Union have no answers for Alonso Martínez, goalkeeper Matt Freese in 1-0 loss to NYCFC
Alonso Martínez scored early in the second half for New York City FC, and Freese made it stand, using the Union to snap a three-game skid
NEW YORK (AP) — Alonso Martínez scored early in the second half for New York City FC, and goalkeeper Matt Freese made it stand for a 1-0 victory over the Union at Citi Field on Saturday night.
Martínez used an assist from 20-year-old defender Mitja Ilenič in the 55th minute to score for the fifth time this season. Last season, Martínez scored 16 goals in 26 appearances in his first full season in the league. Ilenič notched his first helper of the campaign and the third of his career in his third season with NYCFC.
Philadelphia (4-3-1, 13 points) couldn’t get anything going after sending Gazdag — the Union’s all-time goal scorer — to the Columbus Crew in a $4-million cash-for-player deal on Friday with performance-based incentives that could add another $500,000.
Gazdag scored a club-record 59 goals in 125 appearances since 2021. He set the Union’s single-season record with 22 goals in 2022, finishing one behind Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar for the Golden Boot Award.
Freese, a native of Wayne, Pa., finished with two saves on the way to his second shutout in eight starts this season for NYCFC (3-3-2, 11 points).
Andrew Rick made his second start this season for the Union. He made his only save in a scoreless first half.
The Union now sits just behind Inter Miami FC in fifth place as the parity between the Union and Eastern Conference leaders Charlotte FC is just three points. The win for NYCFC snapped a three-game losing skid.
Next up for the Union, a home date against Atlanta United on Saturday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV).
The Union now sits just behind Inter Miami FC in fifth place as the parity between the Union and Eastern Conference leaders Charlotte FC is just three points.