Philadelphia tried again in Queens but came back home empty handed

Despite the Union having a much stronger season compared to 2024—a year they missed the playoffs—NYCFC came away with the win, dropping Philadelphia to fifth in the standings and putting pressure on them to secure a victory next week.

In a night marked by opportunity and pressure, 19-year-old homegrown Andrew Rick stepped in for the injured Andre Blake, making just his second start of the season. While Rick came up with a few sharp saves, one costly mistake opened the door for Alonso Martínez to score the game’s only goal into an empty net. At the other end, the Union’s attack showed flashes but couldn’t find a breakthrough past former NYCFC homegrown Matt Freese.

The team from Queens broke the deadlock in the 55th minute. Alonso Martínez slipped in behind Nathan Harriel and Olwethu Makhanya, and Mitja Ilenic picked him out with a long ball up the sideline. Rick came off his line to challenge but mistimed it, allowing Martínez to round him and slot the ball into the net.

Looking to respond, the Union made several changes. In the 66th minute, Bradley Carnell switched to a three-forward formation, bringing on Mikael Uhre for Danley Jean Jacques. Ten minutes later, Alejandro Bedoya and Chris Donovan replaced Quinn Sullivan and Bruno Damiani. In the 80th, Harriel found Donovan in the box, but his header was comfortably saved by Matt Freese. Carnell made his final move in the 87th minute, subbing off Makhanya for Frankie Westfield and pushing Harriel into a center-back role.

Indiana Vassilev had a quiet night stepping in for the absence of Daniel Gazdag, as the Union’s attack struggled without their all-time top scorer. The team’s recent dip in form continued, managing just one win in their last five matches and failing to score in the last two. One bright spot was Quinn Sullivan, who, despite being a polarizing figure, was at the center of most of the Union’s dangerous moments. While his final pass still lacks polish, his early substitution while the team was chasing an equalizer raised some eyebrows.

With the loss, the Union find themselves under mounting pressure as the season rolls on. While there’s still time to right the ship, the margin for error is quickly shrinking. A strong response will be needed next week against Atlanta not just to stay in the playoff hunt, but to prove this team can rediscover the sharpness and identity that defined them at the start of the campaign.