NYCFC Goals: Moralez 23’ & 55', Castellanos 71' & 78'
Philadelphia Union Goals: Picault 7’, Pryzbylko 30’
Quick Summary
New York City FC defeated Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union 4-2 in The Bronx to extend their unbeaten streak to 13 games in all competitions.
Maxi Moralez scored two equalizers from the penalty spot on either side of half-time, before Taty Castellanos capped the night off with a pair of goals to earn all three points.
Match Recap
After reaching the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup in D.C., New York City FC returned to MLS action hoping to extend their unbeaten streak to 13 games in all competitions as they faced off against the Eastern Conference leaders, Philadelphia Union.
Coming into the night the City was without seven players, four injured and three on international duty, including Héber, the team’s leading goalscorer, who was unavailable with a hamstring injury.
Dome Torrent looked upon Valentin Castellanos to take the role of a number nine for the matchup but it was the Philadelphia Union who got on the scoreboard early in the 7’ minute, thanks to a tidy finish from Fabrice-Jean Picault.
City may have conceded first but it didn’t take long for them to get back into the match.
After back-to-back near-misses from Anton Tinnerholm and Alexandru Mitriță, Castellanos broke through the Union defense but was tripped by a Union defender, earning a penalty kick.
Maxi Moralez stepped up for the Boys in Blue to take the spot-kick and drilled it down the centre, giving Matt Freese the eyes, to tie up the game 1-1 in the 23’.
Sadly, parity would only last for seven minutes as Kacper Przybylko found another go-ahead goal for the visitors, slamming past Brad Stuver into the bottom corner.
City had been far from their best in the first 45' but were only a goal behind and confident they could raise the level attacking the bleachers in the second half.
On 53', Castellanos was fouled once again in the area and just like in the first half, Moralez made no mistake with his penalty, this time drilling into the bottom corner.
The Argentine’s PK put the Boys in Blue on the board with the equalizer, 2-2, earning himself a brace and his fifth goal of the season in the process.
The opportunity to take the lead came in the 64’ minute when Mitriță, with plenty of time to get his shot set, bent the ball towards the far corner but was denied a stunning go-ahead strike by Freese's excellent save.
When the third goal came for NYCFC, it was no surprise it was the man who had earned the two penalties who got it.
Castellanos had hardly an inch to get his shot away from the edge of the area but his precise strike under pressure squeezed into the bottom corner to send Yankee Stadium wild.
Their Argentinian connection paid off once again in the 78’ minute to secure the points, as Moralez found Castellanos on the run and Taty dinked the ball gloriously over the onrushing Freese.
That's how it stayed, meaning NYCFC are now six points behind Philadelphia with four games in hand.
Man of the Match
Valentin Castellanos
Taty stepped up for the Boys in Blue for this Philly Showdown, taking on the no.9 position in the absence of his teammate. The Argentine earned both penalty kicks to keep the City in the game and later capped off the night with a pair of goals of his own to bring the three points home.
How We Lined Up
What's Next
NYCFC returns to The Bronx to take on the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday July 3 for Staten Island Borough Night. Don't miss a chance to see if your Boys in Blue can make it 14 without defeat.
