Why FC Cincinnati's win vs. New York Red Bulls was bittersweet

HARRISON, New Jersey − Even for the typically-stoic Pat Noonan, something was off about his body language and general demeanor as he prepared to address the media following FC Cincinnati's dramatic Game Two win against New York Red Bulls.

FC Cincinnati came back from a one-goal deficit Saturday at Red Bull Arena to force penalty kicks that lasted 10 rounds. They came out on top, winning the shootout, 8-7. It secured one the most frenzied and chaotic wins in club history and saw the team advance the Eastern Conference semifinals for the second consecutive year.

More: FC Cincinnati beats RBNY in marathon PK shootout, advances in MLS Cup playoffs

But as Noonan spoke, he didn't convey the kind of enthusiasm you'd expect given the result he'd achieved. It was almost like he needed to hear himself state the positives from the match to be convinced he could feel good about it.

"I'm very pleased that we're moving on. It was not an easy game and we advanced. That's the important thing," Noonan said.

But what Noonan said next − "it took its toll on us" − revealed where his focus was. The battle that had been won was, at least for the time being, a Pyrrhic victory that could have serious consequences moving forward.

There were injuries, a suspension that could debilitate MLS Cup-favorite FC Cincinnati's typically-bruising defense, frustrations stemming from refereeing decisions and, perhaps, more questions than answers ahead of the club's second round matchup, which won't be played prior to Nov. 25.

The most colorful and memorable victory in FC Cincinnati history had a decidedly bittersweet taste, and it might have been more bitter than sweet. Here's why:

The price FC Cincinnati paid: 'It's away in Jersey'

The game was the most physical and chippy of the 45 FC Cincinnati played so far in 2023. That was to be expected given the involvement of a Red Bulls side facing elimination in the new best-of-three series first-round format following FCC's 3-0 win on Oct. 29 at TQL Stadium.

The fans played their part, too. The environment inside Red Bull Arena was, by far, the most spirited FCC had ever experienced in all its trips to Harrison.

"It's Red Bull. It's away in Jersey. These are some interesting folks out here, so that's what you're going to get," FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano said. "You know going in it's going to be like that. They're going to do every little bit to get under our skin, to get the ref going, whether it's good or bad."

On the field, New York seemed to out-physical FC Cincinnati, but FCC didn't hesitate to shove right back. Referee Victor Rivas had his hands full officiating the frequent arguments and shoving matches during pauses in the action. The game held 34 fouls. A few were violent.

The bumps and bruises added up. Dominique Badji exited the match prematurely in the first half due to what was thought to be a muscular injury. Later, defensive midfield stalwart Obinna Nwobodo exited due to an injury stemming from having his foot stepped on. He left the field walking slowly and with a cleat in-hand.

Luciano Acosta and Yerson Mosquera played through obvious discomfort, too.

Noonan could abide the injuries that occur normally in the course of a 90-minute game. He couldn't abide the suspension Matt Miazga received after receiving two yellow cards after the final whistle.

The first yellow was assessed as Miazga had an exchange with Rivas regarding a disallowed FC Cincinnati goal in the 97th minute. The second was assessed after a prolonged gesture directed at Red Bulls supporters.

"Matt knows better," Noonan said. "That's − we shouldn't be missing him for the next round. Simple as that."

Matt Miazga felt singled-out by referee

In the sixth round of penalty kicks, Miazga buried his shot with confidence. The former Red Bull player than gestured to the New York supporters end behind the goal.

Bear in mind Miazga is a Clifton, New Jersey native. He grew up a proud product of the Red Bulls' storied development pipeline, eventually springboarding to success in Europe after winning two Supporters' Shield with "RBNY."

Whether the connection Miazga felt to New Jersey soccer fans frayed over the course of the match remains to be seen but, depending on your perspective, he was either goading the Garden Staters and New Yorkers in attendance or paying homage to them. Either way, it didn't go over well.

Already on a yellow card after debating the disallowed goal, Miazga held aloft a heart-shaped hand gesture to the supporters section.

Demonstrative? No. Trolling? Perhaps, but Miazga said that wasn't the case. Prolonged? Yes. Provocative? Enough for Rivas to show him yellow again.

By rule, Miazga didn't receive a red card after the second yellow as it was issued during penalty kicks. He also didn't have to leave the field. The consequence was the same as a red card, though, as it triggered a one-match suspension for accumulating too many yellow cards. The threshold to avoid is three prior to the conference final, and that was Miazga's third.

Here's what Miazga told The Enquirer afterward about the second yellow and the gesture he made: "I'm annoyed. The referee gave me a yellow card. For what? I went to my fans that I played for since I was 14 years old and gave them a heart. I gave them a heart and I was showing them my love. I get a yellow card for that? For what? For what?And I have to take (that) and I'm suspended now. . . . And after the game he gives me a yellow card because I asked 'what the hell are you doing?' Everyone's yelling at the referee. Yeah, of course. I feel singled-out. I was speaking to (Rivas) the whole game normally. He's talking to me nicely all game."

Chris Rivett, manager of communications for the Professional Referee Organization, said Miazga received the second yellow card for a lack of respect for the game. Rivett declined to comment further on the exchanges between Rivas and Miazga.

If the suspension stands it will cost the club its Defender of the Year candidate in Miazga. FCC is already down a key defensive contributor in Nick Hagglund, who is out for the rest of the playoff run due to a hamstring injury and related surgery.

As things stand today, FC Cincinnati's top three available center backs are Ray Gaddis, Ian Murphy and Mosquera.

Refereeing confusion

In a stark contrast to the 2022 season, FC Cincinnati scarcely found itself on the wrong side of officiating controversies in 2023. In fact, in the rare moments when FCC needed a call, it got one (see: 1-0 win vs. Seattle Sounders FC on March 11).

Controversy found FC Cincinnati on what was essentially the last kick of the 90-plus minutes, a corner kick by Acosta redirected into the New York net off Sergio Santos for what was thought to be a 2-1 lead. Coronel came into contact with FCC players during the scramble to push the ball over the line, but many indications pointed to the goal being awarded, including Rivas' arm signals.

That was followed by video assistant referee (VAR) overturning the goal due a foul on Coronel, which FC Cincinnati disagreed with. But in a post-match statement provided via the league's pool reporter system, the Rivas-led officiating crew stated the opposite: That no goal was awarded due to a foul on Coronel and that VAR confirmed no clear and obvious error on the foul call.

The statement might have muddled the discourse around the call more than it helped.

"Maybe there's the goal there at the end, but, you know, I haven't seen enough of the replay to get clarity that it's a foul," Noonan said, who spoke prior to PRO's pool-reporter response. "So it's just, it didn't look like a ton. But again, that's a biased opinion. So, I'd like to think you let that go and then you use the VAR if it's clear and obvious, but they saw something and they called it."

At the outset of the penalty kicks, neither club appeared to be aware that no coin flip would be used to determine which side of the stadium the penalty kicks would take place. Rivas was overheard on the Apple TV live stream as he informed both captains that the only pro-penalty coin flip would be to decide which team shot first.

Rivas stated MLS had determined which end the teams would shoot into, which turned out to be in front of the Red Bulls' supporters.

FC Cincinnati officials indicated they weren't expecting that but ultimately weren't concerned, adding that they expected any penalty-kick situations at TQL Stadium to also be staged in front of their fans' supporters section, The Bailey.

The bottom line is FC Cincinnati won and advanced

In the end, it was a good night. There's reason for optimism, too, even if Miazga is unavailable for the next playoff game. FC Cincinnati will be among the last four clubs standing in the Eastern Conference for the second straight year, and all the remaining playoff games will be played at TQL Stadium, where FC Cincinnati has been almost unbeatable in 2023.

The match won't be played for three weeks. The rest of the first-round series across Major League Soccer are scheduled to conclude by Nov. 12. The next day is the start of a FIFA window for international matches that lasts through Nov. 21. MLS won't play during that period.

The conference semifinal and final matches are scheduled for a window that spans Nov. 25 through Dec. 3.

In winning Saturday, FC Cincinnati became the first MLS club to book its place in the semifinal round, too. Consequently, there will be a longer layoff between matches. Fans of FCC might not love that but they might grow to appreciate the time off considering the injuries the club sustained against the Red Bulls.

Starting Monday at 10 a.m., season ticket members and Orange and Blue Reserve enrollees can purchase tickets for the next playoff game. The public on-sale begins at 11 a.m.

Cincinnati will play the winner of the Philadelphia Union-New England Revolution series, which Philly is leading, 1-0, as the series shifts to Foxborough, Massachusetts for Game Two.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Why FC Cincinnati's win vs. New York Red Bulls was bittersweet