NYC FC defeating Union, received first MLS Eastern Conference championship trophy
New York City FC celebrates after defeating the Philadelphia Union in the MLS Eastern Conference Finals.
Sean Johnson high-stepped his way up the stairs at the back of a makeshift stage as his New York City FC teammates parted to let the standout goalie slide through the gap.
He crouched and then burst straight up with the MLS Eastern Conference championship trophy as New York danced and shook the floor with good reason a shot at its first championship is on deck.
This Mágico Moment 🤩🪄 #ForTheCity pic.twitter.com/o4M2Diwia4
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) December 6, 2021
Talles Magno scored in the 88th minute to send New York into the MLS Cup final with a 2-1 win over the COVID-19-restriction-ravaged Philadelphia Union on Sunday.
The Union were rocked days before the biggest game in their 11-year history when 11 players were ruled out of the game because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Philadelphia was also seeking to reach its first MLS Cup final.
“You have 11 players that I feel awful for that had to sit at home completely healthy and watch this game,” coach Jim Curtin said.
The Union were unable to practice on Thursday because of the league’s protocols. They resumed training on Friday. Curtin said during the regular season that all Union players had been vaccinated. The individual players may not have tested positive for the coronavirus, but may have come into contact with someone with a suspected case. Curtin questioned if MLS’ protocols should be “adjusted and updated for common sense” to prevent a similar occurrence in the future. Curtin said most of the 11 players sat out because “they had some version of the sniffles.”
“If you give us back those 11 players, I think we can beat anybody,” he said.
This Mágico Moment 🤩🪄 #ForTheCity pic.twitter.com/o4M2Diwia4
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) December 6, 2021
The list included Alejandro Bedoya and defender Jack Elliott, who scored on a penalty kick in the East semifinal. The loss of goalie Andre Blake was particularly crushing. The two-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and had 12 shutouts this season (11 wins, one draw), making 76 saves and posting a 0.96 goals-against average in the regular season. He stopped two penalty kicks against Nashville to lift the Union into the conference final and was carried off the pitch by his teammates.
