RECAP: FC Cincinnati vs New York City FC

      Cincinnati deviated from its typical league starting IX, with Ian Murphy again filling in for Nick Hagglund, who is out with an injury picked up in the NYRB Open Cup game. Yuya Kubo got the start in the midfield with Obinna Nwobodo out on yellow card accumulation suspension. Santiago Arias got another start at right wingback and Dominique Badji rounded out the lineup up top at striker.

      NYCFC dominated the game to start off and were almost able to capitalize off of that, when Gabriel Pereira put a ball in the back of Roman Celentano’s net in the 30th minute, but the goal would be called back due to New York foul on Yerson Mosquera. FC Cincinnati would turn the tide of the game in the 38th minute, when Luciano Acosta scored a beauty of a goal thanks to a great Badji assist. Three minutes later the first of eleven yellow cards would be issued, to Braian Cufre of NYCFC for a headbutt on Mosquera, who would also receive a yellow card for his part in the scuffle. Brandon Vazquez would also receive a yellow card in stoppage time of the first half.

      The second half started off chippy, much like how the first half ended, and Lucho was booked in the 50th minute. The next three yellow cards belonged to NYCFC with Maxime Chanot receiving one in the 53rd minute, James Sands in the 56th, and Tayvon Gray in the 58th minute. That last foul would set up an Alvaro Barreal free kick, which he rocketed into the upper corner to double FCC’s lead. Cufre would get one back for NYCFC in the 64th minute off a glancing header. Pereira would pick up the game’s 7th yellow card in the 66th minute. Mosquera would then draw a penalty for FCC, and Vazquez converted in the 70th minute, making the score 3-1. Cincinnati would be able to see out the game, but not before three more players received yellow cards: Tony Alfaro in the 82nd minute, Alfredo Morales in the 88th, and then Ray Gaddis in stoppage time.