Alexander Callens (right) and his NYCFC teammates celebrate his game-winning goal. (Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)

This week, FrontRowSoccer.com will pull off another first.

We are not naming one person as player of the week, we are naming two.

That’s because a pair of New York City FC center backs took similar journeys in the team’s 2-1 home win over the Philadelphia Union.

Alex Callens and Maxime Chanot were injured in the opening half at Yankee Stadium, refused to leave the game and wound up turning the game around.

Callens fell on his right shoulder late in the first half and wound up playing with pain for the rest of the match. Chanot suffered a right leg injury early in the match.

Despite the ailments, the central defenders did well, connecting for the equalizing and game-winning goal in the waning minutes.

https://www.facebook.com/newyorkcityfc/videos/798499703656821/

 

Video courtesy of NYCFC Facebook page

Chanot, who has left for Luxembourg to prepare for a World Cup qualifying match next Saturday, hit on the equalizer in the 80th minute.

Callens, a Colombian, slotted home a rebound of a shot past goalkeeper Andre Blake five minutes later to seal the victory and Philly’s fate.

“I’m really happy for Maxime and Alex to score those goals because lately the goals that we conceded, they take it a little bit personal,” Vieira said. “You saw the problem that Alex had with his shoulder. He played with pain. He didn’t want to come off. That is a sign of strength of a player. More than anyone else, I’m really glad that these two center backs scored because they’ve been working, sacrificing themselves for the team.”

NYCFC is off until June 14, when it takes on the Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby rivalry in the Lamar Hunt/U.S. Open Cup at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. June 14.

City hosts the defending Major League Soccer champions Seattle Sounders at Yankee Stadium June 18.

FrontRowSoccer.com player of the week winners

Week 1 (March 6) — Joseph Bendik (Orlando City SC)

Week 2 (March 13) — David Villa (New York City FC)

Week 3 (March 20) — Rodney Wallace (New York City FC)

Week 4 (March 27) — Vincent Bezecourt (New York Red Bulls II)

Week 5 (April 3) — Ronald Matarrita (New York City FC)

Week 6 (April 10) — Jimmy Maurer (New York Cosmos)

Week 7 (April 17) — Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls)

Week 8 (April 24) — Alex Muyl (New York Red Bulls)

Week 9 (May 1) — Jack Harrison (New York City FC)

Week 10 (May 8) — Rodney Wallace (New York City FC)

Week 11 (May 15) — Sam Kerr (Sky Blue FC)

Week 12 (May 22) — David Villa (New York City FC)

Week 13 (May 29) — Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls)

Week 14 (June 4) — Alex Callens and Maxime Chanot (New York City FC)

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.