FC Cincinnati 2 are back in the win column after Sunday night’s 2-1 win over New England Revolution II at Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium. The result earns the Orange and Blue their fourth win of the season in a rematch of MLS NEXT Pro’s highest-scoring game in league history earlier this season.
The Orange and Blue stay 11th in the Eastern Conference standings (4-6-3, 16 PTS.) while Revs II (8-5-2, 28 PTS.) remain second, as results stand. All four wins this season for FC Cincinnati 2 have come at home.
New England’s Weverton hit the post in the 16th minute in what was the first big chance of the night for either side. After winning possession in the Cincinnati box, Weverton turned quickly and fired a low shot towards goal, sending it off the right post and out of play.
Malik Pinto was the danger man for the Orange and Blue through the opening 45 minutes, creating several good scoring chances. Pinto nearly finished off an acrobatic effort in the 21st minute before sending a second attempt just over the bar in the 32nd when Kai Thomas and Grayson Dupont combined to give Pinto space to attack.
Defensive heroics from Thomas in the 38th minute kept New England off the board, as the defender denied Marcos Diaz on the goal line from six yards out. On the other end, a New England own goal from Victor Souza seconds from the halftime whistle proved the difference in the first half, and the Orange and Blue went into the break 1-0.
Gerardo Valenzuela, who came on to start the second half for Malik Pinto, netted his third of the season in the 50th minute to double the Cincinnati lead. Valenzuela followed up on an initial shot attempt, which was blocked, with a powerful second, beating Nico Campuzano from a tight angle and into the roof of the New England goal.
New England made it a game late as Jordan Adebayo-Smith scored his sixth of the season in the third minute of second half stoppage time. Goalkeeper Paul Walters kept Revs II from stealing a late point and made four saves throughout the match.
It was a night of firsts for FC Cincinnati 2 as London Aghedo, Grayson Dupont and Philip Horton all made their debuts for the Orange and Blue. Aghedo, FC Cincinnati’s third round pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, played forty-five minutes while Horton played eight minutes.
FC Cincinnati 2 head back on the road next Sunday as they take on New York Red Bulls II at MSU Soccer Park. The match will be streamed live on mlsnextpro.com.
FC CINCINNATI 2 GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati 2 vs New England Revolution II
Date: June 18, 2023
Competition: MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season
Venue: Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium
Kickoff: 6:03 p.m. ET
Weather: 83 degrees, clear
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
CIN: 1-1-2
NE: 0-1-1
CIN – V. Souza (OG) 45’+3, G. Valenzuela (51’)
NE – J. Adebayo-Smith 90’+3
LINEUPS
CIN: P. Walters, B. Halsey, I. Foster (D. Garcia, 46’), J. Akpunonu (L. Aghedo, 46’), K. Thomas, M. Marshall, M. Pinto (G. Valenzuela, 46’), D. Turcios, G. Dupont (P. Horton, 82’), R. Mills, B. Stitz
Substitutes not used: H. Morse
Head Coach: Tyrone Marshall
NE: N. Campuzano, C. Quiñónes, P. Cayet, V. Souza, S. Suárez, J. Rozhansky, Ítalo (N. Greenidge-Duncan, 63’), M. Dias (M. Fry, 80’), E. Bajraktarevic, J. Bolma (B. Awashie, 70’), Weverton (J. Adebayo-Smith, 63’)
Substitutes not used: J. Akanyirige
Head Coach: Clint Peay
STATS SUMMARY: CIN/NE
Shots: 8 / 25
Shots on Goal: 1 / 7
Saves: 4 / 0
Corner Kicks: 3 / 8
Fouls: 18 / 13
Offside: 1 / 2
Possession: 39.6 / 60.4
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – D. Turcios (Yellow card) 47’
NE – Ítalo (Yellow card) 58’
CIN – G. Dupont (Yellow card) 60’
NE – J. Rozhansky (Yellow card) 70’
CIN – M. Marshall (Yellow card) 78’
NE – S. Suárez (Yellow card) 87’
CIN – K. Thomas (Yellow card) 90’+1
CIN – R. Mills (Yellow card) 90’+2
NE – J. Adebayo-Smith (Yellow card) 90’+3
CIN – B. Halsey (Yellow card) 90’+5
OFFICIALS
Referee: Amiel Aleman
Ast. Referees: Christian Little, Jake Brochu
Fourth Official: Jackson Krauser
