For the entire MLS season, FC Cincinnati played 34 unique starting lineups. Perhaps doing so has ultimately led to the winning formula for the playoffs.
FCC started its journey toward the 2024 MLS Cup with a physical 1-0 victory over New York City FC. Despite commanding much of the control offensively, the only goal they needed was a Yamil Asad header in the second half to claim the win. The Orange & Blue now have the opportunity to close out the series with a win at Citi Field.
It may have taken the entire regular season, but FCC (#3 seed in the East) finally reproduced a Starting XI from their previous match. Head coach Pat Noonan ran out the same lineup that produced a 2-1 victory on Decision Day in Philadelphia over a week ago. The only small difference on the bench was Bret Halsey in place of Malik Pinto, but no injuries other than the season-enders were on the injury report.
In their previous matches against Cincinnati, New York City (#6 seed) went with 3-4-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations. However, this time around, the Cityzens settled on a 4-3-3 formation with some small adjustments. Midfielder Andres Perea and defender Birk Risa replaced Maxi Moralez and Justin Haak in the starting lineup. Despite the replacements, the full roster from NYCFC’s 2-0 loss at Montreal still remained in place.
The first half played similar to the first meeting in March at TQL Stadium, as neither could break the deadlock after 45 minutes. Cincinnati’s best opportunity may have come in the 27th minute when Miles Robinson had a header off of a corner kick saved by goalkeeper Matt Freese. New York City managed just two first-half shots. The only attempt on frame was a soft save off an Alonso Martinez shot in the 32nd minute.
In the first half, Cincinnati enjoyed advantages in possession (54/46), shots (8/2), and shots on goal (2/1), but nothing to show for it.
The lone change at halftime was a substitution for DeAndre Yedlin, who appeared to aggravate his back on a play in the 30th minute.
Cincinnati opted to remain aggressive in the second half, taking 14 more shots in the next frame. The breakthrough finally came in the 51st minute, when Yuya Kubo took a tight-angle shot from Freese’s left. While the shot ran parallel to the goal, Lucho Acosta grabbed possession along the line and fired a cross into the box. Asad’s quick-reflex header redirected the pass into the net to provide all of the offense the Orange & Blue would need.
“We knew that (NYCFC) were a team that liked to play short passes and then attack with a lot of good players with good technique,” Asad observed after the match. “But we are a good team. We have good players too and we were playing at home. We knew that if we got a winner now, we were going to be in a good position.”
Asad’s goal is his sixth goal across all competitions and his first in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Even better, Asad was able to score in front of his parents, who flew in from Argentina to watch this and future matches. “I don’t know how long (they’ll be here), but they’re going to stay.”
Much of the second half required a defensive stand by the back line of Teenage Hadebe, Miles Robinson, and Chidozie Awaziem. The trio held NYCFC to six shots total and only two on target.
Noonan appreciated that performance from his back line.
“All three of them, on the ball decision making, the defensive reading of the game, and when they’re in isolation, like I said, against good creative attackers to win these tackles and these duels the way they did, to defend the box the way they did, it was a very strong defensive performance from our center backs,” he said.
The final minutes did produce some drama, as Acosta caught a foul from defender Tayvon Gray in extra time. Referee Sergil Boiko deemed the elbow to be a red card, and barring any outside actions, Gray will miss the next match.
Acosta was pleased with the result, but aware that NYCFC still can retool and adjust for the next match.
“I think they’re going to make the changes they need to come out,” Acosta mentioned through an interpreter, “but we’re going to compete and go with the same mentality that we came in with today. We don’t want this to go to a Game 3, so that’s the mentality.”
The win puts Cincinnati in charge of the series, but results will deem if Monday’s match was the last home match of the season. It marks a below-average home record where FCC once felt dominant, only their eighth home win in 18 MLS matches this season.
It also means that Cincinnati will have to find their first win in New York/New Jersey this season. The last away match against NYCFC was a 3-2 loss at Red Bull Arena one month ago.
The second match of this Best-of-3 series will take place at Citi Field on Saturday.
First Round, Match #1 – FC Cincinnati vs. New York City FC
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Attendance: 21,413
Result: FC Cincinnati 1, New York City FC 0
BOX SCORE
FC Cincinnati Starting XI (3-4-1-2):
Roman Celentano (GK); Chidozie Awaziem, Miles Robinson, Teenage Hadebe; DeAndre Yedlin (Alvas Powell 46′), Obinna Nwobodo, Pavel Bucha, Yamil Asad (Corey Baird 90+4′); Luciano Acosta (c); Luca Orellano (Sergio Santos 80′), Yuya Kubo (Nicholas Gioacchini 89′).
Bench: Evan Louro, Bret Halsey, Kevin Kelsy, Gerardo Valenzuela, Ian Murphy.
NYCFC Starting XI (4-3-3):
Matt Freese (GK); Tayvon Gray, Thiago Martins (c), Birk Risa, Kevin O’Toole; Keaton Parks (Julian Fernandez 76′), Andres Perea (Jovan Mijatovic 87′), James Sands; Hannes Wolf (Mai Moralez 62′), Alonso Martinez (Monsef Bakrar 87′), Santiago Rodriguez.
Bench: Luis Barraza, Strahinja Tanasijevic, Agustin Ojeda, Mitja Ilenic, Justin Haak.
Scoring Summary:
CIN – Yamil Asad 51′ (Acosta)
Discipline:
YC – Luca Orellano 28’ (CIN, poor sportsmanship)
YC – James Sands 41′ (NYC, foul)
YC – Maxi Moralez 82′ (NYC, dissent)
YC – Yamil Asad 89′ (CIN, time wasting)
RC – Tayvon Gray 90+9′ (NYC, foul)
Next up:
at New York City FC, 5:00 p.m., Saturday, November 2nd, Citi Field (New York, NY)
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