Alonso Martínez, Thiago Martins help NYCFC force deciding match with 3-1 victory over Cincinnati

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

Santiago Rodríguez scored on a penalty kick in seventh minute of second-half stopp time to help . 6 seed NYCFC even best-of-three first-round series with third-seed Cincinnati.

Cincinnati, which h won six of last seven matchups with a plus-9 goal differential entering play, will host finale on Saturday.

NYCFC grabbed a 1-0 le in 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 sent NYCFC into halftime with a 2-0 le when he scored unassisted in 40th minute. It was his first postseason goal in five appearances — all starts.

Cincinnati cut its deficit in half in 65th minute on a goal by rookie Luca Orella — his first in postseason — with assists from Sergio Santos and Lucia Acosta. Santos, who subbed into match in 57th minute, tched his third helper in 13 career postseason appearances. Acosta tallied his second this postseason and his fourth in 11 appearances with 10 starts.

Rodríguez's PK came in seventh minute of stopp time after he drew a foul on Cincinnati defender Chidozie Awaziem. It was his second goal in nine career playoff appearances — all starts.

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

Roman Celenta finished with one save in his eighth career playoff start for Cincinnati.

Cincinnati last played at Citi Field — home of MLB's New York Mets — in September of 2022 and h never played a playoff match re. pitch is narrower than most or stiums.