Advertisement

FC Cincinnati beats NYCFC for the second time in May in a 3-1 victory | Replay

pat brennan, cincinnati enquirer
·6 min read
May 31, 2023; New York, New York, USA; FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta (10) celebrates his goal against New York City FC with midfielder Alvaro Barreal (31) during the first half at Yankee Stadium.
May 31, 2023; New York, New York, USA; FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta (10) celebrates his goal against New York City FC with midfielder Alvaro Barreal (31) during the first half at Yankee Stadium.

BRONX, New York − Many ghosts reside in Yankee Stadium. FC Cincinnati's no stranger to them.

On Wednesday, FC Cincinnati warded off and exorcised its past Yankee Stadium horrors, defeating host New York City FC, 3-1.

In eight previous matches, FC Cincinnati had only managed two draws against NYCFC but FCC now has two victories against New York in the last three weeks. A 1-0 win at TQL Stadium in cup play was Cincinnati's first win against the "Pigeons" in any competition, and Wednesday represented FCC's first-ever triumph over them in Major League Soccer regular season action.

The win also ceased a short but torturous history of losses for Cincinnati at the hallowed home of baseball's Yankees.

FC Cincinnati visited Yankee Stadium in 2019 and 2021 to play New York City FC, and both times to frightening results as the aggregate score was 10-2.

In general, FC Cincinnati was long-bothered by NYCFC, having never beaten the club prior to this month. New York held a 6-0-2 lead in the all-time series until recent weeks.

"Really pleased. Really, really pleased with this win. Very tough place to play. Historically, (we) haven't done so well in this building, but I was and am very happy with how the guys played tonight," FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said. "And like I said, in a place that's tough to get a result against a good team. So, we keep moving but the guys are in a good way right now. I'm really happy for them."

On Wednesday, Luciano Acosta opened the scoring on his birthday with a tally in the 38th minute. Alvaro Barreal followed with a well-crafted free-kick in the 58th minute.

May 31, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC defender Braian Cufre (3) and FC Cincinnati defender Yerson Mosquera (15) argue during the first half at Yankee Stadium.
May 31, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC defender Braian Cufre (3) and FC Cincinnati defender Yerson Mosquera (15) argue during the first half at Yankee Stadium.

NYCFC's Braian Cufre scored to halve the hosts' deficit but Dominique Badji, who assisted on Acosta's opening goal, drew a penalty kick opportunity that was awarded on video-assistant referee (VAR) review.

During the review process, Acosta told Brandon Vazquez he should take the penalty kick if one was awarded. When the kick was granted via review, Vazquez stepped up to convert the kick and effectively put the match away in the 70th minute.

Goalkeeper Roman Celentano was vital to keeping the early stages of the contest close as the hosts dominated long stretches of the first half. Celentano also made three acrobatic saves in roughly one minute of game play in the second half

Celentano ended the night with six stops.

The victory allowed FC Cincinnati to improve on its MLS-best record, moving to 11-1-3 and 36 points in the league-wide standings.

The club's 36 points through 15 matches represent the best start in MLS history, according to the league.

At 13-1-4 overall, FC Cincinnati has already tied its all-competition total for wins from the memorable 2022 season.

"Credit to the players and just kind of honestly, just focusing on whatever's in front of them," Noonan said of the club's MLS record haul of points through 15 games. "That's kind of been the approach and this is obviously a very busy stretch where it could go in a lot of different ways because of fatigue and travel and your opponent, and they just keep putting their head down and going about it in a really good way and just are doing things really well to allow us to I guess achieve that stat.

"I'm very pleased for not just the players, you know, there's a lot of that backroom staff and the coaches that are working really, really hard right now and doing things to keep things on track in a way where we're not getting ahead of ourselves. And I think that's important for where we're at and what we're trying to accomplish."

*** *** ***

*** *** ***

FC Cincy back on top by two (70')

Dominique Badji was kicked in NYCFC's penalty area and after that play was deemed a penalty kick on video-assistant referee (VAR) review, Brandon Vazquez stepped up to convert the kick. Interesting that Luciano Acosta, the usual taker, didn't have the kick for himself. We'll try to find out why afterward, not that it matters too much since Vazquez scored.

Not to be overlooked: Badji is playing out of his mind right now and creating so many useful opportunities for FCC over the last week-plus.

NYCFC back in it (63')

Braian Cufre just nodded a ball past Celentano and, with 27 minutes to go, this is far from over. The goal was first in an NYCFC shirt.

Did Barreal just one-up Acosta's goal? (58')

Taking a free kick from about 19 yards out, Alvaro Barreal went bar-down on NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese and it wasn't quite in the farthest reaches of the upper corner but it was close. Basically, it was unsavable. The score was Barreal's second of 2023 and he doubled FCC's lead at Yankee Stadium.

Halftime

FC Cincinnati made it to the intermission leading via Luciano Acosta's beautifully-taken goal in the 38th minute. But this is a rare occasion for FC Cincinnati where you might say they deserve to be tied or worse at the intermission. But what's probably more important than that is that the name of the game for visiting (soccer) teams at Yankee Stadium is "survival," and FCC is surviving.

A golazo for Lucho (38')

Dominique Badji laid the ball of for Luciano Acosta and Acosta went upper-90 on Matt Freese. What a beauty, and one of "Lucho's" best in Orange and Blue. The assist was Badji's third of 2023, giving him four goal contributions on the season. For Lucho, the goal was his team-leading sixth of the year.

Nearly a 1-0 hole (30')

Gabriel Pereira was lurking at the back post and volleyed a cross into the side-netting for an NYCFC lead, or so it seemed. The goal was flagged for a foul on an FCC center back and did not stand, so we remain scoreless. But once again, the NYCFC chance was emblematic of a half they've dominated.

Big save, Roman (18')

NYCFC captain James Sands had the first big chance of the match as he headed a ball on-frame off a corner kick, but FCC's Roman Celentano got down and got a hand to it. That was one of his better stops of the season, although the shot itself punctuated that NYCFC has pretty much dominated the ball so far. FCC could be in smash-and-grab mode again tonight?

The starters

FC Cincinnati forward Dominique Badji (14) embraces FC Cincinnati forward Brandon Vázquez (19) after Vazquez’ goal in the 56 minute of the second half of the US Open Cup match between FC Cincinnati and New York City at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
FC Cincinnati forward Dominique Badji (14) embraces FC Cincinnati forward Brandon Vázquez (19) after Vazquez’ goal in the 56 minute of the second half of the US Open Cup match between FC Cincinnati and New York City at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati beats NYCFC for the second time in May | Replay