Matt Freese has had time to prepare for this moment.

The New York City FC goalkeeper is ready to start Sunday’s Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs tilt (7:45 pm ET | MLS Season Pass, Apple TV ). He has had days to study film, to evaluate tendencies, to arrange his thoughts.

It’s quite a contrast from the last playoff game he played at Subaru Park.

Against the very NYCFC team he now represents, Freese was pressed into a surprise start in the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals for the Philadelphia Union . Typical starter Andre Blake was one of six typical starters and 11 players on the squad who were unavailable because of Covid-19 protocols.

Freese became the first homegrown Union goalkeeper to start a playoff match, making a trio of saves but conceding twice after the hour mark in a 2-1 w

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