For the first time since August 17 vs Nashville SC, New York City FC returned to Yankee Stadium for MLS play, taking on Eastern Conference bottom-feeders DC United on Saturday night.
After taking an early lead, NYCFC lost 2-1, ending their three-game MLS winning streak and handing DC their first victory in 11 games and just their fifth win all season.
Here are four thoughts from the disappointing home loss.
Hudson River Blue Staff
1. Justin Haak scores first goal in 784 days
New York City came out as the better team, having more than 70 percent of the ball but only one shot to show for it in the opening 19 minutes.
NYCFC would take advantage of its next chance a minute later. Alonso Martínez played a pass to Maxi Moralez in the box, who laid it off for Justin Haak. The 23-year-old struck it first-time perfectly into the bottom right corner past former New York City FC goalkeeper Luis Barraza to score his second career goal.
Justin Haak opens the scoring | Courtesy New York City FC
It was Haak's first goal in 784 days — he notched his first career goal in a 1-1 road tie with Columbus Crew on July 8, 2023. Moralez recorded his team-leading seventh assist of the season and fifth in the last five league games.
2. DC United levels out of nowhere
After taking the lead, NYCFC struggled to keep its foot on the gas pedal and create chances. New York City was set to go into halftime with a 1-0 lead, but DC struck even against the run of play less than two minutes before the break.
Off a long throw-in, Tayvon Gray headed the ball away to the edge of the box. It fell to an open Gabriel Pirani, who struck the ball off the post and in for his fifth goal of the season.
Gabriel Pirani makes it 1-1 | Courtesy MLS
NYCFC didn't play a great first half, attempting only three shots — two of which were on target — despite dominating possession.
3. Gabriel Pirani strikes again to shock NYCFC
After a poor first half, New York City didn't come out of the locker room looking sharp. They had most of the ball yet again, but hardly tested Barraza and didn't look interested in retaking the lead.
DC punished NYCFC in the 77th minute as Pirani scored his second of the night against the run of play. It started when Christian Benteke played a great through pass to Pirani, who used his pace to get in behind and past Haak.
Facing Matt Freese alone, Pirani didn't miss from close range, striking the ball in the bottom-left corner to give DC a 2-1 lead late in the game.
Gabriel Pirani makes it 2-1 to DC United | Courtesy MLS
Haak, who had a great first half after scoring his second career goal via a great finish, is accountable for DC's game-winning goal. DC didn't have many chances, but made the most of their opportunities and took advantage of New York City's poor defending.
4. Trapped by the trap game again
Entering Saturday's contest on a three-game MLS winning streak, NYCFC seemed like the clear-cut winners against a DC side that was already eliminated from the playoffs and hadn't won since May 31.
But New York City has already fallen for that trap twice this season, losing 2-0 to the New England Revolution — who entered that game without a goal from open play — on April 19, and being swept by CF Montréal, one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference.
It was no different on Saturday night — there was promise after Haak opened the scoring in the 19th minute, but from there, New York City's attack went quiet. NYCFC looked completely different from the team that recently defeated Nashville SC and FC Cincinnati, once again playing down to the level of its opponent.
A trip to the Windy City against the Chicago Fire FC, a team on the fringe of a playoff spot, awaits New York City next.
