Magic Moments: Five Wins in Philadelphia
October 27, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – New York City FC News Release
New York City Football Club travel to Philadelphia Union this weekend in the Conference Finals of the 2022 MLS Cup.
Of our ten previous visits to Chester, we have won five, including our 2021 Eastern Conference Final success.
Ahead of the game, we look back at five brilliant wins at Subaru Park…
Magnificent McNamara
June 2015’s meeting proved a memorable day for Tommy McNamara, as the American netted his first City goal on his first start for the Club.
Philly had opened the scoring a minute after the break, as C J Sapong struck low into the bottom corner, but McNamara leveled seven minutes later with a stunning effort.
It was a moment of pure class, as the Midfielder gained possession in the centre before playing a neat one-two with Kwadwo Poku and curling beautifully into the top corner from 25 yards.
Such was the quality of the strike, it earned the MLS Goal of the Week award, marking the first time an NYCFC player had achieved the feat.
The game was turned on its head with three minutes of normal time left on the clock, thanks to substitute Patrick Mullins’ quick-thinking, as the Forward collected a throw-in, turned well and drilled into the nearpost with the aid of a deflection to snatch all three points, earning our first win in 11 games and maiden victory on the road in Philly.
Jack In The Box
A Friday night under the lights saw New York gain our first away win of the 2017 campaign with a fine 2-0 triumph.
Jack Harrison was the hero in Chester, breaking the deadlock on 52 minutes with a superb run and finish to set City on our way.
Sensing an opportunity when Ronald Matarrita dispossessed Keegan Rosenberry just outside the area, Harrison made a diagonal run towards the penalty spot.
Matarrita spotted the move and played an inch-perfect through-ball into the Midfielder, who slid the ball across Andre Blake and into the back of the net.
“It was a brilliant ball by Mata,” Jack said at the time. “I kind of made the run hoping he’d see me. I saw him connect eyes before and he played a brilliant ball through. It was perfect. I just kind of hit it, hoping for the best and luckily for us, it went in.”
A second goal in injury-time made sure of the points for the Boys in Blue.
Dream Start
Matarrita would star in Chester once again in October 2019’s visit, writing his name onto the scoresheet this time.
The Costa Rican had been a late inclusion in the starting XI, replacing Héber who had been injured in the warm-up, and he made the most of his opportunity, applying the finish to a glorious move on six minutes.
Swift passing down the left saw the visitors unlock the home defense. Maxi Moralez’s ball into the path of Ben Sweat opened acres of space for the full-back to pick the perfect cross for Taty Castellanos to set up Matarrita, who slotted home.
City doubled the advantage with a stroke of good fortune when Ismael Tajouri-Shradi’s attempted cross took a wicked deflection off Jamiro Monteiro to loop over Blake.
The Union pulled a goal back from the penalty spot with just over three minutes of regular time to play, as Marco Fabián capitalized on Ebenezer Ofori’s handball but the visitors held on for the win.
Taty Tricks
Our meeting in May 2021 saw NYCFC travel to the reigning Supporters Shield Champions, though City showed no fear, again finding the net early on at Subaru Park.
Less than five minutes in, Jesús Medina opened the scoring, combining well with the overlapping Anton Tinnerholm and sliding home first-time, after Moralez had driven forward with purpose.
The visitors would play 75 minutes with a man advantage when José Martínez was dismissed for violent conduct, and made it count when Taty Castellanos bagged our second with a piece of individual brilliance.
The chance looked to be lost when Gudmundur Thórarinsson’s delivery was headed into the air by Jack Elliot, but Jakob Glesnes’ misplaced backpass presented an opportunity for Castellanos, who rounded Blake and converted superbly with a remarkable rabona flick.
It was a sensational goal to seal another impressive victory, and would help the Argentine to the 2021 MLS Golden Boot.
Final Flourish
The 2021 MLS Playoffs pitted the two sides against each other in the Eastern Conference Final on what would prove to be a dramatic day in Pennsylvania.
The home side opened the scoring shortly after the hour, as Daniel Gazdag’s in-swinging cross took an unfortunate ricochet off Alex Callens to bounce past Sean Johnson.
The hosts’ celebrations were still in full flow when City equalized with an instant response – Moralez volleying in at the backpost after Tajouri-Shradi had kept the rebound alive from Maxime Chanot’s long-range thunderbolt.
With the game edging towards extra-time, the visitors struck the killer blow with just two minutes to go when Thórarinsson drilled the ball across the box for Talles Magno to slam home the winner, sparking scenes of ecstasy as New York found ourselves within touching distance of our first MLS Cup Final and first piece of silverware.
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