Morales, Freese help NYCFC beat No. 1 seed Union 1-0, advance to conference finals

By: The Associated Press Posted: 9:08 PM CST Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 Last Modified: 9:24 PM CST Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025

CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — Maxi Moralez opened the scoring in the 27th minute and New York City FC beat the No. 1 seed Philadelphia Union 1-0 on Sunday night to win the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — Maxi Moralez opened the scoring in the 27th minute and New York City FC beat the No. 1 seed Philadelphia Union 1-0 on Sunday night to win the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/11/2025 (313 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — Maxi Moralez opened the scoring in the 27th minute and New York City FC beat the No. 1 seed Philadelphia Union 1-0 on Sunday night to win the Eastern Conference semifinals.

New York City’s Matt Freese had five saves. including a stop of a first-touch shot by Frankie Westfield, off an arcing entry played by Milan Iloski, from point-blank range in the 74th minute.

Philadelphia, which won the 2025 Supporters Shield, lost at Subaru Park for just the second time this season.

New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese, center left, stops a shot on goal by Philadelphia Union defender Jakob Glesnes (5) during the first half of MLS soccer's Eastern Conference semifinal, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

No. 5 seed NYCFC plays at third-seeded Miami, which beat Cincinnati 4-0 in the other conference semifinal, on Saturday. The winner advances to the MLS Cup on Dec. 6.

On the counter-attack, Moralez perfectly timed his run onto a ball played ahead by Nicolás Fernández and beat goalkeeper Andre Blake with a rolling shot from the center of the area the slipped inside the left post.

Blake had two saves, which included a diving stop of a shot by Fernández from beyond midfield in the 55th minute. Blake appeared to have injured his hamsting on the play and was replaced by Andrew Rick — finished with a save — in the 60th.

The Union outshot NYCFC 9-3 in the first half and 20-6 overall.