Alonso Martínez, Matt Freese lead New York City to 2-0 victory over Montreal

NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Alonso Martínez scored a goal in each half and Matt Freese had three saves to lead New York City FC to a 2-0 victory over CF Montreal on Wednesday night.

Martínez took a pass from fellow rookie Hannes Wolf in the 9th minute and connected with a right-footed shot from the center of the box for the only goal Freese would need on the way to his fourth clean sheet of the season for New York City (11-8-2).

Martínez netted his eighth goal of the campaign — in the 56th minute — with assists from Wolf and James Sands. Wolf has six assists on the season, while Sands' helper was his second and the fourth of his career.

Martínez had not scored since he subbed in and finished with a hat trick in a 5-1 road victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on the last day of May. It was the seventh start and 14th appearance for Martínez, who did not have a goal contribution in three appearances covering 30 minutes last season.

Jonathan Sirois saved five shots in goal for Montreal (5-9-7).

NYCFC leads the all-time series 12-2-5. Montreal last earned a point against NYCFC in a scoreless draw at Yankee Stadium on April 6, 2019.

Montreal has won just twice in its last 11 road matches, going 0-4-2 in the last six. The club has been outscored 15-3 in the four losses.

NYCFC hits the road for its next four matches after improving to 8-3-1 at home this season.

Montreal returns home to play the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday. New York City travels to play Austin FC on Saturday.

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Fans cheer for New York FC after they defeated CF Montréal during an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

CF Montréal forward Raheem Edwards, right, argues with New York City FC midfielder James Sands, center, as a referee pulls a yellow card on Sands during an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York City FC defender Thiago Martins gestures to teammate Strahinja Tanasijević during an MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York City FC forward Alonso Martínez celebrates after scoring a goal during an MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

A fan celebrates a goal scored by New York City FC forward Alonso Martínez during an MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York City FC midfielder Santiago Rodríguez, center, dribbles the ball during an MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

CF Montréal forward Josef Martínez reacts after missing an attempted goal during an MLS soccer match against New York City FC, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York City CF forward Alonso Martínez, left, chases after the ball with CF Montréal defender George Campbell during an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

CF Montreal defender Gabriele Corbo, left, and New York City FC midfielder Santiago Rodríguez battle for the ball during an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

CF Montréal forward Sunusi Ibrahim catches the ball in the air during an MLS soccer match against New York City FC, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

PARIS (AP) — Voters in France’s overseas territories and living abroad started casting ballots Saturday in parliamentary runoff elections that could hand an unprecedented victory to the nationalist far right.

Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigration party National Rally came out on top of first-round voting last Sunday, followed by a coalition of center-left, hard-left and Greens parties – and President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance in a distant third.

The second-round voting began Saturday off the Canadian coast in the North Atlantic territory of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, and follows in French territories in the Caribbean, South Pacific and the Indian Ocean, along with French voters living abroad.

The elections wrap up Sunday in mainland France. Initial polling projections are expected when the final voting stations close at 8 p.m. Paris time (1800 GMT), with early official results expected late Sunday and early Monday.

Macron called the snap legislative vote after the National Rally won the most votes in France in European Parliament elections last month.

The party, which blames immigration for many of France’s problems, has seen its support climb steadily over the past decade and is hoping to obtain an absolute majority in the second round. That would allow National Rally leader Jordan Bardella to become prime minister and form a government that would be at odds with Macron’s policies on Ukraine, police powers and other issues.

Preelection polls suggest that the party may win the most seats in the National Assembly but fall short of an absolute majority of 289 seats. That could result in a hung parliament.

Macron has said he won’t step down and will stay president until his term ends in 2027, but is expected to be weakened regardless of the result.

Follow AP coverage of global elections at https://apnews.com/hub/global-elections/

FILE - French President Emmanuel Macron walks back during a ceremony at the Invalides monument, Wednesday, Feb.7, 2024. French President Emmanuel Macron's expected political failure in decisive parliamentary elections Sunday may paralyze the country, weaken him abroad and overshadow his legacy, just as France is about to be in the global spotlight as host of the Paris Olympics. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen arrives at the National Rally party headquarters, Thursday, July 4, 2024 in Paris. The National Rally secured the most votes in the first round of the early legislative elections on June 30 but not enough to claim an overall victory that would allow the formation of France's first far-right government since World War II. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Statue of Republique plaza is decorated by flags as people gather at a protest against the far-right, Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Paris. French opposition parties and associations are trying to block a landslide victory for Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally in next Sunday's second round of legislative elections. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

People gather at Republique plaza in a protest against the far-right, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Paris. French opposition parties and associations are trying to block a landslide victory for Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally in next Sunday's second round of legislative elections. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)