FC Cincinnati won by yet another one-goal margin in their final away match of the regular season, despite the entirety of it being spent in their own half. It was product over process for Noonan’s side—a recurring theme for ′25.
FIRST HALF
There was no difference in the offense and midfield for Noonan’s lineup, aside from Engel being shifted up to left wing-back. It was the back three that changed: Hadebe would replace the aforementioned LWB at LCB, while Powell would be at RCB instead of Hagglund.
In the early minutes, both sides were attempting to play on the front foot. A few early half chances occurred at either end.
12’ GOAL: A lofted pass from Brenner was touched in-stride by Denkey. He took it himself from outside of the box—even with options out wide—and put a power shot into the top corner. It was a screamer of a goal to give the visitors the lead.
As soon as Cincinnati took the lead, they parked the bus. Every player from the Red Bulls were allowed to occupy their half and pass it around the box to look for a chance.
25’ SHOT: A corner by Marcelo Morales nearly looped into the net, but Louro scrambled to tip it over.
36’ OPPORTUNITY: A low pass from Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting found a wide open Dylan Nealis, whose on-target shot was headed by Lukas Engel. It was goal bound if not for that clearance.
41’ SHOT: Emil Forsberg volleyed from an angle, but Louro proved equal to it. Their ensuing corner was not like the last one.
The Red Bulls kept a majority of possession, with 60%, in that first half. They had five shots to Cincinnati’s clinical one, but none of them were more than a half chance. The visitors maintained a slim lead going into the break.
SECOND HALF
As soon as the second half began, Cincinnati’s defense was met with numeric overloads from the Red Bulls in their box. Much like the first, any attempt to regain possession was met with pressure. Their only hope for a second goal was a fleeting counter-attack.
48’ SHOT: Forsberg’s look on-target was blocked away by Alvas Powell.
63’ OPPORTUNITY: The Red Bulls would continue to load the box. A dangerous cross was cleared off the line by Powell before it met the head of Choupo-Moting. It was yet another last-ditch defensive effort.
68’ SHOT: Another chance from Choupo-Moting, whose low shot was cleared over the crossbar by Samuel Gidi.
Cincinnati’s bus was getting pelted. It felt as if it was only a matter of time before it broke down.
75’ OPPORTUNITY: It wasn’t until late that Cincinnati found even a half chance, via a counter-attack. Interchange between the front three ended in a curling effort from Evander that went over the bar.
83’ OPPORTUNITY: Two shots in quick succession from the Red Bulls pinged off of the post; it was an immensely lucky moment for Cincinnati, who somehow maintained their lead.
84’ INJURY: Luca Orellano, just minutes after being subbed on, was forced off with a non-contact injury. It is just speculation, but he appeared to tweak his hamstring accelerating towards a ball.
90’ STOPPAGE TIME: An additional six minutes were added. They were unsurprisingly spent with more bus-parking.
The final whistle blew. Cincinnati held on, absorbing all of the pressure from the Red Bulls, who now began to face the reality of not making the playoffs.
Any hope of staying in the race for the Supporters’ Shield ended when Philadelphia secured it with their twentieth win over NYCFC. But what Cincinnati secured was a top-four finish, and with it, home-field advantage in round one of the playoffs.
Quick Recap
XIs:
NYRB: Carlos Coronel (Kyle Duncan 67’), Dylan Nealis, Alexander Hack, Tim Parker, Marcelo Morales (Raheem Edwards 81’), Dennis Gjengaar (Julian Hall 57’), Ronald Donkor, Gustav Berggren (Wiki Carmona), Mohammed Sofo (Serge Ngoma), Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, Emil Forsberg
CIN: Evan Louro, Teenage Hadebe, Alvas Powell, Miles Robinson, Lukas Engel, Samuel Gidi, Evander (Brian Anunga 86’), Pavel Bucha, Ender Echenique (Luca Orellano 81’, substituted by Nick Hagglund in 86’), Kevin Denkey (Kei Kamara 81’), Brenner (Ayoub Jabbari 67’)
Discipline:
Kevin Denkey – (Yellow Card, 32’)
Ronald Donkor – (Yellow Card, 58’)
Tim Parker – (Yellow Card, 90+2’)
Alexander Hack – (Yellow Card, 90+4’)
Scoring Summary:
New York Red Bulls: N/A
FC Cincinnati: Denkey 12’
Next Match:
MLS Regular Season: vs. Montreal at TQL Stadium, October 18 at 6:00pm; Apple TV+
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