Nicolás Fernández Mercau hasn’t taken his eye off the prize for New York City FC. 

While questions remain about what the future may hold for the NYCFC star, he hasn’t lost a step on the pitch, scoring his 12th goal of the season on Saturday to move into a tie for the second-most goals in all of MLS and helping lift the club to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Fire at Yankee Stadium. 

It was the second consecutive match that Fernández Mercau had scored and comes after a report earlier in the week indicated that the club’s best player wants a transfer.

NYCFC head coach Pascal Jansen sidestepped a question regarding the report on Wednesday night after the club beat Columbus. 

The second straight win for New York City FC moved them closer to the top of the table in the Eastern Conference, and it’s the first time that the club won back-to-back regular season matches since March. 

Fernández Mercau was able to find the back of the net on a left-footed blast from just outside the box that found the top left corner.

The shot was fired with such power that it appeared to break the Apple TV camera that was positioned in the goal. 

The goal has him tied with Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi on the league goal-scoring list.

Agustín Ojeda broke a 1-1 tie in the 29th minute when he scored in his second consecutive match, putting NYCFC back in front after Joel Waterman scored an equalizer for the Fire eight minutes earlier. 

Malachi Jones scored NYCFC’s third goal of the match in the 41st minute for his first goal since May 11, 2024, against Toronto FC. 

NYCFC and U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Matt Freese played his first match back in the Empire State since the end of the World Cup.

Freese had been booed every time he touched the ball during Wednesday’s win over Columbus, but received a much warmer welcome at Yankee Stadium. 

He was given a warm cheer when he was introduced during warm-ups and was applauded loudly during several tough saves in the second half. 

In one instance, Freese made a good save on a shot by Puso Dithejane in the 89th minute, which resulted in a loud roar and fans chanting “Freese!”