FC Cincinnati Returns to Form in Game 1 Victory

Strategy and execution were excellent in the 1-0 win, which bodes well for Game 2 Saturday in New York City.
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Now that was the FC Cincinnati I’m used to seeing. Assured in both its strategy and its execution, the Orange and Blue notched a decisive 1-0 Game 1 triumph in their best-of-three opening round playoff series against New York City FC Monday evening at TQL Stadium.

The fifth match of 2024 between FCC and NYCFC delivered a fourth contest separated by a single goal, with Yamil Asad’s headed flick of a Lucho Acosta entry pass in the 51st minute the lone tally. Earlier in October, FC Cincinnati’s dreary first-half showing led to a 3-2 road defeat. On Monday, a mostly-even first half realized a second 45-plus minutes controlled by the hosts.

Asad’s goal was illustrative of the passion and verve the Garys exhibited all night. Obinna Nwobodo won the ball in midfield, and Asad recovered and immediately thrust the attack forward. Two passes and a deflected shot later, Acosta flung the ball onto the unmarked Asad’s head. Playing sans a traditional striker for the second straight match, FC Cincinnati’s merry band of attacking midfielders were relentless in their ball pressure and desire to progress the ball upfield. Defenders were often left grasping at the vapor trails of Acosta, Luca Orellano, Yuya Kubo, et al.

Ten minutes after Asad’s score, Orellano struck the left post with one of his typically lovely curling efforts. Ten minutes after that, Orellano was denied near post by NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese after backheel passes from Pavel Bucha and Acosta freed the lefty in the box.

The hosts endured nervy moments late, with a potential penalty not given after video review and a few near-misses in the penalty area. Substitute Nicholas Gioacchini failed to inspire any confidence in the team’s actual listed strikers—Kubo and Orellano played striker Monday—with his fluffed one-on-one chance against Freese deep into stoppage time.

Alas, what was possibly the last match at TQL Stadium in 2024 was one of the home club’s finest showings of the season. The Orange and Blue outshot New York 22-6 (7-2 on target) and owned a healthy expected goals advantage (2.9 to 0.3) What likely made head coach Pat Noonan proudest was the clean sheet, the team’s first since a 0-0 draw vs. Columbus on September 14 and just its second against MLS competition since June 29. The center back trio of Teenage Hadebe, Miles Robinson, and Chiwozie Awaziem were calm in possession and assertive in the air, evoking memories of the dominant 2023 triad of Ian Murphy, Matt Miazga, and Yerson Mosquera.

Combined with the strong midfield play of Nwobodo and Bucha, Monday was a reminder of the heights FC Cincinnati can reach defensively when its center backs are healthy and have extended training time together to build chemistry, something FCC has been afforded lately with just two matches over the past three-plus weeks.

Game 2 is Saturday evening at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. How is a playoff elimination match being played on a baseball outfield, you ask? For the uninitiated, NYCFC’s “home” field is Yankee Stadium, which is in use for the World Series. Their backup venue is the New York Red Bulls home arena, which will be in use by the preferred tenants on Sunday. So, Citi Field it is.

Speaking of the Red Bulls, they’re one win away from shocking defending MLS Cup champion Columbus and advancing to face the FCC-NYCFC winner. The Red Bulls escaped Columbus—owner of the East’s second-best home record—with a 1-0 win Tuesday evening.

Grant Freking writes FC Cincinnati coverage for Cincinnati Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter at @GrantFreking.

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