Alonso Martínez and Thiago Martins help NYCFC force decider with a 3-1 win over Cincinnati

NEW YORK – Alonso Martínez and defender Thiago Martins scored first-half goals and New York City FC forced a decider with a 3-1 victory over FC Cincinnati at Citi Field on Saturday.

Santiago Rodríguez scored a penalty in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time, helping No. 6 seed NYCFC secure a first-round best-of-three series with third-seeded Cincinnati.

Cincinnati, which has won six of its last seven games with a goal difference of plus nine, will host the final on Saturday.

NYCFC took a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute when Martínez took a pass from 19-year-old defender Mitja Ilenic and scored his first postseason goal in his second career appearance and start. Ilenic's assist was his first in his first playoff appearance.

Martins gave NYCFC a 2-0 lead going into halftime when he scored an unassisted goal in the 40th minute. It was his first postseason goal in five appearances – all starts.

Cincinnati halved its deficit in the 65th minute with a goal from rookie Luca Orellano – his first of the postseason – with assists from Sergio Santos and Luciano Acosta. Santos, who came on in the 57th minute, scored his third helper in 13 postseason appearances. Acosta scored his second and fourth in 11 appearances this postseason with 10 starts.

Rodríguez's PK came in the seventh minute of stoppage time after he fouled Cincinnati defender Chidozie Awaziem. It was his second goal in nine career playoff appearances – all starts.

Matt Freese stopped four shots in his second postseason start for NYCFC.

Roman Celentano finished with a save in his eighth career playoff start for Cincinnati.

Cincinnati last played at Citi Field — home of the MLB's New York Mets — in September 2022 and had never played a playoff game there. The pitch is narrower than most other stadiums.