MLS New York City FC

Top Five Moments: Home Openers

Published on March 7, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York City FC News Release


The Boys in Blue are back in town!

New York City Football Club are back on home soil on Saturday, welcoming Inter Miami CF to Yankee Stadium for a 7:30pm ET kick-off.

Our first home game of 2023 welcomes back our most recent visitors, with the two sides having met in playoff competition back in October, as Nick Cushing's side triumphed 3-0 in Round One.

As we edge closer to this weekend's encounter, look back on City's top five home opener victories...

Which is your favorite?

Welcome Home

A day of 'firsts!'

Sunday March 15 2015: a momentous day for New York City Football Club, as the team graced home turf for the very first time in professional competition.

A staggering 43,507 crowd turned up to witness history in the making, and the City faithful would cheer the side on to a first MLS victory: a 2-0 triumph over New England Revolution - the defending Eastern Conference Champions!

The team were greeted by an NYPD and FDNY guard of honor, and with Grammy-winning New Yorker Ashanti chosen to perform the National Anthem, it was a truly special day for the city.

Goals in either half clinched a precious three points, setting City off and running in MLS.

Four The City

A four-star performance!

City's 2017 home opener welcomed D.C. United to the Bronx, and Patrick Vieira's side ran riot to claim our first points of the campaign.

The hosts stormed into a 3-0 lead before the break in a superb first-half display, with new recruits Rodney Wallace and Maxi Moralez marking their home debuts with a goal apiece.

Despite a flurry of DC pressure, the City defense proved impenetrable to preserve a clean sheet, and the game was put beyond doubt with 15 minutes of normal time remaining.

A blistering display in the Bronx.

TinnerBOOM!

An East vs. West showdown and another home debut goal...

This time, it was new signing Anton Tinnerholm on the scoresheet - and what a strike it was!

The Swede smashed the sweetest of volleys in off the crossbar to open the scoring against LA Galaxy - a memorable way to introduce yourself in Bronx Blue!

A second goal shortly after the half-hour set City on their way to victory and though LA clawed themselves back into the game with a goal on the hour, the visitors saw Ashley Cole sent off late on, and NYCFC held on to make it two from two in 2018.

A 100% start.

Bronx Blue

A Fantastic Five - and an unforgettable day for Tayvon Gray...

The Bronx-born youngster enjoyed the perfect debut, as the Boys in Blue cruised to a 5-0 win over FC Cincinnati with an emphatic second-half performance in April 2021.

City led 1-0 at the break through an early Jesús Medina effort before the floodgates opened after the restart. A Nick Hagglund own-goal was quickly followed up with Guðmundur Þórarinsson and Castellanos strikes, and youngster Gray - born in the shadow of Yankee Stadium - was introduced for his first senior appearance for the final seven minutes of action.

Our fifth goal of the game would arrive a minute later, as Medina netted his second - the ideal start for Gray, who had progressed through the Academy ranks, and would go on to thrive in his breakthrough campaign, helping the Club to our maiden MLS Cup success.

A dream debut season.

Champions' Homecoming

Celebrations all round!

The 2022 home opener held extra-special significance, as NYCFC's first home game as MLS Cup Champions.

The Boys in Blue had made history the previous December, lifting the trophy for the very first time following a truly remarkable playoff campaign, defeating Portland Timbers on penalties at Providence Park to clinch our first piece of major silverware.

Needless to say, the players and staff were hailed with a hero's welcome at Yankee Stadium, and fittingly marked the occasion with a superb victory, thrashing CF Montréal 4-1 with two goals in each half from Alex Callens, Santiago Rodriguez, Talles Magno and Thiago Andrade.

Back with a bang!

NYCFC are back on home soil, welcoming Inter Miami CF to Yankee Stadium in our 2023 home opener on Saturday, March 11th (7:30pm ET). Tickets for the game are available now!

Join us at our pre-match Home Opener Celebration between 5-7pm at Billy's Sports Bar in the Bronx, and get in the mood for our first home game of 2023 with a DJ, food and drinks, games and raffle prizes! Register here.

Sign-up for MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app - and never miss a moment of the 2023 season. Stream every regular-season, playoff, and Leagues Cup match. Every Screen. No Blackouts.

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