Fri Aug 01 22:30:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

New York City FC defeated Club León 2-0 in their Leagues Cup match. Alonso Martínez scored in the 6th minute after a corner kick, and Agustín Ojeda added another goal in the 33rd minute. León, despite having possession, struggled to create clear chances. James Rodríguez started for León but couldn’t prevent the loss. NYC, having lost their previous match, needed the win to stay competitive in the tournament. León, who drew their first match against Montreal and lost on penalties, now face an early exit.

**News Article:**

**NYCFC Revives Leagues Cup Hopes with 2-0 Victory Over León**

**Harrison, NJ** – New York City FC secured a crucial 2-0 victory against Club León in their Leagues Cup group stage match. The win, played at the Sports Illustrated Stadium, keeps NYCFC’s hopes of advancing in the tournament alive after a disappointing loss to Puebla in their opening match.

Alonso Martínez opened the scoring for the home side in the 6th minute, capitalizing on a well-executed corner kick routine. The ball was flicked on at the near post, allowing Martínez to tap it in from close range.

Agustín Ojeda doubled the lead in the 33rd minute. After receiving a great pass, he found himself one-on-one with León’s goalkeeper, Óscar Jiménez, and calmly slotted the ball home.

León, featuring Colombian star James Rodríguez in the starting lineup, struggled to break down the NYCFC defense. Despite controlling possession for large periods of the game, they failed to create clear-cut scoring opportunities. Rodríguez even had a complaint towards Ojeda, after a collision during the game.

The León defense looked vulnerable, particularly when dealing with crosses and set-pieces, and Barreiro appeared to be directly involved in both NYCFC goals.

This victory provides a much-needed boost for NYCFC, who face Toluca in their final group stage match. For León, the defeat means an early exit from the Leagues Cup, even after their draw (followed by a penalty shootout loss) against CF Montréal. They will look to regroup for their upcoming Liga MX fixtures.

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