FC Cincinnati 2 (0-2-1, 1 point) played to a 3-2 loss to New York Red Bulls II (2-0-1, 8 points) Thursday night at Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium. The Orange and Blue finish the night 13th in the Eastern Conference while Red Bulls II move top of the Eastern Conference following the midweek matchup.
Ben Stitz nearly opened the scoring for the hosts in what proved a defensive battle over the course of the first half. Stitz pushed a low shot wide of the post from inside the area after linking up with wing back Connor Stout in the 10th minute. The FCC 2 defense held Red Bulls II to just one first half shot.
New York scored in the 47th minute as forward Roald Mitchell was played through on goal to kick start the Red Bulls attack. Alec Kann, who picked up the start in net, came to challenge Mitchell and made an initial save before it bounced back off Roald and into the back of the net.
The Orange and Blue were able to equalize seven minutes later in the 53rd as Stitz found the back of the net for his first goal of the MLS NEXT Pro campaign. A quick break into the New York half from Amir Daley started the move and it finished with a quick exchange of passes. In the end, Stitz was able to beat Dallas Odle with a composed finish from a difficult angle.
Yair Ramos doubled the lead for the Orange and Blue with his first goal for the club in the 66th minute. Jesus Castellano assisted on the goal, picking out Ramos who was trailing the play after facing three New York defenders inside the box. Ramos took a quick touch to settle at the top of the box and struck a perfectly placed shot low and away.
Red Bulls II midfielder Mohammed Sofo equalized in the 78th minute while Mitchell picked up his second of the match in the 90th minute to earn the visitors three points.
Stiven Jimenez made his first appearance of the season for FCC 2, earning a start after making 13 appearances in 2023, playing 90 minutes in the contest. Newly signed FC Cincinnati midfielder Yamil Asad also played 45-minutes.
The Orange and Blue will have 12 days rest before returning home to Scudamore Field on April 10 to take on New England Revolution II.
FC CINCINNATI 2 GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati 2 vs New York Red Bulls II
Date: March 28, 2024
Competition: MLS NEXT Pro
Venue: Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium
Kickoff: 6:03 p.m. ET
Weather: 56 degrees, clear
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
CIN: 0-2-2
RBNY: 0-3-3
CIN – Ben Stitz (Daley) 53’, Yair Ramos (Castellano) 66’
RBNY – Roald Mitchell 47’, Davi Alexandre (Sofo) 77’, Davi Alexandre (Valencia) 90’
LINEUPS
CIN: Alec Kann, Connor Stout, Isaiah Foster, Brian Schaefer (C), Gaël Gibert, Amir Daley, Yair Ramos (Alejandro Guido 76’), Stiven Jimenez, Peter Mangione, Ben Stitz, Yamil Asad (Jesus Castellano, 46’)
Substitutes not used: Kayne Rizvanovich, Juan Machado, Yeiner Valoyes, Nicholas Samways, Haroun Conteh, Jio Mora, Lincoln Mastukiewicz
Head Coach: Tyrone Marshall
RBNY: Dallas Odle, Omar Valencia, Aidan O’Connor, Davi Alexandre, Juan Mina Gonzalez, Dylan Sullivan (C), Aiden Jarvis, Malick Dembele, Steven Sserwadda (Frank Ssebufu 67’), Mohammed Sofo, Roald Mitchell
Substitutes not used: Alan Rutkowski, Copeland Berkley, Jair Collahuazo, Tanner Rosborough, Adri Mehmeti, Ibrahim Kasule
Head Coach: Ibrahim Sekagya
STATS SUMMARY: CIN/RBNY
Shots: 10 / 11
Shots on Goal: 3 / 4
Saves: 2 / 1
Corner Kicks: 1 / 6
Fouls: 18 / 11
Offside: 2 / 2
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
RBNY – Steven Sserwadda (Yellow card) 36’
RBNY – Juan Mina Gonzalez (Yellow card) 45’+2
RBNY – Dylan Sullivan (Yellow card) 53’
CIN – Isaiah Foster (Yellow card) 62’
CIN – Yair Ramos (Yellow card) 71’
CIN – Stiven Jimenez (Yellow card) 77’
CIN – Amir Daley (Yellow card) 90’+3
OFFICIALS
Referee: Gary Gutierrez
Ast. Referees: Eric Wood, Stephen Milhoan
Fourth Official: Ali Zolgharnain
