HARRISON, N.J. – FC Cincinnati advanced to the second round of the MLS Cup playoffs in the most dramatic of ways, but paid a heavy price in the process by advancing against the New York Red Bulls.
After trailing 1-0 on Saturday at Red Bull Arena, FC Cincinnati forced a penalty shootout after tying the game in the closing stages of the match. Cincinnati then won a 10th round shootout to clinch a 2-0 win in their best of three series against New York.
FC Cincinnati won Sunday at TQL Stadium, 3-0, and crossed the “PK’s” on Saturday to advance to the second round of the postseason, a single-elimination format that will not be staged for about three weeks due to an upcoming game. A window to international matches governed by FIFA, world football’s governing body.
“The players were resilient getting back into the game,” FC Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan said. “You start the break and wonder how you were down by a goal. We were punished for a foul… but I thought the second half, especially the last 30 minutes, was really strong from the group. Good goal, two braces.” Good chances… We found a way. “I am very happy to move forward.”
FC Cincinnati appeared to have scored the winning goal in the second half of overtime from a Luciano Acosta corner kick. The players on the field and the FCC bench erupted in celebration despite the goal being initially disallowed on the pitch, and then the referee’s decision to foul Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel was upheld following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
The score remained 1-1 with a late winner disallowed. The match then went directly to penalty kicks after the final whistle of open play.
How were penalty kicks won?
Coronel made two saves in the shootout, blocked Santiago Arias in the third round and Jerson Mosquera in the ninth. Meanwhile, Red Bulls defender John Tolkien hit the post in the fifth round. The converted kick would have given his team the win, but the penalty shootout continued.
Serge Nujoma then wasted his chance to finish the penalty kicks when he shot over the net and into the stands directly after Mosquera’s miss.
Alvaro Barreal converted FC Cincinnati’s 10th penalty kick to put the team ahead 8-7, with goalkeeper Roman Celentano denying New York center back Andres Reyes. That ended the first round series with an FCC sweep of “RBNY”.
“Obviously it was a tough game,” Celentano said. “Coming here, we wanted to finish the game here so we wouldn’t have to go home.” “It gives us confidence knowing we can lose in a playoff game, especially on the road, and coming back, finding a way to get it to the Pens. They showed a lot of character in that group, staying focused for 90 minutes, getting the equalizer and then focusing when The players were tired but they came forward to pick up the pens and still buried them.
“They saved me and then, in the end, you saved me… Now we feel good about moving forward.”
During 90 minutes of open play, FC Cincinnati fell behind in the 45th minute to a goal by RBNY’s Tom Barlow. Aaron Popendza scored from an assist by Acosta to knot the game in the 75th minute.
The price Cincinnati paid in victory
FC Cincinnati paid huge prices to advance. Matt Miazga received two yellow cards in the match, which did not earn him a red card as the second yellow card was given during the penalty kicks. But that card still gave him three points during the two playoff games against New York, which resulted in him being suspended for racking up too many.
Miazga later confirmed that he should not have received any yellow cards. Both came after 90 minutes with the first goal being awarded because he disagreed with referee Victor Rivas over Acosta’s disallowed goal.
In a post-match interview with The Enquirer, Miazga confirmed that he was trying to express appreciation to Red Bulls fans, for whom he played earlier in his career, with a heart-shaped hand gesture.
“I gave them a heart and I was showing them my love, and I get a card for that? For what?” Miazga said. “I have to accept that now that I am suspended… Yes, of course. I feel alone. I was talking to (Rivas) throughout the match normally.”
FC Cincinnati also saw Dominic Badjie and Obinna Nwobodo exit the competition early due to injury. Acosta also played injured, but did not come out of the game. Noonan pointed out that Badgey’s illness was muscle and he could benefit from the three weeks before the next match.
Noonan said he hopes to receive good medical news regarding the other players involved.
“I’m very happy that we’re moving on,” Noonan said. “It wasn’t an easy game and we qualified. That’s the important thing. It affected us.” “We’ll have to see how Dom and Obi come out of this. There are concerns there. Matt is suspended for the next game and that shouldn’t happen, so hopefully we can get some good news on the injuries and we can have a strong game and the group is as healthy as possible for the next round.” .
“Injuries are part of it. Sometimes you can’t avoid it. Opie got run over, and obviously had to get out. There’s concern. Dom’s got muscles… We’ll see how that news comes out in the coming days.” And Matt knows better. This – we shouldn’t miss him in the next round. that simple.”
A Cincinnati club spokesman told local media that Miazga’s yellow card could be appealed. Noonan was unsure how this process would play out and noted that the FCC would need to start planning for the next playoff game under the assumption that Miazga would be unavailable.
Tickets for the second round of the qualifiers
Tickets for FC Cincinnati’s second-round single-elimination matchup against the winner of the Philadelphia Union-New England Revolution series go on sale Monday. Starting at 10 a.m., season ticket members and Orange and Blue Reserve enrollees can purchase tickets.
The public sale begins at 11 a.m
Penalty kick results
(Round by round, FC Cincinnati starts first).
- first round: Luciano Acosta scores. Umair Fernandes scores. Draw, 1-1.
- Second round: Yuya Kubo scores; Frankie Amaya scores. Tied, 2-2.
- Third round: Santiago Arias’ shot is blocked; Sean Nealis scores. RBNY leads 3-2.
- Fourth round: Brandon Vazquez scores. Cameron Harper scores. RBNY leads 4-3.
- Round 5: Alvaro Barreal scores. John Tolkien hits this post. Tied, 4-4.
- Sixth round: Matt Miazga scores; Dylan Nellis scores. Tied, 5-5.
- Seventh round: Aaron Popendza scores. Elias Manuel scores. Tied, 6-6.
- Round 8: Sergio Santos; Peter Stroud scores. Tied, 7-7.
- Ninth round: He blocked a shot from Yerson Mosquera. Serge Njouma shoots over the goal. Tied, 7-7.
- Round 10: Junior Moreno scores; Andres Reyes shot blocked. FC Cincinnati won 8-7.
FC Cincinnati and New York Red Bulls go to PK’s
We’ll see the new playoff format in all its glory tonight. After a draw after more than 90 minutes, this match will go straight to penalty kicks to determine the winner. FC Cincinnati had a goal that could have won the match ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for a foul on New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel. FCC scored a penalty but it was disallowed.
FC Cincinnati draw (75′)
Luciano Acosta went on one of his trademark zig-zag runs, tackling Aaron Bobendza and directing to Bobendza, who fired the ball inside Carros Coronel’s left post. We have 1-1.
Half the time
RBNY leads 1-0, and that means Cincinnati should expect a lot of the same physicality in the second half. FC Cincinnati has 45 minutes to get back into the game and try to close out the series tonight. If not, FCC and RBNY will play for the sixth time in 2023 on Saturday at TQL Stadium.
RBNY Front (45′)
In the last minute of the first half, Tom Barlow put the Red Bulls ahead. Red Bull Arena isn’t full but it’s rocking right now.
Unexpected change for Cincinnati (34′)
Dominique Badjie collapsed in a heap behind the play and required medical attention. He stood up on his own, but eventually slowly walked off the field, with RBNY manager Troy Lessen sportingly giving him a handshake due to the apparent injury. Instead of Badjie, Aaron Bubendza entered the match.
Red Bulls don’t move quietly (30′)
As expected, things were cagey and physical at Red Bull Arena. This was likely going to be the crux of Game 2 of this series, especially with ‘RBNY’ facing elimination. Both teams have one shot on goal so far. FCC’s Dominique Badjie has the only shot on goal.
Departure time (1′)
Can FC Cincinnati deliver the Red Bulls a first-round knockout? We’ll know in about two hours.
Starting lineups for Cincinnati and New York Red Bulls
- Cincinnati starting lineup: Roman Celentano (goalkeeper), Alvaro Barreal, Ian Murphy, Matt Miazga, Yerson Mosquera, Santiago Arias, Junior Moreno, Obinna Nobodo, Luciano Acosta (captain), Dominic Badji, Brandon Vazquez.
- Cincinnati seat: Alec Kahn (goalkeeper), Yuya Kubo, Marco Angulo, Aaron Pobendza, Sergio Santos, Malik Pinto, Ray Gaddis, Brett Halsey, Gerardo “Dado” Valenzuela.
- RBY starting lineup: Coronel (goalkeeper), Reyes, Duncan, Amaya, Manuel, Dylan Nellis, Sean Nellis, Tolkien, Barlow, Edelman, Lucuinhas.
- Bench at RBNY: Nocita, Stroud, Hurtado, Yearwood, Harper, Mira, Carmona.
more: MLS Cup 2023: FC Cincinnati looks to shut out New York Red Bulls on the road
more: FC Cincinnati: Nick Haglund will miss the rest of the MLS Cup playoff run
Scene mode
FC Cincinnati can advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals with a win over New York, which needs a win to take the series back to Cincinnati for a crucial third game, which will be played on November 11 at TQL Stadium.
Cincinnati opened the series on Sunday with a 3-0 win at TQL Stadium.
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