New York City FC uses second half surge to blank Atlanta United FC 4-0 at Yankee Stadium

BY: EDDIE KALEGI

New York City FC strung together three goals in a four minute span early in the second half, and paced by Hannes Wolf’s second consecutive brace, decisively crushed Atlanta United FC and former head coach Ronny Deila 4-0 in front of the home supporters at Yankee Stadium. Maxi Moralez and Monsef Bakrar also found the back of the net. The four goals were City’s most tallied in a match this season, as the boys in blue avenged a 4-3 loss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in March, a contest where they coughed up a two-goal lead in the final 30 minutes.

Both squads entered tonight’s fixture significantly shorthanded due to international competition. New York City FC was without the services of leading goal scorer Alonso Martinez and starting goalkeeper Matt Freese. Monsef Bakrar was back as starting striker, while Tomas Romero made just his second start of 2025 in net, and his first in league competition. Atlanta also had to adjust with several missing pieces, as Ronny Deila coached his first game in the Big Apple since departing New York City FC during the 2022 campaign. His return was spoiled.

Hannes Wolf Becoming Supplemental Scorer

New York City entered the month of June with the fifth worst goal differential in the Eastern Conference, largely because their offense had been a one-man wrecking crew guided by the boot of Alonso Martinez. Despite Martinez’s mastery, Pascal Jansen needed more. He seems to have found it in Hannes Wolf.

Following Monsef Bakrar’s snipe to double City’s advantage in the 55th minute, the 26 year-old Austrian forward put on a dazzling display, netting two goals in a three minute span to put the match out of reach. All told, Wolf has scored five times in his last four matches, and has equalled Martinez for the team lead with eight tallies in 2025. A dynamic duo is brewing in the Bronx.

Veterans Come Up Clutch

With the absence of some aforementioned key players, along with a sidelined Keaton Parks, New York City had to rely on its more seasoned athletes, particularly in the first half when Atlanta still had a fighting chance.

The visitors had a breakaway chance to strike just three minutes into the match, but third-year defender Birk Risa stifled Saba Lobjanidze, keeping the fixture level. While his time in the Empire State hasn’t been all sunshine and roses, Monsef Bakrar made some key plays and opened the second half scoring. And of course, the most experienced of them all, fan favorite Maxi Moralez, killed any momentum Atlanta United FC had by striking first in the dwindling minutes of the opening half to send New York City FC into the locker room on a high note. If City wants to make a deep playoff run with a new coach and a young roster, these veterans will need to continue to step up.

Looking Ahead

Thursday night marked the start of the second half of the 2025 Major League Soccer regular season, and for New York City FC, it couldn’t have commenced any better. City vaulted from tenth to fifth in a crowded Eastern Conference table, and sit just two points back of second place Cincinnati.

It’s another lengthy break ahead for City as the international window continues, as the boys in blue won’t return to the pitch again until June 28th, when they travel north of the border to visit CF Montreal. Live radio coverage with Glenn Crooks and Matty Lawrence will get underway at 7:15 P.M. at newyorkcityfc.com/radio.