If the past two matches could be described as Houdini escaping from chains, then Saturday was more of a controlled magic act. This bit of hocus-pocus is something fans are probably more used to seeing.
FC Cincinnati (3-3-4, 12 pts.) recovered from jittery high-scoring matches and put together their best 90-minute performance of the season. The Orange & Blue rode two first-half goals from Kevin Denkey and a solid defensive show to take a 2-0 win from Red Bulls New York (3-3-4, 12 pts.)
“Credit to Red Bulls for pushing the game, (and it) caused us a lot of problems,” Pat Noonan commented after the match. “I’m pleased with the guys and how they solved a lot of those problems, and we were able to keep a clean sheet, so a nice reward for these guys for progress that they’re making.”
Both FCC and Red Bulls had wild midweek stints that ended in similar score lines. Cincinnati came from behind to steal a point against NYCFC 4-4, while RBNY let D.C. United swipe their own 4-4 draw.
With both teams facing a shorter recovery time, starting rosters were notably rotated. FC Cincinnati had four of their center backs listed out with leg issues (Matt Miazga, Miles Robinson, Nick Hagglund, Teenage Hadebe), while Obi Nwobodo and Alvas Powell also missed with similarly-listed injuries.
Noonan opted for players in locations where they finished Wednesday’s match. Pavel Bucha took a right-wingback position, while Dado Valenzuela and Brian Anunga filled the midfield. The back line was held together by three faces in unfamiliar positions, as Samuel Gidi, Andrei Chirila, and Kyle Smith took defending roles.
New York opted for more balanced rotation after their midweek match, but rested a lot of offense. Six players who started Wednesday rode the pine to begin the game. Emil Forsberg, Jorge Ruvelcaba, and Rafael Mosquera, rested, while Tim Parker and Joyeux Bungi took positions in the back line.
Shortly before the kickoff, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was lifted, and Julian Hall was inserted back into the lineup.
First half
The shuffled lineup may have taken wind out of Red Bulls’ sails in the first half. Cincinnati’s back line did not take as much pressure as expected before the match. New York took only five shots in the first 45 minutes, the only shot on target easily vacuumed up by Roman Celentano.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati tested the left side of New York’s defense repeatedly. Bryan Ramirez, Valenzuela, and Gidi looped long passes over the midfield toward Bucha on the right, targeting Parker and Bungi.
The first big chances came in the 13th minute. Evander capitalized on pressure in the box for a shot, only for the deflected block to get to Denkey. His outstretched kick popped against the post for the best opportunity in the first 15 minutes.
New York’s best chance came when the offense countered in the 36th minute. A long cross from Cade Cowell ping-ponged around the box, but the final shot by Gustav Berggren was tipped wide.
While much of the pressure couldn’t get through the final line, the breakthrough flooded the scoreline late in the first half. Bucha pushed through Bungi’s defense on the edge of the box in the 40th minute. His cross into the box was caught and tapped by an open Denkey to start the score at 1-0.
With the half winding down, the Orange & Blue attacked the weak side again. In a play similar to the final one on Wednesday, Evander got by his defenders in the fifth minute of extra time and was dragged down by Bungi. The referee pointed to the spot without hesitation.
While Evander took the PK Wednesday, it feels like it was a gentlemen’s agreement for Denkey to get the next turn. The Togolese striker stutter-stepped for a shot past Horvath to make it 2-0 at halftime.
FCC commanded possession (64%) and attacks on the net in the first half, taking 13 shots to Red Bull’s four. Much of the flow to the right side of the field was a visible adjustment during the first half.
“We saw a lot of that (movement) in the first half,” Noonan commented, “but also Dado (Valenzuela’s) recognition of how to be in positions to receive deeper and then, you know, move the ball quickly. And it got Pavel in some good spots to impact the game in the attacking third, so it was more how the game played out.”
Second half
Red Bulls New York made a single substitution at halftime, replacing Bungi with Matthew Dos Santos, and that seemed to instantly flip momentum New York’s way. Michael Bradley’s boys took 15 shots in the second half, getting better looks as the match wore on.
Dos Santos almost pulled the result closer in Red Bull’s direction. His free kick in the 60th minute crashed against the post to Celentano’s left, safely worked out of the box afterward.
Celentano was tested much more ferociously in the second half, but handled all five shots in the second half, including Emil Forsberg’s one-timer in the 64th minute and bullet from his right in the 69th minute.
Cincinnati had a handful of late attempts to put this game to bed. Evander’s free kick in the 79th minute saw daylight, but Horvath recovered quickly to punch it away.
The loudest controversy came in the 86th minute. Ender Echenique had a breakaway to challenge Horvath, only for Dylan Nealis to make a last-gasp tackle. While the initial angle looked VAR-worthy and left the crowd in an uproar, replay indicated that Nealis got the ball and saved a shot attempt.
New York contained much of the remaining possession, but nothing rattled Celentano by the final whistle. Saturday’s clean sheet was the team’s second of the season and the first since opening day.
Kyle Smith was part of that solid back line Saturday. “Coach Pat (Noonan) was talking about it, for us to be on the front foot and not waiting until we get scored upon to really be confident, and I think we did that tonight. We were moving the ball well and found the spaces to score.”
“Obviously, with all the injuries right now, it’s a little tough,” Andrei Chirila mentioned in the post-match presser, “but we all told each other, all we can do is go out there, do our best, play and fight together, and just get the three points.”
The win lumps Cincinnati in a five-way logjam in the standings. The squad lurks in ninth due to their goal differential, while Red Bull falls to 11th.
Cincinnati can enjoy a longer week before their road match Saturday in Chicago. Red Bulls New York are thrust back into the U.S. Open Cup for a Wednesday derby against NYCFC.
Major League Soccer, Match #10
FC Cincinnati vs. Red Bull new York
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Attendance: 25,513
Result: FC Cincinnati 2, Red Bull New York 0.
BOX SCORE
FC Cincinnati Starting XI (3-5-2):
Roman Celentano (GK); Kyle Smith (Gilberto Flores 89′), Andrei Chirila, Samuel Gidi; Pavel Bucha (Tom Barlow 61′), Gerardo Valenzuela, Evander (C), Brian Anunga, Bryan Ramirez (Ayoub Lajhar 79′); Kévin Denkey (Ayoub Jabbari 79′), Kenji Mboma Dem (Ender Echenique 61′).
Bench: Evan Louro, Stefan Chirila, Stiven Jimenenz, Fabian Mrozek.
Red Bull New York Starting XI (4-3-3):
Evan Horvath (GK); Jahkele Marshall-Rutty, Dylan Nealis (C), Tim Parker, Joyeux Masanka Bungi (Matthew Dos Santos 46′); Ronald Donkor (Nehuen Benedetti 85′), Adri Mehmeti, Gustav Berggren (Emil Forsberg 62′); Cade Cowell (Rafael Mosquera 73′), Julian Hall, Mohammed Sofo (Jorge Ruvalcaba 62′).
Bench: John McCarthy, Robert Voloder, Juan Mina.
Scoring summary:
CIN – Kévin Denkey 40’ (Bucha)
CIN – Kévin Denkey 45+5’ (PK)
Discipline:
YC – Joyeux Bungi 19’ (RBNY, foul)
YC – Bryan Ramirez 31’ (CIN, foul)
YC – Adri Mehmeti 78’ (RBNY, foul)
Next Match:
MLS Regular Season: at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 pm, Saturday, May 2nd; Apple+.
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