FC Cincinnati 2 earned three points Sunday night with a 4-1 win against New York Red Bulls II at MSU Soccer Park. The Orange and Blue (6-3-1, 19 points) have now won five straight matches and wrap up the weekend third in the Eastern Conference, just one point off the top of the table currently held by Philadelphia Union II.
Ben Stitz wasted no time in giving the Orange and Blue a 1-0 lead, finding the back of the net just two minutes into the match. Stitz, who scored against Red Bulls II back in March, now has three goals on the year and has registered a goal or assist in six of his last eight appearances. Jesus Castellano assisted on the goal, his third of the season.
Stefan Chirila would double Cincinnati’s lead in the 28th minute, finding the back of the net in his third straight appearance for the Orange and Blue with a well struck free kick from the edge of the New York penalty area.
“Good performance from the boys, all around,” said Head Coach Tyrone Marshall. “We had a very good week of preparation and understanding of how we were going to approach this game. The guys went out an executed really well, especially with that first goal, in the first two minutes we came out, combined and went in to score. That set the tone with how the game was going to go.”
New York Red Bulls II were reduced to 10-men in the 47th minute as Dylan Sullivan picked up his second yellow card of the match. Despite going down, Red Bulls II cut the deficit in the 50th minute as Ibrahim Kasule converted from the penalty spot for his fifth of the year.
The Orange and Blue quickly responded to the Red Bulls II goal, as Chirila found his second of the match in the 56th minute. Chirila’s brace gives the U17 FC Cincinnati Academy forward a team-high four goals on the season. Amir Daley registered his fourth assist of the year on Chirila’s goal.
Moises Tablante added Cincinnati’s fourth goal of the night, his second of the season, in the 76th minute in what proved the final goal of the contest from either side. Chirila added an assist on what was an impressive outing for the Cincinnati academy product.
“We have a lot of guys in the attacking half that can score goals,” said Marshall. “Our confidence is coming around now. We are putting chances away, and we have had some earlier this year that we haven’t put away. And when you win, things seem to click for you a bit more, we know we have the qualtity and we will keep going.”
AS IT HAPPENED
CIN: Ben Stitz, GOAL – 2’ (0-1) – The Orange and Blue opened the Red Bulls II defense down the left wing, as Moises Tablante played Jesus Castellano into space behind the defense. Castellano drove into the New York penalty area looking for options and elected to play towards Stitz who hit it first, beating Aidan Stokes.
CIN: Stefan Chirila, GOAL – 28’ (0-2) – A dangerous move for FC Cincinnati 2 was stopped by New York with a foul on Stefan Chirila just inches outside the 18-yard box. Chirila, Ben Stitz and Moises Tablante lined up over the dead ball, with Chirila ultimately taking the chance with a right footed curler around the wall and into the back of the net.
RBNY: Ibrahim Kasule, GOAL (PK) – 50’ (1-2) – Halftime substitute Tanner Rosborough made a near instant impact, drawing a foul against Amir Daley inside the Cincinnati area. Ibrahim Kasule confidently stepped to the spot and converted with ease.
CIN: Stefan Chirila, GOAL – 56’ (1-3) – Amir Daley combined with Stefan Chirila for Cincinnati’s third of the night. Nico Benalcazar lifted a lobbed pass up and over the New York defense and Daley controlled with a couple headed touches and slipped a pass across the face of goal, which found Chirila in front for an easy tap in.
CIN: Moises Tablante, GOAL – 76’ (1-4) – Nico Benalcazar and Amir Daley once again combined to break open the attack for Cincinnati. Benalcazar did well to spin a pass past two New York defenders through midfield before Daley found a long pass into Stefan Chirila. Chirila found Tablante on the left side of the box and the wing back composed himself for a good finish.
Guilherme Santos, who signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract with FC Cincinnati 2 on Thursday made his debut off the bench while Paul Walters, who started 18 matches in 2023 for FC Cincinnati 2, made his first appearance of the season after being recalled from a loan spell with Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship earlier this week.
FC Cincinnati 2 return home next Sunday, May 26 as they take on Inter Miami CF II at Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets for the match can be redeemed using the FC Cincinnati App with an active SeatGeek account. The match will also stream live on MLSNEXTPro.com.
FC CINCINNATI 2 GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati 2 at New York Red Bulls II
Date: May 19, 2024
Competition: MLS NEXT Pro
Venue: MSU Soccer Park
Kickoff: 5:03 p.m. ET
Weather: 75 degrees, cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
RBNY: 0-1-1
CIN: 2-2-4
RBNY – Ibrahim Kasule (PK) 50’
CIN – Ben Stitz (Castellano) 2’, Stefan Chirila 28’, Stefan Chirila (Daley) 56’, Moises Tablante (Chirila) 76’
LINEUPS
RBNY: Aidan Stokes, Omar Valencia, Juan Gutierrez (Rafael Mosquera 61’), Aidan O’Connor (C), Dylan Sullivan, Ibrahim Kasule (Jair Collahuazo 61’), Bento Estrela (Davi Alexandre 74’), Aiden Jarvis (Steven Sserwadda 46’), Mohammed Sofo, Frank Ssebufu (Tanner Rosborough 46’), Julian Hall
Substitutes not used: Dallas Odla, Curtis Ofori, Malick Dembele
Head Coach: Ibrahim Sekagya
CIN: Paul Walters, Moises Tablante, London Aghedo, Brian Schaefer, Gaël Gibert, Amir Daley, Peter Mangione (Nick Samways 85’), Nico Benalcazar (C), Ben Stitz (Guilherme Santos 64’), Jesus Castellano (Alejandro Guido 69’), Stefan Chirila
Substitutes not used: Hunter Morse, Juan Machado, Connor Stout, Illia Tyrkus
Head Coach: Tyrone Marshall
STATS SUMMARY: RBNY/CIN
Shots: 12 / 15
Shots on Goal: 5 / 8
Saves: 4 / 4
Corner Kicks: 2 / 0
Fouls: 22 / 12
Offside: 3 / 1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – London Aghedo (Yellow card) 22’
RBNY – Juan Gutierrez (Yellow card) 27’
RBNY – Frank Ssebufu (Yellow card) 31’
RBNY – Dylan Sullivan (Yellow card) 42’
RBNY – Mohammed Sofo (Yellow card) 45’+5
RBNY – Dylan Sullivan (Red card) 47’
CIN – Guilherme Santos (Yellow card) 90’+5
OFFICIALS
Referee: Melinda Sopka
Ast. Referees: Justen Lopez, Patrick Casey
Fourth Official: Kenneth Rojas
