The New York City Football Club pulled out a thrilling (and somewhat anxiety inducing) 3-2 win at “home” at Red Bull Arena over playoff bound FC Cincinnati, moving themselves closer to a possible first round at home as the season is nearing a close.
The team got the scoring underway early as 19 year old Mitja Ilenic picked up his first goal with NYCFC just 16 minutes in on a right footed shot just inside the left post for an early 1-0 score. Later surprise striker phenom Alonso Martinez scored his 15th of the year on a feed from Santiago Rodriguez for the 2-0 score.
At 2-1 in the 75 minute mark Santi Rodriguez comes up again with a penalty kick to give the club a 3-1 lead. Speaking of Rodriguez, props to him for sharing photographer Diego Abarca Blanch’s video on his PK on his IG Story of Santi’s goal.
After another lead cut by FC Cincinnati and a heavy 13 minutes of added time, NYCFC pulled out the 3-2 win against the Ohio club and with 2 games remaining on the season, stand at 47 points.
5 STATS
1) NYCFC as mentioned sits at 47 points with 2 games remaining on the season. With a win either Sunday against Nashville (their final home game of the season, again this time at RBA) or on the road in 2 weeks against CF Montreal the team will reach 50 points in a season for the 7th time in their 10 year history.
2) Santi Rodriguez’s king season continues. At 10 goals on the season, he is now 4 above his previous career high of 6 back in 2019 at Nacional.
3) Switching to Alonso Martinez for a minute, with his 15th goal of the season Martinez is now tied for 9th in the league in goals. Christian Benteke, the likely Golden Boot winner sits at 22.
4) Goalkeeper Matt Freese now stands at 3rd place in save percentage at 75.6%. Brad Stuver of Austin is tops at 78.0%.
5) With their 3 goals NYCFC is now at 51 on the season, giving them more than 50 for the 7th time in their history. Their best season was 2019 at 63 while their worst in a full regular season was 2023 at just 35.
About the author – Scott Churchson is the head honcho and occasional toilet cleaner for Stream Punk Entertainment. He’s also been an actor in every way for the past 14 years, from BG to stand in to stunts and principal, a sports writer for the past 4 and is one of the people that created Stream Punk Entertainment. He’s married to a veterinarian, has a cat with three working legs and is just a simple man trying to make his way in the universe.