After a week of New York City FC celebrating the past, they were surely happy one piece of history didn’t repeat itself during their home opener Saturday against Orlando SC at Yankee Stadium.
In an homage to the club’s 10-year anniversary and their first game, City faced Orlando on the same date they did back in 2015.
This time, the result was different, as NYCFC forward Hannes Wolf scored in the 71st minute to propel City to a 2-1 win.
Hannes Wolf, who scored the game-winning goal, looks to get a shot on goal as goalkeeper Pedro Gallese defends during New York City FC’s 2-1 win over Orlando SC on March 8, 2025. Corey Sipkin for New York PostThe victory was New York City’s first of the year after playing to a draw in their season opener against Inter Miami and falling to LAFC last week, and helped right a string of games that saw City surrender late goals to their opponents.
“We know we need to build, we need to prepare ourselves and work hard every single day,” defender Thiago Martins said. “It’s just the third game and we need to prepare ourselves all the way to the end of the season.”
Star striker Alonso Martinez also scored and goalkeeper Matt Freese made two saves.
Wolf’s skillful goal came on a header off a pass from Julián Fernández, who collected the loose ball after Orlando keeper Pedro Gallese made an initial stop on a deep shot from Martinez but couldn’t hold onto the ball.
The strike came a mere two minutes after Orlando’s Luis Muriel had deflated the home crowd with an equalizing goal.
“Very important, because it didn’t look like we were going to concede. Once we did, you needed to respond immediately,” NYCFC coach Pascal Jansen said when asked about his side’s response. “And what better than to respond in that way, getting a goal back to be ahead again. It was tough for our guys because if you go back to the previous two games, where we conceded late goals in Miami and cost us the win and in LA it cost us the game.
Birk Risa (left) and Orlando City’s’ Alex Freeman jump to head the ball during the first half of New York City FC’s win. Corey Sipkin for New York Post“So getting back the way we did in this game shows that we have character and we’re ready to compete until the final second of the game”
The tally was Wolf’s first since a July 20, 2024 match against Orlando in which he scored the game’s only goal.
Jansen hopes that it would help spur Wolf to put up more this season.
Jonathan Shore looks to moves the ball down field past an Orlando City defender during New York City FC’s win. Corey Sipkin for New York Post“I really hope so because Hannes has several qualities,” Jansen said. “But I’m looking for more, and him. Scoring a goal tonight might help him just a little bit more, but the offensive side, you could see that also in tonight’s game, he’s trying to find that control in certain areas. So we can come and support him as a team and make sure we get bodies up front in order to go for good attacks.”
After a flurry of chances for both sides in the early portion of the opening half, both sides went cold before NYCFC started to put on the pressure again in the second half.
Martinez finally broke the scoreless draw after midfielder Maxi Moralez fired a shot from outside the box that hit off the post and Martinez cleaned up the loose ball for the goal.
NYCFC defender Kevin O’Toole was sent off in the 87th minute after seeing a second yellow card.
