New York City FC went to Cincinnati and beat the team that was at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference table, a statement win if there ever was one.

Episode 53 starts with a review of that huge 1-0 victory for New York City at TQL Stadium, a relatively dominant 1-0 win at that.

Your hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh give you a rundown of all that worked well for New York City against Cincinnati, like an influential performance from midfielder Aiden O'Neill, more key saves made by Matt Freese, and another clutch match-winning goal scored by Alonso Martínez.

The wins and positive results have been coming with regular frequency for New York City, as they're now winners of three straight MLS matches for the first time this season and have picked up 13 of a possible 15 points across their last five league matches – but they're still stuck in 8th Place thanks to the Eastern Conference being insanely competitive this season.

We talk through the other important results and trends elsewhere among NYCFC's conference rivals while trying to get a collective feel for where we think this 2025 season is heading as New York City heats up and strings wins together late in the schedule as the MLS Cup Playoffs begin to get closer.

After wrapping up talk of the Cincinnati win and the crowded and convoluted playoff picture, it's a preview of NYCFC's upcoming home match against the Eastern Conference's basement dwellers, DC United and old friend Luis Barraza. DC have zero wins across their last 12 matches played, but they also do still have Christian Benteke, and it won't be so easy for New York City to avoid falling into yet another dreaded "trap game."

With DC previewed, we move on to a brief wrap-up of the MLS summer transfer window, which closed late last week. Our consensus is that NYCFC had a "meh" window, in that while Nico Fernández Mercau and Raul Gustavo seem like promising additions, there was still more work to be done to turn this year's team into a true contender.

One player who happens to be a true contender to start for the United States men's national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese. We conclude our episode by discussing Freese's latest call-up to the USMNT for a pair of September friendlies, part of a decidedly weird roster assembled by Mauricio Pochettino, but a roster that sure makes it seem like Freese is the current undisputed first-choice American goalkeeper.

Listen to our full jam-packed 53rd episode, then find more of our coverage by following Hudson River Blue on Bluesky, Instagram, and Threads, and by reading HudsonRiverBlue.com.

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