New York City FC have to sweat but defeat FC Cincinnati in game three, eliminating the third seed in the Eastern Conference in penalties to guarantee the first Hudson River Derby in MLS playoff history. The scoreless game was decided on penalties where star goalkeeper Matt Freese made three saves to have his club win 6-5.
First half saw both teams play a very cautious style of football. For the most part neither team looked willing to take the initiative and risk a potential counter. For the first twenty minutes City controlled the ball and appeared poised to push forward. Cincinnati came back later in the half, pressing on the counter and relying on the singular efforts of players like Luciano Acosta. The best effort in the half came from Luca Orellano in the 31st minute, forcing a save from unsung MLS goalkeeping hero Matt Freese.
The second half saw City press the game more and try to get their star striker Alonso Martinez into more dangerous situations. While he did find the back of the net late in the second half, it was called off due to offside, showing just how effective Cincinnati was able to neutralize the best parts of City’s offense. While the home team did get opportunities throughout the second half, many of them did little other than force Freese into easy saves, leading the game into decisive penalty kicks.
Penalties came down to the a series of misses where five straight penalties were either saved or missed consecutively. Freese and Celentano did their part against the opposition but it was Mitja Ilenic that decided contest, burying his chance and putting City back into the Eastern Conference semifinal.
The New York Red Bulls away in what could be the biggest catalyst in their rivalry in quite some time. Both teams have young talent that have defined this competition with both City and Red Bulls eliminating their Ohio opposition. Now they face each other in a one-game playoff that will have more than just bragging rights at stake but a trip to the Eastern Conference final.
STARTING XI:
New York City FC: Freese; Ilenic, Martins, Haak, O’Toole, Parks, Sands, Wolf (75′ Perea), Moralez, Rodriguez, Martinez (85′ Bakrar)
FC Cincinnati: Celentano; Awaziem, Robinson, Hadebe, Yedlin (84′ Powell), Bucha, Nwobodo (89′ Valanzuela), Asad, Acosta, Orellano (84′ Kelsey), Kubo (71′ Santos)
SCORING SUMMARY:
DISCIPLINE:
11′ (NYCFC) Keaton Parks – YELLOW CARD
65′ (FC Cincinnati) Pavel Bucha -YELLOW CARD
83′ (NYCFC) Kevin O’Toole – YELLOW CARD
85′ (FC Cincinnati) Alvas Powell – YELLOW CARD
89′ (NYCFC) Santiago Rodriguez – YELLOW CARD
90′ (FC Cincinnati) Chidozie Awaziem – YELLOW CARD
photo by Jordan Bank