Mixed bag for NYCFC in Leagues Cup, rivalry renews with the Union

Through two matches, Leagues Cup brought plenty of highs and lows with it for New York City FC, and hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh get into all the big positives and negatives to emerge from the win over Santos Laguna and the narrow defeat to Cruz Azul.

First, the positives, like keeping a clean sheet against Santos Laguna, a win that included an instant impact from new striker signing Luighi, who looked the part of a true No 9 and had slight roles to play in each of the two second-half goals that got NYCFC their victory.

Then, the less positive, meaning the tough 2-1 loss to Liga MX champions Cruz Azul. It was the most imposing opponent of the three New York City is guaranteed to face during Leagues Cup, and the match felt like a true trial by fire for certain players in the New York City FC squad.

Some, like defender Max Murray, made a great impression even in defeat, scoring his first goal for NYCFC and looking solid in central defense against a top-tier Mexican side. Others struggled, especially a few of the team's high-profile attacking players, and the negative result means it's exceedingly unlikely that New York City can advance to the Leagues Cup knockouts — though a chance, albeit a slim one, does remain.

Given the long odds of advancement and that the team's third Leagues Cup opponent, Club Necaxa, has already been eliminated, how will Pascal Jansen approach lining up his team, knowing there's MLS action coming soon after the meeting with Necaxa? Is it time to empty the bench, or does being mathematically alive cause Jansen to throw everything after a win?

After Leagues Cup talk wraps up, it's on to league soccer, first NWSL and the league leaders, Gotham FC. Gotham returned to their usual home field, Sports Illustrated Stadium, for the first time since May 31, and they're now unbeaten in seven games after earning a third consecutive 1-0 win in their Harrison, NJ homecoming. Gotham keeps doing it despite personnel changing on the fly, and your hosts wonder just how high their ceiling might be, given they're four points clear at the top of the table and looking like the toughest defense to crack in the league.

Then it's back to MLS and a preview of the Philadelphia Union, who come to Yankee Stadium in red-hot form since the World Cup ended, thanks to a breakout spell of performances from teenage phenom Cavan Sullivan, and from other big changes at head coach and at one of their Designated Player spots, since they welcomed back star left-back Kai Wagner. While NYCFC has had Philadelphia's number in recent years, your hosts are cautious heading into this one, especially since Nicolás Fernández Mercau will be unavailable while serving a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation.

Listen to the full episode, then find more of our coverage at nysoccerjournal.com, or on Bluesky @nysoccerjournal.com, Twitter @nysoccerjournal and @NYSJPodcast, and on Instagram @newyorksoccerjournal.

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