NY Empire FC Clinch Second Place with Thrilling 3–2 Win Over East Coast FC

New York Empire FC closed out the regular season in dramatic fashion, edging East Coast FC 3–2 on Sunday to secure second place in the standings and a coveted first-round bye in the playoffs.

Empire got off to a dream start, striking twice in the opening 20 minutes. Steven Rojas opened the scoring with a composed finish after a quick passing move through midfield, and moments later Wilber Gomez doubled the lead with a well-placed shot from the top of the box.

East Coast battled back in the second half. A penalty kick midway through the period cut the deficit in half, and a long-range strike leveled the match at 2–2, setting up a tense final stretch.

Goalkeeper Kenny Cordova came up huge for Empire throughout the night, making several key saves to keep the game level, including a diving stop on a

breakaway and a fingertip parry that pushed a curling shot over the bar. His composure in goal helped steady the team as East Coast pressed for a late lead.

With the game hanging in the balance, Zane Brown delivered the decisive moment in the 84th minute, slotting home the winner after a scramble in front of goal. The late strike sealed all three points for Empire and confirmed their spot as the No. 2 seed heading into the postseason.

NY Empire FC now head into the playoffs with momentum and confidence after a regular season marked by resilience, teamwork, and attacking flair.