New York City FC 1 – 0 Philadelphia Union
New York Citi Field, Queens — New York City FC returned to winning ways with a fine 1-0 triumph over Philadelphia Union on Saturday night. Alonso Martínez’s fifth goal of the season separated the sides in Queens, as the Boys in Blue marked the year’s first Citi Field clash with a clean sheet, and their third win of the campaign.
Forward Alonso Martínez scored his fifth goal of the season, scoring the lone goal this evening to give New York City their third win of the 2025 MLS Regular Season.
With tonight’s goal, Martínez becomes the fourth player in Club history to score five goals in the first seven matches of the season joining the likes of Valentín ‘Taty’ Castellanos (2022), Jesus Medina (2021) and David Villa (2017).
Defender Mitja Ilenič recorded his first assist of the season, setting up Martínez early in the second half.
New York City FC’s all-time record against the Union stands at 10W-10L-2D, with 30 goals scored and 33 conceded.
This was the first time New York City collected a clean sheet against Philadelphia Union since May 1, 2021, in a 2-0 win at Subaru Park.
In the regular season at home against Philadelphia, New York City FC holds a 5W-4L-2D record, scoring 17 goals and conceding 19.
The team has found the net in nine of 11 home matches, scoring two or more goals in four of those games, while being shut out twice.
This was the first clean sheet at home for the ‘Boys in Blue’ against the Union.
At Citi Field, New York City has a record of 1W-1L-1D against the Union scoring two goals and conceding three.
New York City FC holds a 3W-1L-0D record at home this season, with six goals scored and four conceded.
This is the first clean sheet at home of the season for New York City.
The last time they recorded a clean sheet at home was against CF Montréal at Citi Field on July 3, 2024.
For New York City FC, this is the team’s 19th match at Citi Field in league play and their first match in Queens for the 2025 Regular Season.
At Citi Field, New York City FC has played 19 matches, recording a 10W-3L-6D record, scoring 29 goals and conceding 21, and collecting seven clean sheets.
New York City FC is currently on a four-match undefeated streak at Citi Field with a record of three wins and one draw, tallying seven goals, two clean sheets, and three goals conceded.
New York City FC has scored the first goal at Citi Field 12 times with a record of 9W-1L-2D.
The team is undefeated there when scoring first in the last eight matches (including tonight’s match) since September 20, 2023. The record when striking first is 6W-2L.
On the current roster, five New York City FC players have scored at Citi Field, including Alonso Martínez (5), Keaton Parks (2), Forward Mounsef Bakrar (2), Julián Fernández (2), and Hannes Wolf (1).
Wolf, Martínez, and Parks jointly lead the team with five goal contributions each at Citi Field.
New York City has scored first in 14 of their last 21 home games. When they take the lead first, their record stands at 10W-2L-2D.
New York City FC has secured a four-match winning streak at home overall when scoring first, dating back to October 2, 2024.
Players that have overall scored at home this season include Alonso Martínez (3), Midfielder Hannes Wolf (1), Forward Julián Fernández (1), and Midfielder Keaton Parks (1).
While players that have provided an assist at home this season include Ilenič (1), Wolf (1), and Fernández (1).
Matt Freese has recorded 13 saves, faced 16 shots, and conceded four goals at home this season.
Alonso Martínez scored his fifth goal of the 2025 MLS Regular Season.
With tonight’s goal, Martínez becomes the fourth player in Club history to score five goals in the first seven matches of the season joining the likes of Valentín ‘Taty’ Castellanos (2022), Jesus Medina (2021) and David Villa (2017).
In his last five matches, Martínez has scored four goals (dating back from March 8, 2025, against the Orlando City SC).
Martínez has now matched former Midfielder Santiago Rodríguez’s record for the most goals scored at Citi Field in New York City FC history, with five.
Mitja Ilenič recorded his first assist of the season.
HEAD COACH PASCAL JANSEN
Thoughts on today’s game and results…
“[It was] very important. I just told the boys—this is the response I already expected last week going into the Minnesota game. We were switched on from the start today, ready for a fight…Philly is a tough side to play, but the guys handled themselves quite well, especially when looking at the previous games we’ve played at home.”
On the weather and if it affected the play…
“Welcome to New York! I was told earlier that the pitch had been adapted for football since Thursday, so that’s something we had to anticipate and deal with. But weather-wise, it wasn’t a problem. One of my players said before we went out, ’We have to be ready for a dogfight,’ and the weather matched that. I think the team responded well to those conditions.”
NEW YORK CITY FC MIDFIELDER JUSTIN HAAK
On getting back to winning ways…
“It feels great. [Against] Atlanta [United], we started well, and it was extremely disappointing to lose it. Against Minnesota, we started off terribly and struggled to get back into the game. To put in a full 90-minute performance feels really good.”
On bringing the energy from this match on the road…
“I would say it’s just bringing the energy. Even in the first half, we created good moments. I felt like from the start we were all over them, and we know we can do that to any team. It’s about not fearing anybody and going into an away game with the same mindset.”
NEW YORK CITY FC FORWARD ALONSO MARTÍNEZ
On his goals for this season…
“First of all, helping the team—that’s the priority. Personally, I want to keep scoring. Scoring goals makes me happy, and I hope to keep it up in the upcoming matches.”
NEW YORK CITY FC DEFENDER MITJA ILENIČ
On the team’s resilience after losing the last two matches…
“We all knew it would be an important game. I don’t think the results we got were fair—especially losing the way we did in Atlanta. Against Minnesota [United], our behavior wasn’t great. Today, I think we showed a different character—fighting for every ball, every part of the field. It feels really nice to get the three points and build good momentum before going on the road.”
On the assist to Forward Alonso Martínez…
“We all know how fast and unpredictable Alonso [Martinez] is. Honestly, I only saw him—nobody else on the field. I just tried to put the ball there, and it turned out even better than I expected. Happy to get the assist, happy to get the win, and it’s a nice momentum boost.”
Head Coach Pascal Jansen called for a strong start to the contest against third-placed Philly, after last weekend’s home defeat against Minnesota United. Proceedings on this rainy night in New York were slightly delayed due to an issue with Matt Freese’s net but once resolved, the early exchanges proved a fairly even affair.
There were two City changes to the starting XI that lined up last time out, as Agustín Ojeda and Jonathan Shore replaced Birk Risa and Julian Fernández, with Justin Haak stepping into the backline. Andres Perea returned to the bench against his former club, after a spell on the sidelines.
Looking to threaten on the wings against a narrow Union outfit, the home side carved the game’s first chance, as Mitja Ilenič blazed over from the edge of the box, following good work from Ojeda and Martínez down the left.
In an action-packed opening quarter, there were chances at both ends, as the east-coast rivals each sought to draw first blood.
Bruno Damiani saw an effort well-blocked by Keaton Parks, before floating an ambitious effort over the bar, while Hannes Wolf forced teenage goalkeeper Andrew Rick into a crucial stop at the other end with an off-balance Ojeda skewing the rebound.
In a flurry of end-to-end action, Quinn Sullivan then volleyed off-target for the visitors, before being denied brilliantly by Haak, who threw his body on the line to block the low drive.
Ilenič, Parks, and Lukic all watched strikes sail harmlessly high and wide, and New York were desperately unlucky not to break the deadlock five minutes before the break.
Skipping past Olwethu Makhanya down the right, Martínez could have pulled the trigger himself but opted unselfishly to roll the ball across goal. Despite the sliding Ojeda’s best efforts, the cross flashed across the six-yard box, evading the key touch, in what turned out to be the last real chance of the opening 45.
Fresh from Jansen’s halftime teamtalk, the hosts started the second period positively. A Wolf shot was deflected wide, before Shore hit a rocket that whistled just past the far post. City’s pressure would pay off ten minutes after the restart though, when Martínez opened the scoring with a moment of superb composure.
Collecting Ilenič’s inch-perfect through-ball, the forward rounded the onrushing goalkeeper Rick and coolly slotted into the back of the net with aplomb.
It was the Costa Rican forward’s third successive goal against the Union – and fifth in seven MLS games in 2025.
Maxi Moralez almost made it a quickfire double but fired over before the hour-mark, and Martínez almost bettered his personal tally but for a fine challenge from Makhanya.
In response, the lively Sullivan continued to threaten for Philadelphia but could not find the target, while Freese – also facing his old club – was equal to a Tai Baribo strike and Chris Donovan header late on.
With Bradley Carnell’s men chasing a late leveler, Jansen introduced Fernández, Mounsef Bakrar, and Risa to calm the storm, and City saw out the victory to snap their three-game winless streak, and claim their first home win against the Union since 2019.
