![\"MLS:](\"https:\/\/images.deadspin.com\/tr:w-900\/28376236.jpg\")
Mar 1, 2026; Chester, Pennsylvania, USA; New York City FC defender Tayvon Gray (24) shoots on Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake (18) during the first half at Subaru Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nTayvon Gray scored on a header in the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time to lift New York City FC to a wild 2-1 victory over the 10-man Philadelphia Union on Sunday in Chester, Pa.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Gray’s second career MLS goal, and the first since the 2024 season, came eight minutes after Philadelphia defender Olwethu Makhanya was sent off after receiving his second booking for dissent.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Hannes Wolf also scored before halftime for NYCFC (1-0-1, 4 points), which won its second in a row in Philadelphia after a 1-0 win in a 2025 Eastern Conference semifinal.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Indiana Vassilev’s 89th-minute penalty pulled the Union (0-2-0, 0 points) level after they were the aggressors for the majority of the second half.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n But Philadelphia failed to score from open play for a second consecutive match, after an offseason in which it parted with several members of its 2025 Supporters’ Shield-winning team, including leading scorer Tai Baribo and striker Mikael Uhre.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Union had peppered NYCFC’s goal up until their equalizer, earning a spot kick awarded when referee Chris Penso ruled Thiago Martins had hauled down Stas Korzeniowski in the penalty area.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n Vassilev stepped up and hammered his finish down the middle, then quickly ran to retrieve the ball as it appeared the hosts were more likely to take the victory.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n That changed when Makhanya disputed a decision to award a penalty kick and was summarily dismissed.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Invited forward, NYCFC found their winner on a recycled play after an initial attack was repelled.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Talles Magno reached the ball on the left side of the penalty area and played the ball to Agustin Ojeda near the top corner of the box.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Ojeda curled in an inswinging cross, and Gray outmuscled his marker to meet with a firm header that left goalkeeper Andre Blake little chance to react.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Ojeda also played a role in the setup of NYCFC’s 36th-minute opener, hitting a diagonal pass that led to Nicolas Fernandez’s shot from the left side of the penalty area to force Andre Blake into a lunging save.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Wolf was first to the rebound and hammered it into an open net before Blake could recover.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n