Certainly it felt strange tuning into a game at 0900 morning time that wasn’t from some far-flung place on the globe, but this was MLS-is-Back, not World Cup or Euros.
On the field, mis-firing NYCFC were blanked yet again, for the fourth consecutive time, as Alejandro Bedoya’s well-struck angled drive found the net to give Philadelphia all three points.
The goal came against the run of second-half play. NYCFC looked the brighter of the teams after the restart, but the Union midfielder’s 63rd min finish took the wind from their sails. Philadelphia probably had just the better of the first-half, and although the game didn’t lack energy or intensity, it was one of few chances.