Carranza lights up the diamond; earns MLS Player of the Matchday

Usually, the sounds of baseball dominate New York’s Citi Field.  Yet, since 2019, New York City FC has sometimes called this baseball stadium a fortress. Saturday night marked a change in this script. Philadelphia Union’s Julián Carranza stole the show. He spearheaded the Union’s come-from-behind 3-1 victory. Additionally, he received the honor of MLS Player of the Matchday.

Carranza has been impressive lately, netting four goals in his last four games. This streak includes Saturday’s brace. It also marked his first multi-goal match this season.

NYCFC started strong. Gabriel Pereira put them in the lead in the 30th minute. Yet, Carranza had other plans. His first-half extra-time magic changed the course of the game. Jack Elliott’s long pass found him beating a pair of NYCFC defenders. He took one touch inside the area and buried his shot past the goalkeeper.

Two minutes later, Carranza did it again. This time, off a Union counterattack launched by José Martínez, led to Carranza’s second goal. The ball found its way to Mikael Uhre on the left side of the box. Uhre then found Carranza, who drove home his second goal of the match.

This victory was significant. NYCFC had a formidable record at Citi Field. They hadn’t tasted defeat at home since a 2019 playoff game against Toronto FC.

Carranza earned his third Player of the Matchday honor since 2022 began. This accolade puts him among MLS’s top players. As he is tied for the second-most in MLS over the span behind only Hany Mukhtar. Mukhtar currently has won the honor four times. As a team, the Philadelphia Union has won the most Player of the Matchday awards since last season began. So far this season, the Union has had two players earn the Matchday honor. As Mikael Uhre won it back on Matchday 9.

The Union will try to keep this momentum going. They welcome Charlotte FC to Subaru Park on Wednesday, May 31, at 7:30 p.m. ET. It promises to be an engaging match.