New York City FC player ratings are determined by Hudson River Blue readers: Here are your NYCFC player ratings for the emphatic 2-0 win at home over New England Revolution.
Saturday’s matchup ended on a high note for New York City. Substitute Julián Fernández scored an insurance goal in the 93rd minute after coming on to replace Agustín Ojeda — who scored the opening goal 30 minutes earlier. There’s nothing like capping a win with a little something extra.
Those bright spirits are reflected in your ratings, which are the best you handed out this season to date.
Still, you’re not completely happy with how everybody played. You once again gave your lowest rating to striker Mounsef Bakrar, who extends his scoreless streak to seven starts. It’s hard to fault the work ethic of the 23-year-old: He makes the runs. But the finishing ain’t there.
And once again, you saved your highest praise for goalkeeper Matt Freese, whose 9.1 is the highest for any New York City player this year. New England were dangerous in flashes, but Freese’s five saves preserved the win — and earned him your Player of the Match honors.
Note: FotMob ratings are in parentheses.
Mounsef Bakrar, off 83′ (6.9) – 4.3
Santiago Rodríguez, off 90′ (7.9) – 7.1
Hannes Wolf, off 63′ (7.1) – 6.0
Agustín Ojeda, off 63′ (8.2) – 7.8
Keaton Parks (8.1) – 6.4
James Sands (7.8) – 6.4
Mitja Ilenič (7.2) – 6.7
Kevin O’Toole (7.5) – 6.5
Thiago Martins (7.1) – 6.4
Birk Risa (7.3) – 6.1
Matt Freese (8.5) – 9.1
Malachi Jones, on 63′ (6.6) – 6.0
Julián Fernández, on 63′ (7.3) – 7.8
Alonso Martínez, on 83′ (NR) – 5.6
Andrés Perea, on 90′ (NR) – 5.5
Player Spotlight
You couldn’t ask much more of Fernández. The winger was brought on in the 63rd minute and scored 30 minutes later in what was arguably the strongest substitute appearance by a New York City player this year.
More importantly, the Fernández who took the field Saturday night looked like the Fernández who dazzled us last season. He was running hard, linking up with the attack, making dangerous runs. The winger was out of step in earlier appearances this year, but this game could mark a return to form.
BANGERS ONLY. pic.twitter.com/CYvIMfoPgV
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) April 14, 2024
The goal he scored was certainly familiar. The long, curling shot from outside of the top of the box resembled the goal he scored on Decision Day last season, when New York City defeated Chicago Fire 1-0.
Julián Fernández banger! 💥#NYCFC takes a 1-0 lead against Chicago. pic.twitter.com/WeSyqMr6PJ
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 21, 2023
It’s a deadly strike, and almost unplayable by any goalkeeper.
It’s also a lot of fun to watch.
Nick Cushing – 5.1
The third-lowest rating of the night belongs to the man who made the decision to start Ojeda, who scored the game-winner, then pull him off in the second half to make way for Fernández, who scored an insurance goal in stoppage time.
Winning lineup, clean sheet, solid result: What does a head coach need to do around here to get some respect?
Rosendo Mendoza – 3.9
It wasn’t the best of nights for the man with the whistle. There were a few non-calls (seems you can tug on a shirt whenever you feel like it), and there was the red card shown to New England’s Ian Harkes that was then VAR’d off. At the end of the first half, New England striker Giacomo Vironi had words with Freese — and it was Freese who was shown a yellow card. Say what?
Player of the Match
Matt Freese
Generally, your POTM is awarded to the goal scorer. The wisdom of the crowd is that whoever gets the ball in the back of the net is the best on the field.
Not tonight. Freese is your overwhelming pick for POTM with more than 86% of the vote.
And it’s for good reason. The goalkeeper logged his first clean sheet of the year, making five saves for the third straight game. But it wasn’t just the quantity of his saves, it was the quality.
A brilliant save from the Ice Man 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/gxSUV9uCy2
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) April 14, 2024
There was the save when he stood strong and made himself big, and there was the save when he made an acrobatic leap to push the ball over the bar. There was textbook save when he did the simple things right, and a scramble of a save that had him completely change direction after the ball took a deflection.
FREESE KEEPS US IN THE LEAD 🥶 pic.twitter.com/1iK6FjH8Qy
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) April 14, 2024
Freese New York City’s most consistent and excellent player this season — no wonder Freese is your POTM for the fourth time after just eight games. As we wrote in these pages not long ago, “The 25-year-old goalkeeper is on his way to establishing himself as one of the best in MLS.”
Freese was definitely my POTM. Brilliant goalkeeping yet again! As for Cushing, most of us have been vocal when we’ve felt he deserved criticism; it’s only fair to give him credit when his personnel decisions pay off. He deserves far better than a 5.1 for Saturday. Bakrar continues to show no confidence in his left foot, but I will adopt Cushing’s postgame recommendation of supporting him 100% and hoping his constant hard work and effort begins to yield goals. Finally, am loving that Jones is getting minutes, he’s going to have a big moment one of these games.
as much as i enjoyed the ‘rare’ winning sensation, me holding the assessment ’til seeing how we handle sorta in-form DC on Sat. sure we did ok, sure we won but it was basically over total dysfunctioning NE. in fact, yet, they had more numbers o’ on-target shots. that said ICE ICE BABY!!!! (this’ gotta be the chant dedicated to Matty)Bakrar… don’t know what to say. the heroes were: Ojeda, Julian and Matty. hidden heroes were two wingbacks Mitija & Kevin. in the O on the both planks, they were lethal. gotta work on some D stuffs tho. dunno where went wrong, but opened the counters way too easy. without another individual excellence from Freese, the game could have been so the other way. Cushing small ball fumed me out again, when he took Ojeda out and pulled both wingbacks back to the half line. glad Fernandez found the spot but it was obviously another parking the bus moment to me.Bakrar… don’t know what to say. oh did i say that already?