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2023 US Open Cup Round 4: FC Cincinnati take first match ever from NYCFC to advance

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Alvaro Barreal of FC Cincinnati attempts to deliver a cross against New York City FC in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Joe Guzy | FC Cincinnati
Alvaro Barreal of FC Cincinnati attempts to deliver a cross against New York City FC in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Joe Guzy | FC Cincinnati

It was a beautiful spring night for the FC Cincinnati home faithful as the hosts broke their New York City FC curse, earning their first win against the only MLS opponent they hadn’t beaten (0-6-2 all-time entering the night) by a final score of 1-0 at TQL Stadium.

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“Really strong performance,” said Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan, “Really pleased with the collective but a lot of individual performances from the guys. I thought they were ready to play against a very good New York City team that can make you chase the game. I thought there was a lot of things the guys did well and I’m pleased for a lot of reasons, but especially for some of the guys that don’t get to start week-in week-out.”

The hosts entered the match with an unblemished home record, 7-0-0 across all competitions, while the visiting Pigeons entered winless on the road, 0-4-2 this season. Cincinnati also had the advantage of the upcoming weekend off, with their next match Wednesday, May 17 vs. CF Montreal, while NYCFC has a big upcoming derby match this Saturday against the New York Red Bulls. As a result, Cincy fielded a stronger XI with less rotation.

Of note for Cincinnati, 2019 US Open Cup Champion (with Atlanta United) Brandon Vazquez made his 100th appearance for the club in all competitions, joining Nick Hagglund as the only players to do so for the club. Meanwhile, City had an unfortunate last-minute change to their starting XI as Alfredo Morales was injured in warm-ups and was replaced by Justin Haak.

The action got underway quickly, with Cincinnati and NYCFC trading opportunities within the first 15 minutes, with City’s best chance a deflected shot from near the penalty spot by Gabriel Segal that went out for a corner, while Cincinnati’s Yuya Kubo ripped a long distance effort off a recovered free kick that was parried just over the crossbar by Matt Freese in goal.

The action would continue as Cincinnati picked up two quick yellow cards – Obinna Nwobodo in the 12th minute, followed by Yerson Mosquera in the 21st. The latter set NYCFC up with a dangerous free kick, which was played to the left side of the box and headed just wide of the far post by Tony Alfaro.

Cincinnati was quick to respond with a chance of their own in the 25th minute, as a back post ball from the right wing got by everybody and forced Freese to parry a narrow-angle shot from inside the box. A significantly longer range effort was attempted in the 31st as Vazquez attempted to catch Freese off his line, but the NYCFC keeper was just able to recover and catch the on-frame attempt. Shortly after re-distributing, Cincinnati forced a turnover and found a free Vazquez in the box, who ripped a mid-range shot forcing Freese to tally another save in a busy first half.

The final 15 minutes would bring some calm as neither side generated a significant chance, leaving things scoreless entering the halftime break. Neither side would make a change and we’d begin the second half as we started on the field.

It was slower going in the opening segments of the second 45 minutes, with neither team able to find a critical break-through pass to generate a true chance. But that changed just before the hour mark, as Cincinnati forced a corner. Alvaro Barreal floated a ball into the crowd at the top of the six-yard box and Brandon Vazquez did what Cincinnati fans have grown so used to seeing, as he rose above the crowd to nod the ball past a frozen Freese to give the hosts the opening score of the evening in the 56th minute.

NYCFC would try to find an answer by subbing out their entire front three in the 61st minute, who had a lackluster night on the road not for the first time this season – with Segal, Talles Magno, and Jasson leaving the field for Santi Rodriguez, Gabriel Pereira, and Richie Ledezma. Cincinnati would counter and bring on some firepower of their own a few minutes later in the 67th, bringing on fan-favorite Luciano Acosta in place of Yuya Kubo.

NYCFC would get a chance to do just that with a corner in the 79th minute. A well-taken ball into the center of the box was found by the head of James Sands, but Alec Kann was on hand in the Cincinnati goal to parry the attempt away before the ball was cleared to safety. City would continue to pile on the pressure as their attack opened up, looking for an equalizer and forcing a yellow card out of Matt Miazga in the 81st. But City’s now-open attack would leave their defenders more frequently in one-on-ones, ultimately resulting in a yellow card for Tayvon Gray a minute later.

There was a scary moment in the 87th minute as the game wound down, with Justin Haak and Nwobodo colliding in midfield following up on a cleared header. Neither player saw the other and were down on the field for several moments as the training staff attended to them. Thankfully, both left the field under their own power and returned to the game – though not before Haak picked up a yellow for the trouble.

Ultimately, the six minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half wouldn’t be enough to save NYCFC, who saw their road woes continue as Cincinnati’s home record remained perfect, with a final scoreline of 1-0 on the evening.

With the win, Cincinnati advance to the Round of 16 for the third time in team history – having previously reached the Semifinals in 2017 as a USL club, and the Round of 16 in 2019. NYCFC, meanwhile, fail to reach the Round of 16 for the fifth time in seven appearances – having previously made the Quarterfinals in 2019 and 2022.

2019 US Open Cup Round of 16: NYCFC overcomes early Wayne Rooney goal, beats DC United to reach Quarterfinals

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Players from NYCFC celebrate a goal against D.C. United in the Round of 16 of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: NYCFC
Players from NYCFC celebrate a goal against D.C. United in the Round of 16 of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: NYCFC

Prior to this year’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, New York City FC hadn’t really made much of an impact in the tournament. They had been one-and-done in their first four tournament appearances since joining MLS in 2015. Oh, how times have changed. Thanks to a pair of late first half goals, New York has won back-to-back games after a 2-1 defeat of D.C. United at Audi Field on Wednesday night.

With the win, the Pigeons in blue become the first New York City-based club to reach the Quarterfinals since the 1999 Staten Island Vipers (A-League, Div. 2 pro).

As opposed to United’s last Open Cup game at Audi Field last round against the Philadelphia Union which featured only a handful of shot attempts through 90 minutes, tonight’s Atlantic Cup encounter had a bit more of an attacking flair. With an extra week of training to remove the rust, D.C. came out of the gates swinging with Acosta hitting a clever backheel to a waiting Wayne Rooney in the first minute. Rooney pounced on the chance, smashing a shot on target that just hit the post.

Sensing that D.C. were going to be a bit more aggressive in the attacking end, NYCFC used their speed on the counter-attack to startle the D.C. defense. Alexandru Mitria blew past the D.C. defense in the 6th minute and hit low effort which forced United goalkeeper Chris Seitz to make a bit of an emergency stop but he was successful in ending the attacking chance.

As seems to happen with many D.C.-NYC matches, there was a bit of controversy to rile up both sets of supporters. On a corner kick in the 9th minute, Heber of NYCFC hit a header that went into the back of the net. However, the goal was waved off due to a handball.

NYCFC continued to press the United backline but were dealt a blow in the 33rd minute when Ulises Segura burst past New York’s defense and made a darting run down the right flank. He found a surging Wayne Rooney just inside of the eighteen on the left side and hit a low curling effort that easily connected with the Englishman. Rooney’s went for the far corner and found it, beating Brad Stuver for the 1-0 advantage.

Despite going down a goal, NYCFC stuck to their guns, using their speed on the outside to force D.C.’s backs to collapse inward. In the 38th minute, Keaton Parks, who scored a pair of goals in New York’s Round 4 win over North Carolina FC, found Mitria with ample space on the inside. The Romanian talisman, who has come alive as of late for The Pigeons, continued his scoring streak by hitting a blistering shot past Seitz to level the score.

Before United could catch their breath they found themselves once again on their backheels and digging the ball out of the back of the net. Ismael Tajouri Shradi forced the D.C. defense into panic mode with a pacey run down the right side. Before the United back four could organize, he hit a dart of a shot toward the far right post to make it 2-1 just before the half.

After a frenetic first half, the pace slowed down in the second 45 with NYCFC containing the high-powered D.C. attack. New York’s Parks retained possession for large portions of the half, making smart, efficient passes to his defenders and outside midfielders. That forced United to chase the Pigeons, killing valuable clock time.

United’s best chance came in the 71st minute when Lucas Rodriguez hit a shot from the right side. Although his effort got the United supporters to their feet they were unable to celebrate as Stuver punched the chance away.

D.C.’s final attacking chance came in the 90th minute when Rooney laced a low curling cross into the box that found Segura. Although he would eventually be called offside, Segura’s header rattled the NYCFC faithful who made the trek down to the Nation’s Capital. Stuver allayed any sort of fears that they might have, making the save to finish the match.

GAME SUMMARY

D.C. United – Chris Seitz, Steve Birnbaum, Frederic Brilliant, Joseph Mora, Leonardo Jara (Jalen Robinson 45’), Antonio Bustamante (Russell Canouse 70’), Chris Durkin, Lucas Rodriguez (Griffin Yow 88’), Wayne Rooney, Ulises Segura, and Luciano Acosta

Goals-Rooney (33’)

Yellow Cards-Robinson (55’), Acosta (69’), and Rodriguez (76’)

New York City FC- Brad Stuver, Sebastien Ibeagha, Anton Tinnherholm, Maxime Chanot, Keaton Parks, Alexander Ring, Alexandru Mitru (Juan Torres 90’), Heber (Valentin Castellanos 49’), Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, and Maxi Moralez,

Goals- Mitria (38’) and Tajouri Shradi (40’)

Yellow Cards- N/A

ATTENDANCE: N/A

 

2018 US Open Cup Round 4: NY Red Bulls keep NYCFC winless in tournament with dominate win

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Vincent Bezecourt of the New York Red Bulls celebrates a goal scored against New York City FC in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Bob Larson | TheCup.us
Vincent Bezecourt of the New York Red Bulls celebrates a goal scored against New York City FC in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Bob Larson | TheCup.us

The New York Red Bulls didn’t have superstar attackers Bradley Wright-Phillips or Kaku, but the Major League Soccer power cruised to a 4-0 win over rivals New York City FC in the Fourth Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

NYCFC has yet to win a match in its four seasons involved in the competition, and fell at Red Bull Arena for the second year in a row without scoring a goal after manager Patrick Vieira made nine changes to the team’s starting XI.

The Red Bulls, who finished as the runner-up in last year’s tournament, were forced to tinker with their lineup as well because of a tight MLS schedule and various players away on international duty.

With Wright-Phillips on the bench to start for the Red Bulls, Vincent Bezecourt wasted no time providing the team with an attacking spark, and broke the deadlock in the third minute with a powerful strike to the bottom right corner.

NYCFC was tested again when Patrick Vieira turned to Sebastien Ibeagha in the sixth minute to replace defender Cedric Hountondji, who was forced out of the match with a leg injury.

NYCFC managed to get more involved in the flow of play as the first half progressed, and nearly found an equalizer in the 37th minute when David Villa’s shot at the near post trickled under goalkeeper Ryan Meara. However, center back Hassan Ndam was in the proper position to clear the ball off the line.

Red Bulls continued to push in the second stanza, and quickly found themselves with a second goal in the 52nd minute after Aaron Long headed home a corner kick.

“First, really good performance from Aaron ,” said manager Jesse Marsch. “Nights like this when it’s the full team isn’t here gives these young guys a chance to develop further. Aaron has become a leader, but it’s important to use these moments to help these guys build and challenge the players to get better and grow.

“When Aaron first came here we knew he was talented and gifted. But if we find talented guys with the right mentality then we feel they can become true Red Bull players.”

In the dying moments, Daniel Royer stamped his way onto the score sheet twice in a span of two minutes, giving Red Bulls their second 4-0 win over their cross-river rivals of this season.

“It’s one of the big positives on the night,” Marsch said. “Danny played a huge role for us tonight. From a confidence standpoint it was really good to see him get back on the scoresheet tonight.”

2016 US Open Cup Round 4: Late Danny Szetela winner gives New York Cosmos second straight East River Derby win over NYCFC

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Danny Szetela of the New York Cosmos celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against NYCFC in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Steve Hamlin | TICC
Danny Szetela of the New York Cosmos celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against NYCFC in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Steve Hamlin | TICC

Last year, the New York Cosmos needed penalty kicks following to put away NYCFC after playing 120 minutes. This year, the Cosmos would get all they needed in 90. One goal off the head of Danny Szetela would advance the boys in green to the Round of 16 for the third time in as many years.

The Cosmos came out with no real surprises on the roster, save for one. Roversio was not only in the 18, he cracked the Starting XI. Surprises continued on the bench with the returns of Adam Moffat and Alexis Velela to the 18 after being sidelined by injury.
The Cosmos continued to employ the 4-1-4-1 formation that has given them the most success this season in the NASL.

After comments from NYCFC that they intended to take the game seriously, the jury is out on whether they did. The entirety of the City back line was subbed out, with Shannon Gomez making his first appearance of the season, as well as goalkeeper Eirik Johansen. Mix Diskerud was the only week-to-week starter in the midfield, as Khiry Shelton was up front.
Both sides challenged each other early, but the Cosmos got the better of the chances in the first half. They got the first real chance of the night when Yohandry Orozco delivered a ball into the box for Juan Arango who fired a shot on net that Johansen was able to get a glove on and deflect in the sixth minute. NYCFC got a chance of their own in the fifteenth as a Gomez cross into the box ended with a Kwadwo Poku header that took a bounce before ending up in the hands of Jimmy Maurer. Seconds later, the Cosmos returned from that play with an Orozco shot and another save from Johansen.
The Cosmos back line prevented an early City lead just moments after that as Maurer left his line to clear a ball from the edge of the box, nearly gifting a goal to Disekrud, but his low shot at the open net was correctly read and picked off by Ayoze.
The Cosmos came close to getting on the board in the 37th as Jairo Arrieta drew three defenders before slipping a ball over the top to Danny Szetela who made an unopposed run down the middle. The ball escaped him after his first touch and Johansen was able to step out and make the grab. Maurer would make a grab on an easy Diego Martinez ball on frame two minutes later.
The Cosmos were the first to make the books as Arango received a yellow for a tough foul on Poku in the 43rd. City would not stay out of the book much longer as Jefferson Mena committed one on Arrieta and saw a card just a minute later.
The yellows continued in the second half with one in the 52nd to White for dissent and one to Szetela a minute later for taking the feet of Mehdi Ballouchy out from under him.
City saw a great chance in the 54th as Martinez got a clear look at net and fired a curling ball from about 25 yards out that Maurer just parried away before it was cleared. Martinez was also involved shortly after delivering a cross to Diskerud that he headed wide.
With NYCFC getting the bulk of the chances through most of the second half, Maurer had to make another parry on a shot from Patrick Mullins in the 68th.
NYCFC made the first substitution of match bringing on forward Tony Taylor for Khiry Shelton in the 73rd. Seconds later, they came within inches of taking the lead.
Mullins received a long ball in the box, tipping it past Maurer, who had left his line, and evading a slide from behind by Roversio. Only the work of Hunter Freeman saved the visitors as he raced back to the line during the confusion and slid into the ball to clear it before Mullins could center to a wide-open Poku.
The Cosmos made the next sub of the evening, bringing in Adam Moffat for Ruben Bover in the 79th.
After suffering an injury minutes earlier, Mena left the game in the 87th, replaced by starting center back Jason Hernandez. Despite the addition of a starter to the back line, it would not stop the Cosmos from finally finishing a ball.
A minute after the sub, Ayoze delivered a ball to Moffat who made a run into the offensive end before sliding a pass wide left to Orozco. The Venezuelan put a cross into the six for Szetela, who made an unopposed run into the box and finished with a header past Johansen.
City immediately responded, bring off Ballouchy for Jack Harrison. The Cosmos brought on defender Jimmy Ockford, pulling Arrieta.
With City pushing ahead, the Cosmos nearly caught them again when Arango tried to chip the keeper from distance, but the shot went wide.
The Cosmos made one final substitution, with Orozco coming off for Lucky Mkosana, but time would run out with the Cosmos holding on to their lead.
The NASL side will now advance to the Round of 16 in the US Open Cup and host the New England Revolution at Belson Stadium in Queens on June 29th.

Notes:
 This was Roversio’s second start of the year since coming back from injury. He also started a friendly vs SD Eibar in Las Vegas last month.
 This is the third time the Cosmos have hurdled MLS competition in their first Open Cup match against them in as many years, doing it to NYCFC the last two years.
 This is the Cosmos’ first win on the road against an MLS side falling in 2015 to Red Bull and 2014 to the Philadelphia Union.
 The Cosmos, who have never lost in Open Cup competition as the home team (3-1-0), will have a unique opportunity as they host the Revolution and, if they advance, will host the winner of the Union-Red Bulls match

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