NYCFC reaches MLS final with win over COVID-ravaged Philly

CHESTER, Pa. — Sean Johnson high-stepped his way up the stairs at the back of a makeshift stage as his NYCFC teammates parted to let the standout goalie slide through the gap.

He crouched and then burst straight up with the MLS Eastern Conference championship trophy as NYCFC danced and shook the floor with good reason — a shot at its first championship is on deck.

Talles Magno scored in the 88th minute to send NYCFC into the MLS Cup final with a 2-1 victory over the COVID-19-restriction-ravaged Philadelphia Union on Sunday.

NYCFC will play at the Portland Timbers Saturday for the MLS Cup.

“This team, they don’t stop,” coach Ronny Deila said. “They keep on going. Now we are in the final, so we’re going to be ready.”

Gudi Thórarinsson stripped the ball from Union defender Olivier Mbaizo and fed it to Magno for the decisive goal. Magno cupped his ear as he ran off the field after putting the ball past Matt Freese. NYCFC players mobbed each other and saluted a few hundred supporters who made the trip as Union players sat stunned on the field.

The Union was rocked days before the biggest game in its 11year history when 11 players were ruled out of the game because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Philadelphia was also seeking to reach its first MLS Cup final.

“You have 11 players that I feel awful for that had to sit at home completely healthy and watch this game,” coach Jim Curtin said.

The Union was unable to practice on Thursday because of the league’s protocols. The team resumed training on Friday. Curtin said during the regular season that all Union players had been vaccinated. The individual players may not have tested positive for the coronavirus, but may have come into contact with someone with a suspected case.

Curtin questioned if MLS’ protocols should be “adjusted and updated for common sense” to prevent a similar occurrence in the future. Curtin said most of the 11 players sat out because “they had some version of the sniffles.”

“If you give us back those 11 players, I think we can beat anybody,” he said.