FC Cincinnati beats NYCFC for the second time in May in a 3-1 victory | Replay

BRONX, New York − Many ghosts reside in Yankee Stadium and FC Cincinnati's no stranger to them.

On Wednesday, FC Cincinnati warded off and exorcised its ghosts at the venue, defeating host New York City FC, 3-1.

The victory was FCC's second against NYCFC this month after a 1-0 win at TQL Stadium in cup play, and its first-ever in Major League Soccer regular season action.

The win also ceased a history of torturous losses for Cincinnati at the hallowed home of baseball's Yankees.

FC Cincinnati visited Yankee Stadium in 2019 and 2021 to play New York City FC, and both times to frightening results as the aggregate score of the two matches was 10-2.

In general, FC Cincinnati was long-bothered by NYCFC, having never beaten the club prior to this month. New York held a 6-0-2 lead in the all-time series until recent weeks.

On Wednesday, Luciano Acosta opened the scoring on his birthday with a tally in the 38th minute. Alvaro Barreal followed with a well-crafted free-kick in the 58th minute.

NYCFC's Braian Cufre scored to halve the hosts' deficit but Dominique Badji, who assisted in Acosta's goal, drew a penalty kick opportunity that was awarded on video-assistant referee (VAR) review. Then, Brandon Vazquez stepped up to convert the kick and effectively put the match away in the 70th minute.

Goalkeeper Roman Celentano was vital to keeping the early stages of the contest close as the hosts dominated long stretches of the first half. Celentano ended the night with six stops.

The victory allowed FC Cincinnati to improve on its MLS-best record, moving to 11-1-3 and 36 points in the league-wide standings.

At 13-1-4 overall, FC Cincinnati has already tied its all-competition total for wins from the memorable 2022 season.

*** *** ***

*** *** ***

FC Cincy back on top by two (70')

Dominique Badji was kicked in NYCFC's penalty area and after that play was deemed a penalty kick on video-assistant referee (VAR) review, Brandon Vazquez stepped up to convert the kick. Interesting that Luciano Acosta, the usual taker, didn't have the kick for himself. We'll try to find out why afterward, not that it matters too much since Vazquez scored.

Not to be overlooked: Badji is playing out of his mind right now and creating so many useful opportunities for FCC over the last week-plus.

NYCFC back in it (63')

Braian Cufre just nodded a ball past Celentano and, with 27 minutes to go, this is far from over. The goal was first in an NYCFC shirt.

Did Barreal just one-up Acosta's goal? (58')

Taking a free kick from about 19 yards out, Alvaro Barreal went bar-down on NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese and it wasn't quite in the farthest reaches of the upper corner but it was close. Basically, it was unsavable. The score was Barreal's second of 2023 and he doubled FCC's lead at Yankee Stadium.

Halftime

FC Cincinnati made it to the intermission leading via Luciano Acosta's beautifully-taken goal in the 38th minute. But this is a rare occasion for FC Cincinnati where you might say they deserve to be tied or worse at the intermission. But what's probably more important than that is that the name of the game for visiting (soccer) teams at Yankee Stadium is "survival," and FCC is surviving.

A golazo for Lucho (38')

Dominique Badji laid the ball of for Luciano Acosta and Acosta went upper-90 on Matt Freese. What a beauty, and one of "Lucho's" best in Orange and Blue. The assist was Badji's third of 2023, giving him four goal contributions on the season. For Lucho, the goal was his team-leading sixth of the year.

Nearly a 1-0 hole (30')

Gabriel Pereira was lurking at the back post and volleyed a cross into the side-netting for an NYCFC lead, or so it seemed. The goal was flagged for a foul on an FCC center back and did not stand, so we remain scoreless. But once again, the NYCFC chance was emblematic of a half they've dominated.

Big save, Roman (18')

NYCFC captain James Sands had the first big chance of the match as he headed a ball on-frame off a corner kick, but FCC's Roman Celentano got down and got a hand to it. That was one of his better stops of the season, although the shot itself punctuated that NYCFC has pretty much dominated the ball so far. FCC could be in smash-and-grab mode again tonight?

The starters

• FC Cincinnati starting XI: Roman Celentano (GK), Santiago Arias, Yerson Mosquera, Matt Miazga, Ian Murphy, Alvaro Barreal, Yuya Kubo, Luciano Acosta (captain), Junior Moreno, Dominique Badji, Brandon Vazquez.
• Cincinnati bench: Alec Kann (GK), Alvas Powell, Joey Akpunonu, Marco Angulo, Malik Pinto, Ray Gaddis, Quimi Ordonez, Isaiah Foster, Gerardo Valenzuela.
• NYCFC starting XI: Matt Freese (GK), Braian Cufre, Maxime Chanot, Tayvon Gray, Tony Alfaro, James Sands (captain), Santiago Rodriguez, Gabriel Pereira, Stephen Turnbull, Keaton Parks, Gabe Segal.
• NYCFC bench: Luis Barraza, Alfredo Morales, Matias Pellegrini, Richard Ledezma, Andres Jasson, Kevin O'Toole, Nicholas Benalcazar, Justin Haak.