Jansen hopeful Ojeda’s fine form continues for NYCFC

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Pascal Jansen believes Agustin Ojeda is hitting form at just the right time for New York City FC but added he wants his other forwards to share the attacking responsibility. 

NYCFC signed off for the extended international break with a 2-2 draw against Atlanta United, despite the Pigeons taking the lead twice at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Matt Edwards’ own goal was cancelled out by Giuliano Galoppo, with Andres Perea restoring NYCFC’s advantage early in the second half after being teed up by Ojeda.

But Jay Fortune came off the bench to score a 74th-minute equaliser, leaving NYCFC ninth in the Eastern Conference ahead of this weekend’s clash with the Chicago Fire.

Ojeda has been in fine form for NYCFC despite their recent run of results. Jansen’s side have won just one of their last 10 MLS matches, a 2-0 victory away to Real Salt Lake.

However, Jansen lauded Ojeda for his recent contributions, saying it is only a matter of time before his attacking involvements prove fruitful for the team.

“His growth has been very impressive,” Jansen said of Ojeda. “He is an attacking player at this moment in time that is having a lot of impact.

“It takes a little bit of weight off the shoulders of Nico [Fernandez Mercau], so it gives the guys like Benie [Traore] and Alonso [Martinez] time to grow into games.

“Hopefully they can now share the responsibility in the final third at some point. It’s looking good for Agustin, and I hope it can continue that way moving forward.”

Agu is running the assist agenda https://t.co/npqRPXwfCf

— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) October 5, 2026

Chicago, meanwhile, were in action in midweek against the Vancouver Whitecaps, with Gregg Berhalter’s team producing an impressive 3-1 win at Soldier Field.

In a game that pitted former Bayern Munich team-mates Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller against each other, it was Maren Haile-Selassie who stole the show. 

He registered a goal and an assist for the Fire, teeing up Philip Zinckernagel’s 50th-minute strike before sealing the win two minutes from time for the hosts.

Chicago are fourth in the East and two points ahead of Charlotte FC, with their clash against NYCFC the second of three important home league fixtures.

Chicago Fire – Philip Zinckernagel

Zinckernagel’s goal in midweek was his 15th goal contribution of the season (six goals, nine assists) after recording 32 last year (15 goals, 17 assists).

He is the second player to record 15 or more goal contributions in consecutive seasons for Chicago over the last 20 years (Nemanja Nikolic in 2017-18).

Smooth moves on the second goal https://t.co/kEkYArlrgv

— Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) October 7, 2026

Ojeda has assisted five of the last seven goals scored by NYCFC players (excluding own goals), including each of the last three.

He has a team-high 10 assists this season, while the last NYCFC player to total more in a season was Santiago Rodriguez (13) in 2022.

NYCFC are unbeaten in 10 straight regular-season meetings with Chicago (W7 D3), last losing to the Fire in September 2021. This is the Pigeons’ longest-ever regular-season unbeaten run against a single opponent.

Jansen’s side are also unbeaten in four straight regular-season away matches (W1 D3), last losing on the road at FC Cincinnati in August. Of the seven points NYCFC have earned since returning from the Leagues Cup break in mid-August, six of them have come on the road.

Chicago, meanwhile, have won four of their last six home matches (D1 L1), including their midweek win against Vancouver, the team’s eighth home victory of the season. The Fire last won more than eight home matches in a single season in 2017 (12).

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