New York City FC returned home for the first time in nearly a month and played to a 1-1 draw with LAFC at Citi Field, extending the club's winless run to five straight games.
LAFC scored late in the first half, a bending free kick from Leo Walta, and NYCFC responded with a thumping header from Andrés Perea off a corner kick, but ultimately couldn't find the game-winning goal for what would've been their first come-from-behind victory of this season.
Heung-Min Son nearly scored a late winner for LAFC in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, but his curled shot hit off the post and let NYCFC breathe a sigh of relief and avoid conceding another late goal.
The draw means New York City remains winless at Citi Field this season, boasting a lousy 0W-2D-3L record in Queens and an overall record of 4W-5D-6L in home games, with the team now winless in its last six home matches.
New York City: o.70 xG, 13 shots, 3 shots on target, 66% possession, 701 passes, 90% pass accuracy, 18 fouls, 10 corners, 2 saves
LAFC: 0.52 xG, 9 shots, 3 shots on target, 34% possession, 368 passes, 81% pass accuracy, 8 fouls, 4 corners, 2 saves
Goals:
• LAFC, Leo Walta, 45+1'
• New York City FC, Andrés Perea, 59'
With head coach Pascal Jansen making only a few changes to the lineup that lost 2-0 to Miami on the road three days ago, NYCFC mustered just one shot — not on goal — in the first half against LAFC.
The Black and Gold didn't play a great first half either, but they went into the locker room with the lead thanks to an outstanding free kick from Leo Walta — his first goal for LAFC after joining the club on loan from Swansea City.
SCREAMER FROM @LAFC'S WALTA 🚀🚀🚀 https://t.co/n3q72JsMoQ
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 18, 2026
New York City looked doomed to suffer yet another defeat, but took advantage of a set piece of their own in the 59th minute, when Nico Fernández Mercau's in-swinging corner kick was headed home by Perea, scoring his third league goal of the season.
¡Qué cabezazo de Andrés! 🤩 🇨🇴 https://t.co/vDMyPJvukL
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) October 18, 2026
Despite Jansen bringing on attacking substitutions like Talles Magno and Bénie Traoré, NYCFC couldn't find any momentum from their goal and had to settle for a point.
This is still a result New York City will likely be content with, given the fact that Son came inches away from scoring a winner for LAFC late in stoppage time.
With the point, NYCFC remain out of a playoff spot, now down to 11th place with 34 points and two points behind ninth place and the last playoff spot.
Highlights: New York City FC vs LAFC
• New York City, Hannes Wolf, yellow card, foul, 28'
• New York City, Aiden O'Neill, yellow card, foul, 44'
• New York City, Agustín Ojeda, yellow card, foul, 54'
Officials
• Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
• Assistant referees: Mike Nickerson, Tyler Wyrostek
• Fourth official: Ricardo Araya
• VAR: Kevin Terry Jr
• Assistant VAR: TJ Zablocki
