FC Cincinnati 2 (1-2-1, 4 points) defeated New England Revolution II (1-2-0, 3 points) 2-1 in the club’s first win of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season Wednesday night at Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium.
Both clubs battled the elements through the first half, yet the rain did not stop the scoring for either side. Revs II got on the board first with an early goal in the third minute off the foot of Marcos Dias. Cincinnati answered back in the 19th minute with a strike from Amir Daley off a saved shot from Peter Mangione.
Daley came back in the 39th minute with his second goal of the game, and third of the season, after Revs II were reduced to 10-men in the 35th minute. Daley’s goal proved the match winner while Ben Stitz picked up an assist, his second in as many games.
The Orange and Blue were able to hold New England scoreless after the first half goal and carried Daley’s two goals to the end. Cincinnati saw Nico Benalcazar and Moises Tablante make their first appearances for FC Cincinnati 2.
The Orange and Blue are back in action on Sunday, April 14 against Toronto FC II at York Lions Stadium at 2 p.m. ET. The match will be streamed live on MLSNEXTPro.com.
AS IT HAPPENED
NE: Marcos Dias, GOAL – 3’ (0-1) – Revs II came out firing from the opening whistle as Patrick Leal crossed a pass to Damario McIntosh inside the goal box. McIntosh chipped the ball to Dias who found the back of the net for the early goal.
CIN: Amir Daley, GOAL – 19’ (1-1) – The Orange and Blue evened things up after Peter Mangione attempted a shot that was saved by Revs II goalkeeper Maxwell Weinstein. Daley was first to the ball and sent a strike into the back of the net for the unassisted equalizer.
CIN: Amir Daley, GOAL – 39’ (2-1) – After a red card for Revs II, the Orange and Blue were able to open the field up offensively. Ben Stitz found Daley with a pass in the middle of the box where Daley sent the ball off the crossbar and into the net for his second goal of the game.
FC CINCINNATI 2 GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati 2 vs New England Revolution II
Date: April 10, 2024
Competition: MLS NEXT Pro
Venue: Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium
Kickoff: 6:03 p.m. ET
Weather: 62 degrees, rain
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
CIN: 2-0-2
NE: 1-0-1
CIN – Amir Daley 19’, Amir Daley (Stitz) 39’
NE – Marcos Dias (McIntosh) 3’,
LINEUPS
CIN: Hunter Morse, Bret Halsey (Connor Stout 46’, (Moises Tablante 71’)), Isaiah Foster, Brian Schaefer, Gaël Gibert, Amir Daley, Nico Benalcazar (C) (Yair Ramos 46’), Stiven Jimenez (Alejandro Guido 79’), Peter Mangione (Yeiner Valoyes 88’), Ben Stitz, Jesus Castellano
Substitutes not used: Kayne Rizvanovich, Lincoln Matuskiewicz, Illia Tyrkus, Juan Machado
Head Coach: Tyrone Marshall
NE: Maxwell Weinstein, Hesron Barry, Victor Souza (C), Santiago Suarez, Damario McIntosh, Patrick Leal (Joshua Bolma 46’), Lucas Maciel, Cristiano Oliveira (Colby Quinones 46’), Malcolm Fry (Alex Monis 77’), Andrej Bjelajac (Gevork Diarbian 46’), Marcos Dias (Luka Borovic 46’)
Substitutes not used: John David Gunn, Olger Escobar, Steban Lopera, Eric Klein
Head Coach: Richie Williams
STATS SUMMARY: CIN/NE
Shots: 13 / 8
Shots on Goal: 7 / 5
Saves: 4 / 5
Corner Kicks: 4 / 1
Fouls: 9 / 15
Offside: 1 /1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – Gaël Gibert (Yellow card) 31’
CIN – Amir Daley (Yellow Card) 35’
NE – Hesron Barry (Red Card) 35’
CIN – Stiven Jimenez (Yellow Card) 45’
NE – Andrej Bjelajac (Yellow Card) 45’ +3
NE – Santiago Suarez (Yellow Card) 59’
NE – Gevork Diarbian (Yellow Card) 61’
NE – Alex Monis (Yellow Card) 90’ +1
OFFICIALS
Referee: Eric Tattersall
Ast. Referees: Jackson Krauser, Eric Burton
Fourth Official: Kevin Fikar