New York City FC win a major game in their quest to qualify for the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, defeating FC Cincinnati 1-0 at TQL Stadium on Saturday night. The game’s only goal came in the 55th minute when the team’s leading scorer, Alonso Martinez, slotted away his 14th of the campaign and making the difference for Pascal Jansen’s men.
NYC flipped the script from recent game, starting with nergy and making it difficult for Cincinnati. They pushed the opposition into a defensive shell and nearly scoring in the seventh minute from an effort by Hannes Wolf. Cincinnati did build into the game by forcing City to make questionable passes. Goalkeeper Matt Freese came up strong with key saves in the seventh and 25th minute. City recovered their composure, heading into the second half with momentum.
That energy from NYC continued early in the second half and they found the game-winner just 10 minutes after the restart. Maxi Moralez found Martinez with a pass through the middle of the field. From there the Costa Rican international sped past the defense and beat the Cincinnati goalkeeper with a low shot.
The remainder of the game saw City control the game defensively, frustrating Cincinnati. The returning Thiago Martins provided a stability that frustrated the opponents, leaving little opportunities despite key substitutions from Pat Noonan that brought in the likes of Kei Kamara and Yuya Kubo.
The win secures NYCFC’s playoff position at 44 points, drawing level for seventh place with FC Charlotte and just one point away from Columbus Crew. Next week, City will return home to play DC United, a team that has struggled, and extend their point streak to six games after four wins in their last five.
New York City FC: Freese; Gray, Martins, Haak, O’Toole, Moralez (80′ J. Fernandez), O’Neill, Perea (43′ Shore), Wolf (61′ Ojeda), Martinez, N. Fernandez
FC Cincinnati: Celentano; Powell (70′ Kamara), Hagglund, Engel, Miazga, Smith (46′ Mboma Dem)(82′ Kubo), Bucha, Anunga (70′ Valenzuela), Evander, Echenique, Denkey
SCORING SUMMARY:
55′ (New York City FC) Alonso Martinez (14) assisted by Maxi Moralez
DISCIPLINE:
29′ (New York City FC) Nico Fernandez – YELLOW CARD
63′ (New York City FC) Agustin Ojeda – YELLOW CARD
89′ (New York City FC) Kevin O’Toole – YELLOW CARD
photo by Jordan Bank