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This weekend, New York City FC will continue their MLS Cup Playoffs journey when the Pigeons take on Inter Miami CF in the Eastern Conference Finals. The fact that the team reached the second-to-last round is quite impressive in Pascal Jansen’s first season as the head coach. He had a decent regular season that saw the Pigeons finish in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
While NYCFC did struggle somewhat at home, losing six times in the regular season, they have overcome their road woes from the last few years. The Pigeons went 6-6-5, picking up 23 points away from home. Then, in the postseason, they have won all of their road matches. This included the shocking but fantastic defensive win against the Philadelphia Union in the last round. The Union outshot the Boys in Blue, but failed to score on a defense that saw everyone work together.
However, will that work against Lionel Messi and Miami? The answer is probably no, with about a 90% confidence in that idea. The Herons have been hot since October, winning their last six of seven matches in all competitions. This included the 4-0 win against NYCFC, in which the Florida side dismantled the Pigeons and their defense. Plus, Miami has scored four goals in each of their last two games, beating Nashville SC and FC Cincinnati.
The recent stretch should cause concern for the Boys in Blue. Yes, the team beat Philadelphia, who won the Supporters’ Shield. The difference, though, is that Miami is hot, scoring goals like no tomorrow, and NYCFC has not beaten them this season. Once again, the players must step up and defend like they did last week, but this time, they need to score more than one goal to make the MLS Cup Finals.
How to watch NYCFC’s Eastern Conference Final match
Date
Time
6:00 PM ET, with an expected start at 6:10 PM ET
How to watch on TV and streaming
The MLS Season Pass via Apple TV
How to watch in person
Supporters need to travel to Florida
How to listen
newyorkcityfc.com/radio or via the NYCFC app
How to follow
If NYCFC fans cannot watch or listen to the game, then they can follow along via MLS Soccer’s timeline and NYCFC’s X account. Additionally, the club will post updates here and there on Facebook.
Final Notes
No matter what happens, NYCFC should be proud of their season. There is still plenty of room for improvement, but things are looking brighter with Jansen in charge and leading the squad.