{"id":33023,"date":"2021-05-01T22:17:16","date_gmt":"2021-05-02T02:17:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/?p=33023"},"modified":"2021-05-01T22:17:16","modified_gmt":"2021-05-02T02:17:16","slug":"taty-castellanos-rabona-nycfc-past-union","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2021\/05\/01\/taty-castellanos-rabona-nycfc-past-union\/","title":{"rendered":"Taty Castellanos rabona sends NYCFC past 10-men Philadelphia Union"},"content":{"rendered":"

Under the bright lights of Subaru Park, a newly decisive New York City FC<\/strong><\/a> defeated the hometown Philadelphia Union<\/strong><\/a> 2-0 on Saturday night. Goals by Jesus Medina and Taty Castellanos put the exclamation point on a dominant City performance, while an early first-half red card by Jose Martinez handcuffed the former Supporters Shield champions throughout the night.<\/p>\n

NYCFC n form Medina strikes first<\/b><\/h2>\n

City was dominant in the opening stages of the match. Clinical link-up play in the midfield third was a familiar site to NYCFC\u2019s previous two matches; and similar to previous meetings, The Pigeons struck first. <\/span>Just five minutes in, a patient Jesus Medina found the overlapping run of Anton Tinnerholm, who whipped in a one-time cross to the near post for the aforementioned Medina to slot it home past Philadelphia\u2019s Andre Blake.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite a tumultuous start to his MLS campaign, Medina has come alive in 2021. The young-designated player now has three goals in as many matches. This already equals his 2019 campaign in 15 fewer matches.<\/span><\/p>\n

Martinez gets his walking papers<\/b><\/h2>\n

As the first half progressed, City\u2019s midfield dominance continued, frustrating a Philadelphia side that\u2019s coming off of a 3-0 loss to Atlanta United in the midweek. The match became a physical one, with five bookings being given by the end of the first half.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most notable of which came in the 16th minute, when Union holding midfielder Jose Martinez was shown red after a challenge on Valentin Castellanos. A VAR review showed the Venezuelan intentionally elbowing the City striker while he was going to ground.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEl Brujo\u2019s\u201d first red card of his Philly career proved decisive, as Union was stuck on the defensive front for the remainder of the match.<\/span><\/p>\n

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COYBIB \ud83d\udcaa pic.twitter.com\/GHBW4HaZmW<\/a><\/p>\n

— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) May 2, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n