Alonso Martinez scores as NYCFC blank Union 1-0

Alonso Martinez scored his fifth goal of the season early in the second half and New York City FC snapped a three-match winless run with a 1-0 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Union on Saturday night.

Matt Freese made three stops to keep his second clean sheet for NYCFC (3-3-2, 11 points), which snapped a four-match home regular-season winless run against the Union that stretched back to 2019.

The Cityzens also won for a third time in four home matches after falling 2-1 to visiting Minnesota United last weekend.

Philadelphia (4-3-1, 13 points) was held scoreless for a second consecutive match in its first game since trading attacker Daniel Gazdag to the Columbus Crew for a reported cash fee of $4 million plus incentives.

Tai Baribo was held scoreless for a fourth consecutive start after scoring six times in his first three matches, a total that was still good for the MLS lead entering the weekend.

Andrew Rick made only one save in spot duty for three-time MLS goalkeeper of the year Andre Blake, who missed out for Philly with an adductor injury.

And Rick's judgment may have contributed to Martinez's goal in the 55th minute, which came from a direct ball from right back Mitja Ilenic over the top of the Union's press.

Martinez timed his run well to remain onside and then race behind Philadelphia's back line. Rick charged off his line but did not come close to reaching the ball, allowing Maxi Moralez to play around him with his first touch, before sliding his second into an open goal from the right side of the penalty area.

Philadelphia exerted the majority of the pressure inside the final half-hour, but didn't test Freese all that often. His best stop came in the 80th minute, when he lunged left to push away Chris Donovan's powerful header.

--Field Level Media