New York City FC are in a strange position. They have essentially qualified for the playoffs. They are essentially not going to catch either Atlanta United or the New York Red Bulls. They simply have to play out the remainder of the season and prepare for the playoffs.
That changes things. Because they are not desperate for points like other teams might be, the result is not nearly as important as how the match sets them up for the playoffs — what is now critical for NYCFC is that they peak when the postseason rolls around.