New York City FC player ratings are determined by Hudson River Blue readers: Here are your NYCFC player ratings after a 2-2 draw on opening day against Major League Soccer heavyweights Inter Miami.
New York City FC earned a point on opening day for the first time since 2019, drawing Inter Miami at Ft. Lauderdale 2-2. So what if Lionel Messi & Co evened the score 11 minutes into stoppage time after being reduced to 10 players early in the first half? This young NYCFC team displayed some of the grit missing last year, and your player ratings reflect the effort we saw on the field.
To be clear, Miami were the better team. They controlled the run of play for much of the game despite being short-handed, and the squad’s intensity and creativity was something to behold. But New York City found a way to score twice on the road despite entering the night with a roster so depleted that no Designated Players were in the lineup, five of the players on the bench began the night with zero First Team minutes, and three of those were teenagers.
One of them went on to make his MLS debut: Jonny Shore, a 17-year-old midfielder who made 24 appearances for NYCFC II last year, came on at the half and was tasked with nothing less than facing down Messi and Sergio Busquets. Shore’s performance wasn’t flawless – a sloppy challenge that clipped Messi’s shins was whistled for a foul in a dangerous spot – but he completed 19 of his 20 pass attempts, which was good for a 95% pass completion rate. It’s an auspicious start for Shore, who was born and raised in New York City, and who signed a Homegrown contract in 2023, when he was 15.
In other words, the 2-2 glass is very much half full.
Note: FotMob ratings are in parentheses.
Andrew Leigh
Alonso Martínez, off 90′ (7.8) – 8.3
Hannes Wolf (6.9) – 4.9
Agustín Ojeda, off 69′ (6.6) – 5.6
Maxi Moralez, off 78′ (7.6) – 7.2
Keaton Parks (6.9) – 6.2
Justin Haak (6.7) – 6.6
Mitja Ilenič, off 82′ (7.4) – 7.7
Kevin O’Toole, off 69′ (6.6) – 6.5
Strahinja Tanasijević, off 46′ (6.3) – 4.0
Birk Risa (6.9) – 6.1
Matt Freese (7.2) – 7.5
Jonny Shore, on 46′ (6.5) – 6.1
Nico Cavallo, on 69′ (6.7) – 5.0
Julián Fernández, on 69′ (6.1) – 4.6
Andrés Perea, on 78′ (6.3) – 5.2
Mounsef Bakrar, on 90′ (n/a) – 4.6
Player Spotlight
Mitja Ilenič
It wasn’t just that Mitja Ilenič scored, it was how he scored.
It was a set piece that came straight from the training ground, with Ilenič standing quietly to the side of a wall that fully expected Maxi Moralez or Hannes Wolf to go for goal — or at least move the ball centrally. Instead, Moralez played a simple side-foot pass to Ilenič, who sprinted to control the ball with one touch before immediately firing off a shot that found the back of the net.
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Mitja Ilenič’s 26′ goal | Courtesy MLS/Apple TV
It’s a brilliant goal, well-planned and executed perfectly. But more than that, it shows the confidence that Head Coach Pascal Jansen and the rest of the team have in the right-back: They entrusted Ilenič with the best scoring opportunity the night.
We saw glimpses of Ilenič’s cold-blooded determination late last year. There was his goal against FC Cincinnati in October, the first of his MLS career. And then there was his series-winning penalty against that same Cincinnati in the First Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. If you remember, Ilenič’s shot was the 18th attempt in an epic shootout that saw six misses.
Mitja really is that guy 🐐 https://t.co/EorQGzpSlc pic.twitter.com/vhBOmSXQni
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) February 23, 2025
We not only have Add to that short but growing list this composed and confident goal from Ilenič on opening day — and some Grade A trolling when the right-back celebrated in front of Messi with a Cristiano Ronaldo-like “Siuu.”
Is this the start of a breakout season for the 20-year-old?
Andrew Leigh
Pascal Jansen – 7.2
You like Pascal.
The new gaffer starts the season strong with a 7.2, which is higher than all but four of the ratings you gave Nick Cushing during the regular season last year. True, it’s not a contest, but this rating is higher than the 6.8 you gave Cushing after New York City defeated Philadelphia Union on the road for the first time since 2021.
Is it because the gaps in this 2025 team are readily apparent, and we can see how Jansen is using what resources he has to fill them? Is it because he made good use of his substitutions, bringing on five players in three windows plus halftime, and almost pulled off stealing the win? Is it because Jansen is putting his trust in the team’s youth – and giving valuable big-game experience to Nico Cavallo, Agustín Ojeda, Shore – so that the XI on the field at the end of the game had an average age of 23.4 years? Is it because Janesn was dressed head-to-toe in New York City gear?
Or is it because you feel Janesn made smart choices, and is the right person to lead this team right now?
Alexis Da Silva – 6.2
Referees are supposed to be impartial, but it’s hard to keep a clear head in front of a home crowd losing its collective mind because the greatest soccer player ever to walk the earth is on the field. Give credit to Alexis Da Silva for making the correct call when showing Tomás Avilés a red card for pulling down Martínez when he was clear on goal.
Player of the Match
Alonso Martínez
Any concerns that El Clínico was a one-season wonder faded a few minutes into this match.
Alonso Martínez was the most dangerous attacker on the field in a blue kit despite New York City looking a little lost without Santiago Rodríguez driving forward. Martínez is the thinking man’s striker: Slight, soft-spoken, no tattoos or look-at-me haircuts. He doesn’t muscle defenders off the ball, or dive to get calls. Instead, he uses his positioning to make intelligent runs that keep the defense unsettled, and he finishes with such clinical accuracy that he can change a game with a single shot on target.
Martínez was involved in both of New York City’s goals tonight. In the first half he drew the foul that earned Avilés a red card, which gave NYCFC the set piece that Ilenič converted: The Miami defender was so rattled by Martínez’s movement during the opening minutes of the game that he panicked when a ball came over the top, pulling back the New York City striker when he was clear on goal.
Atravesando la defensa como mantequilla 🔪 pic.twitter.com/DOjuNEgfFj
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) February 23, 2025
Then in the second half, Martínez jumped on an errant pass by Jordi Alba. Martínez touched the ball three times: Once to turn towards the goal, once to carry the ball into the box, and once to strike it into the back of the net.
It was the only shot Martínez took all night.
And that is why we call him El Clínico.
was mad at the whistle last night, then now feels a relieve. all in all, could have been worse. it was against Messi & Co after all right? that man leaving the field refusing to shake hands nor exchanging sweaty shirt after the game—kinda norm to the BIB now—is quite enjoyable scene lol. besides all good things aforementioned, a couple tiny worries, as that voice of a fan here:1. glad Maxi got #10 on the back. then it screams that Mr. Lee will not actively seek for a DP replacement for Santi at least soon soon, ri…ght? Max is great, but we saw what happened to the team after he left the pitch. 2. that said, really really x 3 more times hope Wolf pick up. naturally he can be the next man up in terms of #10 internal promotion. and he doesn’t seem up for it. slow, sluggish, and most of all seemed afraid of physical challenge. it’s like you touch me i go down. did he lose the passion? keeping that level performance, i only see his returning to the east leagues at the best than his home leagues…3. feel like we’re not gonna see Strahinja on the pitch for awhile, lol. poor guy was like over excited, and he needs to contain. the 2nd challenge, as usual, was almost game costing. thanks to the ref.4. Perea. is this man going backward? or is he desperate to make an impression only with scoring? he performed like a lone former division 4 highschool player in a beer league. like grinding on the pitch all over with like no brain. what happened to him?5. the unsung heroes last night were: Haak & Keaton, in every aspect. that guy Messi seems whinier than i’ve known and i love to see it ha