Everyone is fully aware of what FC Cincinnati can do when they are playing at TQL Stadium. Some have had doubts about the team, however, when they are playing away from home and when missing key players.
Frequently, fans are reminded on the telecast of how Cincinnati struggles when they don’t score first. Those doubts were alleviated Wednesday night as the Orange & Blue picked up three points to surge to the best away record in the Eastern Conference. Wednesday’s win featured a great comeback and a winning goal from defensive midfielder Obinna Nwobodo.
Coach Pat Noonan wasn’t able to be in New York for the game due to the funeral service for his father, so even before a ball was kicked, it was going to be an odd match. Assistant coach Dominic Kinnear took charge but he had a depleted chest of tools to work with. Yuya Kubo was unavailable due to injury. Ian Murphy was suspended for a red card. Matt Miazga and Brandon Vazquez were away on national team duty (in what was the conclusion of the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the USA.
The FCC bench was made up mainly of FCC 2 players. Expectations may not have been too high for this game and a draw would have been more than acceptable. If there was ever a night to make excuses, this was that night. But that doesn’t seem to be in this FCC team’s DNA.
It did start rocky though, New York did their best to make things uncomfortable for FCC defensively. Acosta was frustrated early and often as several decent chances were mucked due to unfamiliar connections and aggressive play. NY isn’t as strong as they once were but their style of play is frustrating and can alter the play of a club used to playing attractive, attacking soccer.
Yellow cards came early as the Red Bulls bumped and fouled to cause their usual chaos. Their press was less effective. Cincy still had the skill in midfield to get out most of the early pressing thrown their way.
In the 28th minute, Hagglund ran out to the edge of the box to put pressure on his mark but the ball popped up and hit his upper arm. Quick to his whistle, Szpala’s called foul was not going to be reversed by VAR. Omir Guadalupe Fernandez Mosso converted and FC Cincinnati again found themselves down on the road early. The lead held for New York to halftime.
Despite a couple of second-half chances that Acosta was able to create, not much came for FC Cincinnati until the Santiago Arias and Sergio Santos substitutions in the 61st minute. Arias gave Cincy a threat on the right side and Santos added a burst of speed and holdup play up front.
In the 80th minute, Arias got to a through ball first and was instantly fouled in the area. After a VAR check, Szpala pointed to the spot and FCC got a revenge PK from Lucho to even things up.
This recap doesn’t stop there though. In the final three minutes, Cincy put the pressure back on and capitalized on one of a few chances in which the Red Bulls failed to clear the ball from their final third. Obinna Nwobodo walked away the hero of the night as the defender had found an open position and hit the ball through traffic and into the tiny slot between keeper and the near post.
Kinnear said afterward (in comments distributed by the club to media) that Noonan had done a lot to prepare the team for facing the match without him.
“Well, obviously with Pat not being here, it was very different. But he sat us down on Monday, and told us that he was not going to be here. He would like to be here, but obviously with the service for his father, and God rest his soul, that he’ll be missing the game,” Kinnear said.
“But he kind of delegated as to who would be the person standing up off the bench, but it was really working together with all of us. With Kenny [Arena] and Ricky [Páez] and Paul [Rogers] and then Jeff Larentowicz joined us on the bench as well with the communications up to the top from our people that were scouting up there. So, not so much different.”
FC Cincinnati jump out another three points in the MLS standings. New England Revolution claim the #2 spot back from Nashville after beating sixth place Atlanta United. Nashville fell to Philadelphia Union dropping two in a row before coming into TQL Stadium this weekend.
Match Summary (courtesy FC Cincinnati)
LINEUPS
CIN: Roman Celentano, Álvaro Barreal (Bret Halsey 90+5’), Alvas Powell, Yerson Mosquera, Nick Hagglund, Ray Gaddis (Santiago Arias 61’), Obinna Nwobodo, Malik Pinto (Junior Moreno 46’), Marco Angulo (Sergio Santos 61’), Luciano Acosta (C), Arquimides Ordoñez (Ben Stitz 74’)
Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Joey Akpunonu, Stiven Jimenez, London Aghedo
RBNY: Carlos Coronel, Kyle Duncan, Sean Nealis (C), Hassan Ndam (Peter Stroud 81’), Frankie Amaya, Cameron Harper (Matthew Nocita 64’), Omir Fernandez, Daniel Edelman, Dante Vanzeir, Tom Barlow (Wikelman Carmona 72’), Luquinhas
Substitutes not used: Ryan Meara, Jayden Reid, Elias Manoel, Ibrahim Kasule, Ronald Donkor
STATS SUMMARY: RBNY/CIN
Shots: 9 / 7
Shots on Goal: 1 / 3
Saves: 1 / 0
Corner Kicks: 5 / 4
Fouls: 11 / 11
Offside: 4 / 4
Possession: 45 / 55
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
RBNY – Hassan Ndam (Yellow Card) 3’
CIN – Malik Pinto (Yellow Card) 19’
RBNY – Daniel Edelman (Yellow Card) 45+1’
CIN – Sergio Santos (Yellow Card) 62’
RBNY – Dante Vanzeir (Yellow Card) 64’
CIN – Arquimides Ordoñez (Yellow Card) 71’
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