%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201969.7%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201969.7%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%23283B4B%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%2369ACE5%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%09.st4%7Bopacity%3A0.3%3B%7D%0A%09.st5%7Bfill-rule%3Aevenodd%3Bclip-rule%3Aevenodd%3Bfill%3A%23283B4B%3B%7D%0A%09.st6%7Bfill%3A%2374A3BA%3B%7D%0A%09.st7%7Bfill-rule%3Aevenodd%3Bclip-rule%3Aevenodd%3Bfill%3A%2374A3BA%3B%7D%0A%09.st8%7Bopacity%3A0.8%3B%7D%0A%09.st9%7Bfill-rule%3Aevenodd%3Bclip-rule%3Aevenodd%3Bfill%3A%2369ACE5%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1867.7%2C57.1c0-5.8%2C4.7-8%2C11.9-8c16.9%2C0%2C47.2%2C11.9%2C66.9%2C22.7l23.3-48.8c-21.9-13.9-53.8-23-84.6-23%0A%09%09c-50.5%2C0-83.2%2C24.4-83.2%2C63.2c0%2C68.2%2C100.7%2C51.6%2C100.7%2C76.8c0%2C6.9-6.1%2C10-15.5%2C10c-19.7%2C0-54.1-13.6-74.1-30.2l-15.5%2C31.4v-2.8%0A%09%09h-102.6v-24.1h91V75.4h-91V51.6H1795V2.8h-156.1h-8.3h-56v112.1c0%2C19.4-12.2%2C31.6-28%2C31.6c-16.1%2C0-30-12.5-30-31.6V2.8h-64.4v112.1%0A%09%09c0%2C10.4%2C1.5%2C20%2C4.4%2C28.8h-77.1V2.8h-64.4v35.1c-8.1-21.6-38.6-35.1-77.6-35.1h-98.5l3%2C194.5h103.2c32.8%2C0%2C57.7-10.2%2C69.9-27.6v27.6%0A%09%09h145.4v-43.8c14%2C29.1%2C44.9%2C46.6%2C85.7%2C46.6c40.4%2C0%2C70.5-17.3%2C84.3-46.1v43.3h167v-23.3c25.2%2C16.1%2C58.7%2C25.3%2C89%2C25.3%0A%09%09c43.8%2C0%2C81.8-19.1%2C81.8-62.4C1968.3%2C66.3%2C1867.7%2C81.6%2C1867.7%2C57.1z%20M1203.2%2C49.9h30.8c8.9%2C0%2C17.7%2C5.3%2C17.7%2C13.6%0A%09%09c0%2C8.6-8.8%2C14.1-17.7%2C14.1h-30.8V49.9z%20M1236.9%2C150.1h-30.8l-3-29.7h30.8c11.9%2C0%2C22.7%2C5.5%2C22.7%2C14.1%0A%09%09C1256.6%2C144%2C1248.9%2C150.1%2C1236.9%2C150.1z%20M1284.9%2C93.5c14.8-4.5%2C25.6-14.6%2C30.2-27.4v47.8C1308.4%2C103.8%2C1297.9%2C96.4%2C1284.9%2C93.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M1143.2%2C122.9c13.5-8.2%2C20.8-22.5%2C20.8-41.6c0-30-20.4-47-56-47h-59.5h-3.9H940.4v22.8%0A%09%09c-8.1-14.7-24.7-22.8-48.1-22.8h-61.6v117.4L783%2C34.4h-44.6l-53.1%2C125.8l-22.5-37.2c13.5-8.2%2C20.8-22.5%2C20.8-41.6%0A%09%09c0-30-20.4-47-56-47h-63.5v17.3c-13.5-11.5-32.3-18.6-49.8-18.6c-41.2%2C0-71.2%2C28.1-71.2%2C66.7c0%2C0.7%2C0%2C1.4%2C0%2C2.1%0A%09%09C425.4%2C80.4%2C383%2C84.1%2C383%2C71.1c0-3.9%2C3.2-5.4%2C8.1-5.4c11.4%2C0%2C31.8%2C8.1%2C45.1%2C15.4l15.7-33c-14.8-9.4-36.3-15.5-57.1-15.5%0A%09%09c-16.5%2C0-30.1%2C3.9-39.9%2C10.8l4.7-9h-43.3l-25.5%2C50.6l-26.4-50.6h-16h-1.7h-20.8h-3h-21.5l-39.1%2C45.5V34.4h-43.4v11.9%0A%09%09c-14.6-8.4-34.6-13.8-54.1-13.8C30.7%2C32.5%2C8.6%2C49%2C8.6%2C75.2c0%2C46.1%2C68%2C34.8%2C68%2C51.9c0%2C4.7-4.1%2C6.7-10.5%2C6.7%0A%09%09c-13.3%2C0-36.5-9.2-50-20.4L0%2C146c17.4%2C13.3%2C42.9%2C21%2C65.7%2C21c24.6%2C0%2C46.5-9%2C53.1-28.8v27.5h43.4v-30.9l12.7-14.2l27.3%2C45.1h51.9%0A%09%09l-49.6-78.5l27.8-31.4l36.7%2C70v39.9h43.4v-40.8l26.1-50.2c0%2C0.2%2C0%2C0.4%2C0%2C0.5c0%2C46.1%2C68%2C34.8%2C68%2C51.9c0%2C4.7-4.1%2C6.7-10.5%2C6.7%0A%09%09c-13.3%2C0-36.5-9.2-50-20.4L330%2C146c17.4%2C13.3%2C42.9%2C21%2C65.7%2C21c27.3%2C0%2C51.2-11%2C54.7-35.6c11.1%2C22%2C33.9%2C36.2%2C62.2%2C36.2%0A%09%09c17.8%2C0%2C37.1-8%2C51.5-20.7v18.8h43.4v-34.1h16.3l15.7%2C34.1H683h5.6h38.9l6.7-18.5h49.2l6.6%2C18.5h40.6h5.6h37.8v-34.1h18.2%0A%09%09c23.4%2C0%2C40-8.7%2C48.1-24.4v58.5h107.1h5.6h37.8v-34.1h16.3l15.7%2C34.1h49.1L1143.2%2C122.9z%20M118.8%2C111.7C107.4%2C79.1%2C53%2C85.8%2C53%2C71.1%0A%09%09c0-3.9%2C3.2-5.4%2C8.1-5.4c11.4%2C0%2C31.8%2C8.1%2C45.1%2C15.4l12.7-26.5V111.7z%20M564.1%2C135.3l-19.5-20.8c-8.6%2C9.2-20.4%2C15-29.8%2C15%0A%09%09c-15.7%2C0-27.1-12.7-27.1-30.3c0-17.4%2C11.4-30%2C27.1-30c10.1%2C0%2C21.9%2C6.9%2C29.8%2C17.6l19.5-23.1V135.3z%20M627.6%2C98.6h-20V67.3h20%0A%09%09c9.4%2C0%2C14.8%2C5.6%2C14.8%2C15.4C642.4%2C92.8%2C636.9%2C98.6%2C627.6%2C98.6z%20M745.5%2C116l13.9-38.4l13.5%2C38.4H745.5z%20M890.1%2C98.6h-15.9V67.3h15.9%0A%09%09c9.4%2C0%2C14.8%2C5.6%2C14.8%2C15.4C904.9%2C92.8%2C899.4%2C98.6%2C890.1%2C98.6z%20M983.9%2C132.7v-16.3h48.3l0.7-33h-49V67.3h60.6l3%2C65.3H983.9z%0A%09%09%20M1108%2C98.6h-20V67.3h20c9.4%2C0%2C14.8%2C5.6%2C14.8%2C15.4C1122.8%2C92.8%2C1117.3%2C98.6%2C1108%2C98.6z%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
After two hard-fought wins against Charlotte FC in the Round One Best-of-3 series of the MLS Cup Playoffs, New York City FC will have another big test against the Philadelphia Union. The Eastern Conference Semifinals will see the Pigeons face the league’s top team and the winners of the 2025 Supporters’ Shield. Their opponents only played two games in the first round against Chicago FC. They first won via penalty shootout and then won the following game 3-0.
NYCFC has dealt with the cards being stacked against them after finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. However, the Pigeons proved they can weather any storm after beating Charlotte. Unfortunately, the stack has gotten higher, for the Boys in Blue have been dealt with injuries. Alonso Martínez suffered a knee injury during international duty with Costa Rica for the World Cup qualifiers. Another huge blow that the team has been dealt is the absence of Andrés Perea. The attacking midfielder suffered a lower leg fracture against Charlotte, and at this moment, he is out indefinitely.
As such, Pascal Jansen has a gaping hole to fill in the upcoming match. There are some options in Agustín Ojeda, Julián Fernández, and Seymour Reid. The three players might provide a valiant effort on one of the biggest stages and points of the season, but altogether they may not add up to the value of Martínez.
With Perea, there is a bit more stability in who his replacement may be. Jonathan Shore played multiple games as a defensive midfielder, especially at the beginning of the season. His familiarity with NYCFC’s system of play may be a key factor in him getting the green light to be in the Starting XI. Stability and consistency will definitely be needed in this extremely important game.
How to watch the game between NYCFC and Philadelphia
Date
Time
7:45 PM ET, with an expected start at 7:55 PM ET
How to watch on TV and streaming
FS1 on TV and the MLS Season Pass via Apple TV
How to watch in person
Fans can head to Chester, Pennsylvania for the match
How to listen
newyorkcityfc.com/radio or via the NYCFC app
How to follow
If NYCFC supporters cannot watch or listen to the game, then they can follow along via MLS Soccer’s timeline and NYCFC’s X account. Additionally, the club will post updates here and there on Facebook.
Final Notes
The stakes could not be any higher for NYCFC as they have to win on the road against the best MLS team in the league. The Union is a true defensive powerhouse, but if this postseason run indicates anything to the fans of the Boys in Blue, then they are more than capable of surviving adversity again. With a disciplined approach, belief in their depth, and commitment to their style of play, they have a chance to shock the league yet again.