When New York City FC acquired goalkeeper Matt Freese from the Philadelphia Union this past winter, it looked like the club was setting him up to compete for a starting role. Freese, who stands at 6-foot-3 inches tall, was the backup to Andre Blake, who is arguably the best goalkeeper in MLS. Freese did not get much playing time, as he only featured in 13 games for the Union. Since joining NYCFC, the 24-year-old Freese has started four games between the posts and has logged one clean sheet.
Although Freese has not yet earned the role of starting goalkeeper, he has performed relatively well in his few appearances. With Luis Barraza struggling at times this season, Freese deserves to get more minutes and should be given more credit for how he has performed when called upon. More specifically, Freese deserves to start in New York City’s upcoming game against the New Jersey Red Bulls on Thursday.
• Luis Barraza isn’t as good as you think
Consistent between the posts
In Freese’s few starts in goal, he has been reliable and looked sharp. Freese made his NYCFC debut in the team’s 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati in the US Open Cup on May 10. Cincinnati has since emerged as the most dangerous team in MLS, and currently carry an eight-point lead in the Supporters’ Shield race. Freese made four saves in that game.
Freese’s worst performance of the season took place a few weeks later, when he once again faced Cincinnati. That was a match plagued by aggressively bad refereeing and blown calls — the MLS Disciplinary Committee later fined Cincinnati defender Yerson Mosquera for simulation/embellishment – and the officiating crew all but delivered the win to Cincinnati. In that game, Freese made two saves and allowed three goals.
NYCFC Goalkeepers 2023, All Competitions
Games Started | Goals Allowed | Saves | Save % | Clean Sheets | W | D | L | |
Luis Barraza | 23 | 27 | 61 | 69.3% | 4 | 5 | 10 | 8 |
Matt Freese | 4 | 5 | 13 | 72.2% | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
