly stop at the near post against Francis Westfield in the 74th minute and a long-distance strike from Milan Iloski in 2nd half stoppage time.

NYC had only a few looks at Philly’s goal after Moralez opened the scoring, the most notable being a bold attempt by Nico Fernandez from midfield. Nico spotted Blake off his line before attempting to curl the ball past him from inside his own half, forcing the Jamaican international to sprint back and just barely clear the ball off the goal line. Blake instantly grabbed at his hamstring, and after a few minutes he was forced into a substitution.

The Union subbed on top prospect Cavan Sullivan with 10 minutes remaining in regulation, but the youngster was just barely unable to set up Bruno Damiani, whose shot was blocked at the top of the box. NYC were able to see out the final minutes, and again the stadium fell silent aside from the travelling fans as the full time whistle blew.

The win marks New York’s third trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, having visited the Union both in 2021 and 2022. Now New York will head down to Florida for their third matchup with Inter Miami CF this year. It will be the second postseason contest between the two clubs, with NYC winning 3-0 in 2022. This will be the first time they face Lionel Messi in the playoffs, with the all-time great winning the league’s Golden Boot and contributing to all four goals in their Eastern Conference Semifinal win over Cincinnati.

Kickoff from Chase Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale will be on Saturday, November 29, at 6pm. The winner will advance to the 2025 MLS Cup Final against newcomers San Diego FC or the Vancouver Whitecaps, slated for December 6 at 2:30pm.

Soccer Schedule Shift Coming to MLS in 2027

BQE Admin on November 20, 2025

Major League Soccer will join other top leagues playing from Summer to Spring

Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

Last Thursday, Major League Soccer’s Board of Governors voted to align the season schedule with that of most top professional leagues worldwide. In 2027, following an abbreviated transition season, MLS will hold matches between late Summer and Spring, with a sizable winter break.

“The calendar shift is one of the most important decisions in our history,” claimed Don Garber, the Commissioner of Major League Soccer. “Aligning our schedule with the world’s top leagues will strengthen our clubs’ global competitiveness, create better opportunities in the transfer market, and ensure our Audi MLS Cup Playoffs take center stage without interruption. It marks the start of a new era for our league and for soccer in North America.”

The move was expected after two years of deliberation, and it’s not one that had unanimous support by teams and fans. Even with the winter break there are concerns regarding harsh weather in cold markets and the loss of some summer matchdays. There’s also the possibility that MLS finds it more difficult to compete with other major sports leagues for attention, both domestically and abroad.

Still, this is a move that primes the league for a new era of continued growth. By lining up with other leagues, MLS can take full advantage of player purchases and sales in the Summer transfer window. It also lets the league avoid conflicts with mid-Summer tournaments like the Gold Cup, though the schedule shift won’t come in time for the 2026 World Cup hosted in the US, Mexico, and Canada.

Between February and May of 2027 the league will hold a shortened 14-game season with playoffs and a MLS Cup Final. Then in mid-July the league will kick off its first season with the new format, playing until the Winter break in mid-December. Matches will resume in early February of 2028, with the regular season terminating in April and the 2027-28 playoffs in May.

What’s the benefit to the league?

First and foremost, Major League Soccer will see a drastic change in their ability to maximise both the summer and winter transfer windows. In most seasons MLS clubs have faced difficulty not only signing top talent but integrating them into their lineups. Additionally, it’s often been difficult for clubs to sell their promising young talents to bigger clubs without derailing their season. 

With the summer transfer window (usually running from June/July until early September) directly in the middle of the MLS season, it’s difficult for new signings to find their feet and mesh with their new clubs.

Now new Summer signings can participate in preseason training and Winter signees won’t need to wait months for matches to begin after leaving their clubs in the middle of an active season.

Playing from the Summer through the Spring is not out of the question and it’s something done by plenty of local soccer leagues. In the New York Metro area the American Premier Soccer League (APSL) and Cosmopolitan Soccer League (CSL) have both played along similar schedules for years, with a Fall season running from September to December and the Spring season taking place between March and June.

Despite the frigid winters, play is still possible with only a handful of postponements due to inclement weather and snow-covered fields. Some leagues even hold cup tournaments in late January and February, two months that will be avoided during the MLS season’s Winter break.

Are there any major drawbacks?

Of course the Winter weather will always be a concern, as matches are already played on snow-covered fields and sometimes in subzero temperatures. Just earlier this year, Sporting Kansas City hosted Inter Miami CF in a CONCACAF Champions Cup match in late February with temperatures under 4 degrees.

Fans of teams like Toronto, Montreal, New York/NYC, New England, and Colorado will be bracing for the effects of the schedule shift. Many of those clubs face sparse attendance in the colder parts of the current season structure and rely on Summer games to make up for the lost revenue. Now without many of those warmer weather games (especially for clubs who miss the postseason) it may lead to even worse attendance issues.

This also brings into question if the new schedule will provide an unfair advantage to teams in big southern markets such as Los Angeles, Miami, and Atlanta. It’s unclear if the league will schedule more home games for those clubs during the colder months to help avoid cancellations and sparse attendance, but if they do it could lead to some clubs going months without a single home game.

Another possible negative impact is in regards to media share and attention. With MLS competing with the NBA, NFL, NHL, and other major soccer leagues, it may limit the league’s ability to draw and keep eyes on their product. Many clubs play in markets with popular basketball, hockey, and football teams, meaning that fan focus may not fall on the soccer pitch during a majority of the season. 

For many of those fans, it’s easier to mix soccer in with a baseball season featuring well over 100 games rather than miss more pivotal matchups in other sports. How they’ll react once the schedule is updated remains to be seen, but it doesn’t bode well given MLS.

What does this mean for New York City FC?

With the schedule change coming the same year as the grand opening of Etihad Park in Queens, questions are already flying regarding what that means for the new stadium. Will there be extra efforts to provide heating? Will there be new efforts to weather-proof the facility? Will the stadium be available for the 2027 transition season or will it wait to open doors until the 2027-28 campaign later in the year?

So far the club has remained tight-lipped about the impacts to their new stadium. Still, the front office has voiced clear support of the schedule shift, noting its benefits especially in major soccer markets.

“Soccer is already seeing incredible levels of growth in North America, and aligning the League’s schedule to follow the international calendar provides us with the best opportunity to continue building off this momentum,” said New York City FC CEO Brad Sims following the league’s announcement. “Especially with the much-anticipated FIFA World Cup 26 coming next summer, followed shortly by the opening of our future home in Etihad Park, this decision could not come at a better time.”

New York City FC alluded that an official update on their new stadium’s availability for 2027 will come in the future, but it’s not likely they’d pass up an opportunity to finish completing the stadium for a full season rather than rush the finishing touches in time for an abbreviated one.

Apple TV deal drops paywall

Another piece of MLS news this past week was that Apple TV will no longer charge for the MLS season pass, dropping a paywall that limited the league’s reach during a valuable period of growth. Fans will still need an Apple TV subscription to enjoy matches, but without the extra $80 ($100 for those not subscribed to Apple TV) per year, the league will be far more accessible across the country and beyond.

This is a move that should do well to combat the competition with more popular sports throughout the MLS season, but the requirement still does limit the league’s reach beyond Apple TV subscribers. Apple has done relatively well to broadcast all Major League Soccer contests, but it’s difficult to ignore a lack of MLS presence outside of their platform. 

Hopefully with the calendar adjustment and lack of additional paywall Major League Soccer can pick up some new momentum, especially with the World Cup kicking off in 2026.

City Blues March on to Philadelphia for Conference Semis

BQE Admin on November 13, 2025

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

New York City FC will return to visit the Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference Semifinals on November 23. After a thrilling 3-1 win in Charlotte, the Boys in Blue will again look to topple a top seed on the road. The match comes just under four years since they toppled the Union in Chester en route to their first ever MLS Cup Championship, and just over three years since the Union returned the favor in the Eastern Conference Finals before falling to LAFC in the cup final.

It was a trio of stunning goals that lifted New York over Charlotte FC for the second time in two visits. Nico Fernandez Mercau opened the scoring in first half stoppage time, carrying the ball from inside the city half after a strong physical challenge. With Alonso Martinez to his left, the Argentine continued his run, somehow guiding the ball across the goal and into the top corner.

Just five minutes into the second half, the visitors doubled the lead with another brilliant solo goal. A Maxi Moralez pass over Charlotte’s high defensive line fell perfectly for Martinez, who controlled the ball under pressure with grace. The Costa Rican international evaded a defender before slotting the ball under goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina and into the net.

Later in the half, City were dealt a rough blow as midfielder Andres Perea went down with a lower leg injury after an aerial duel. After a lengthy break he was carted off the field, later diagnosed to be a fracture. The club announced on Monday that Perea underwent surgery on his leg, with rehab beginning immediately. No timetable was given for his return, but it’s not likely he will return this postseason.

Following Perea’s injury, Charlotte looked for a lifeline with their season once more on the ropes. With 10 minutes remaining in regulation they finally found a breakthrough as Archie Goodwin was able to lay the ball off perfectly for Idan Toklomati. 

It would be Charlotte’s lone goal in the three-game series, as New York City’s defense stood strong to close out the final minutes of the match. Even with a monumental 12 minutes of stoppage time, the hosts were unable to break through Thiago Martins and Justin Haak in the back line. Matt Freese only faced one shot on target, with Charlotte’s other 14 redirected away from goal.

“I don’t know how many blocks Justin [Haak] had in the first 10 minutes,” commented Freese following the match. “The defensive line putting their bodies on the line is something we’ve worked on, and I’m very grateful for it. That type of thing leads to wins, energy, and it shushes the crowd.”

As the match clock ticked past the 100th minute, Nico Fernandez Mercau again had a say in stoppage time. This time a strong move by Hannes Wolf allowed the Austrian to maintain possession after a sliding challenge. The winger carried the ball into the box before laying it off to Fernandez who again finessed the ball off the woodwork and in. It was the first time since late September that NYC scored more than once in a match.

Now New York is set to face off against one of their most bitter rivals. This year against Philadelphia each club has defended home turf. In April NYC defeated the Union at Citi Field with Alonso Martinez scoring the lone goal in the match. In early October the Union clinched the Supporters Shield for the second time in franchise history with a 1-0 win.

It will take another fiery defensive performance and more moments of magic from their attackers to best the league’s top seed on the road. Philly led Major League Soccer with a solid defensive record, keeping 14 clean sheets and only allowing 35 goals. While the Wild Card winning Fire forced a penalty shootout in Game 1, the Union came out on top 4-2, ending the series in Game 2 with a 3-0 win in Chicago. 

Philadelphia will look to become the eighth Shield-winners to follow up their regular season with postseason glory. New York will look to again become the road warriors they were in 2021. As the only lower seed to advance out of the first round, they will be the visitors the rest of their cup run.

New York City FC Finish 5th in East, To Play Charlotte in MLS Cup Playoffs

BQE Admin on October 24, 2025

New York City FC fell at Citi Field to the Seattle Sounders on Decision Day, 2-1. (Photos: Noah Zimmerman)

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

The Boys in Blue will enter the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs as the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference following their loss to the Seattle Sounders and Miami’s win over Nashville SC on Decision Day last Saturday. They open the postseason on the road in Charlotte in a best-of-three first round series.

It was a difficult night in Queens for New York City FC, who welcomed Seattle to Citi Field for their final match in Flushing in 2025. NYC were unable to build decisive attacking chances, barely testing former MLS Cup MVP Stefan Frei in the Seattle goal.

Former MLS Cup Final MVP Stefan Frei wasn’t tested much in the Sounders net as he helped see out the 1-goal win.

The match was a physical one, but also tightly called by referee Chris Penso. While no goals were scored in the opening 45 minutes, three NYC players entered Penso’s book in stoppage time, as Kevin O’Toole, Justin Haak, and Matt Freese each received a yellow card.

In the second half, Seattle broke the deadlock from a set piece. Jordan Morris got his head on a ball from point blank range, tucking it into the net. The hosts immediately subbed on three players in Julian Fernandez, Agustin Ojeda, and Jonny Shore, now chasing an equalizer to salvage a point.

NYC captain Thiago Martins pleads his case to referee Chris Penso after a penalty was awarded to Seattle. The call was later overturned by VAR.

A more inspired NYC attack finally broke through with 8 minutes remaining. A shot by Nico Fernandez was nearly blocked, but the ball was redirected into the Sounders net, with nothing Frei could do to keep it out.

Even though they were locked into the West’s #5 seed, Seattle fought hard to regain the advantage. Once again they were able to take advantage of a controversial call (or rather this time a no-call) and scored another header in the 87th minute, this time from Jackson Ragen.

Suddenly, NYC’s playoff seeding was out of their hands, as the final whistle blew soon after the Sounders’ second goal. Luckily they were saved by Lionel Messi, who completed a second half hat trick to defeat Nashville SC and keep New York City in the East’s 5th seed. 

With the standings final, New York will visit 4th place Charlotte FC in the opening round. With Miami’s win over Nashville, the two sides will face off again as the 3rd and 6th seeds. FC Cincinnati will take on the Columbus Crew in a playoff edition of the “Hell is Real” Derby, while Supporters Shield winners Philadelphia await the winners of the Wild Card match between Chicago and Orlando.

The first round matchups will be a best-of-three series, with the top seed hosting the first match and the final game if necessary. NYC will head to Charlotte on Tuesday, October 28 for Game 1 at 6:45pm. Then the sides will meet at Yankee Stadium for Game 2 on Saturday, November 1 at 3:30pm. The final game would be held back in Charlotte on Friday, November 7.

Charlotte will be without star forward Wilfred Zaha for the opening game as he picked up a red card in their final match against Philadelphia. Still, Charlotte holds the joint-best home record in the East, and will be difficult to beat twice in a series where they’d host two games.

Messi Scores Two in Queens as Miami beats NYC

BQE Admin on October 4, 2025

Boys in Blue bounce back with Hudson River Derby win and double over Red Bulls

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

The World’s Borough showed out for Lionel Messi’s first ever match in Queens last week. A crowd of over 40,000 filled Citi Field as New York City FC hosted Inter Miami. It was a pivotal match for Eastern Conference seeding, as NYC mounted an impressive hike up the table, even bypassing Miami (despite them having two games in hand).

NYC entered the match in the East’s 3rd seed with Miami right behind in 4th but still within reach of the Supporters Shield and 1st overall seed due to their extra games left to play.

It’s been a budding rivalry in the conference, with the sides already engaging in some heated contests and fans pitted against each other. It’s no surprise that Messi has caught the attention of fans across the country, especially in an international soccer capital like New York City. It wasn’t surprising to see so many pink #10 shirts mixed into the sea of sky blue NYC gear.

On the field, it was a series of blown chances that cost New York a foothold against the Floridian side. In the first half there were two golden opportunities to score, but a point-blank Thiago Martins header was saved by Miami’s Oscar Ustari and a shot by Nico Fernandez glanced off the wrong side of the post. 

Miami made the hosts pay before the break. Despite being the better side in the first half, NYC went into the half trailing by one after an immaculate assist by Messi to set up Baltasar Rodriguez.

The visitors piled on in the second half, with Messi finding the net himself in the 74th minute. The Queens crowd erupted as fans watched the greatest of all time beat the back line and softly chip the ball over Matt Freese.

Dejected, NYC limped towards the finish line, but Messi and Miami weren’t done. Luis Suarez netted a penalty in the 83rd minute before Messi completed his brace with a beautiful back-post shot just a few minutes later. The four goals scored were the most allowed by NYC all year, dampening what was a brilliant defensive record. It was also the first defeat suffered at Citi Field this year.

Just a few days later, NYC marched across the Hudson River to take on the New York Red Bulls. This time they got out on the front foot early, with Fernandez scoring just 90 seconds in.

Despite the early goal NYC again had trouble converting key chances, allowing their rivals back into the match. Youngster Julian Hall struck back to equalize in the 23rd minute and despite a brilliant header by Andres Perea to reestablish the lead, blown chances kept NYC from decisively pulling away.

Once again New York were punished, as Red Bulls star Emil Forsberg scored in the first minutes of the second half to keep his club’s playoff hopes alive.

Almost 20 minutes later and for the third time in the match, New York City seized the lead. This time it was captain Thiago Martins punching home a loose ball on the goal line after an initial stop on a Perea attempt.

With NYC unable to extend their lead, they looked to see out a tense finish. After 10 minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle finally blew, giving the visitors the win and a league double over their rivals. New York City players lifted the Hudson River Derby trophy in front of a sizable crowd of travelling fans.

The loss marked the likely end for the Red Bulls’ 15-year playoff streak, a Major League Soccer record. They currently sit in 10th, 5 points behind Chicago for the final postseason spot with matches coming up against 2nd place Cincinnati and 8th place Columbus.

For New York City, the season will come to an end at Citi Field against the Seattle Sounders after a road match against the rival Philadelphia Union. Just a few more points will secure a top-4 seed, giving the Boys in Blue a guaranteed home match in the playoffs.

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