NYCFC Notches Another Shutout

 

Alonso Martinez celebrates his goal on Saturday afternoon. Provided by NYCFC.

New York City Football Club shutout Toronto FC, 1-0, on Saturday afternoon at BMO Field, their first road win of the season.

NYCFC improved to 4-2-4, with 14 points, and moved up to ninth place in the MLS Eastern Conference.

The lone goal of the match came from NYCFC's Alonso Martinez on a penalty kick in the 64th minute. 

This was Martinez's sixth goal of the season, and it was his first career goal against Toronto FC. He now has 22 goals in MLS regular season play in his NYCFC career.

This was NYCFC's second clean sheet in three matches, after they also shut out Philadelphia in a 1-0 win at Citi Field on Saturday, April 12. In between NYCFC was shutout in New England, 2-0, on the 19th.

NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese turned away all FILL IN shots to earn his third clean sheet of the season. He is on his way to well surpassing the five he had all last year.

In Freese's four wins, he has faced eight shots, made seven saves, and conceded just two goals. Overall, this season, he has faced 45 shots, made 34 saves, and surrendered 13 goals.

NYCFC defender Tayvon Gray made his 100th appearance for the team. He is the 14th player to reach the milestone for NYCFC, joining Jesus Medina, Ronals Matarrita, David Villa, Alex Ring, Valentin Castellanos, Anton Tinnerholm, James Sands, Santiago Rodriguez, Alex Callens, Maxime Chabot, Keaton Parks, Sean Johnson, and Maxi Moralez.

Gray said of joining The Century Club, "To be fair, I didn't quite know - I didn't know I was there yet, so it was a bit of a surprise to me. I knew I had a lot of games, but I didn't think I hit the 100 mark. I think it's an exciting moment. I'm happy. It just shows my dedication and the hard work I put toward the game. I think I'm amongst a few legendary players - Maxi, Keaton - you know. They all hit their 100 mark, so it's good to have my name out there with those guys."

COACH'S COMMENTS: NYCFC Head Coach Pascal Jansen addressed the media after the game:

On the team's defensive discipline and keeping a clean sheet: "The discipline was good, as it has been in most of the games and in major parts of those games. Today, we had to make sure we secured the clean sheet with some tough defending as well. I said to the guys just now, we make it a little tougher on ourselves because we don't get that second goal to take all the life our of the opponent. So we had to fight until the end, and that's what the guys did. So that's a huge compliment to them."

On the Keaton Parks and Jonny Share partnership in the midfield: "When we partner them up, they find each other. They have good chemistry going. You see, once we get that play in midfield like we did in sequences in the first and second half, they can control the ball and move it from left to right but also have the vision to go forward. So I'm very happy with the chemistry between he guys. But don't forget our most experienced guy in the number 10 position, Maxi (Moralez) - he helps them a lot. Good midfield play."