Against all odds, FC Cincinnati snatched a win and three points against New York Red Bulls, scoring in extra time to secure a thrilling 2-1 come from behind victory for The Orange and Blue. 

With head coach Pat Noonan away tending to personal matters, assistant coach Dominic Kinnear helped guide FC Cincinnati to a series of firsts. The win was the first time in the club’s history since joining MLS that FCC had come back to win after trailing at half, and the first time they have won after trailing in the 75th minute. It is also only the fifth time securing points when trailing at half time on the road, the third time this season. 

At the death, Obinna delivers 

With a draw almost certainly looming, midfielder Obinna Nwobodo played the hero for The Orange and Blue, scoring in the 90+3 minute to give FC Cincinnati the lead for the first time in the final moments of the match. 

Nwobodo was able to get his foot around a ball in the air and drive his shot into the ground, creating a bounce that New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel could not handle and bounced off of his hands into the back of the net. 

The goal was Nwobodo’s second in MLS, and first since opening day of the 2023 season.

Captain Acosta delivers

FC Cincinnati captain Luciano Acosta added to his MVP resume by scoring The Orange and Blue’s first goal of the match in the 80th minute, converting from the penalty spot for his 11th goal of the season. 

After a VAR check on a tackle made on Santiago Arias inside the box, the referee awarded FCC a penalty kick. It was the fifth goal of the season FC Cincinnati has scored from the spot, third most in MLS this season. 

Earlier in the day, Acosta was announced as the captain of the MLS side in the 2023 MLS All-Star game.

Unlucky at the edge of the box

New York Red Bulls got on the score sheet first with a unlucky moment from defender Nick Hagglund, who in the 26th minute, had a 50/50 ball in the air land on his upper arm prompting the referee to award the Red Bulls a penalty kick as the infraction happened inside the box just inches from the outside line. 

Two minutes later, Omir Fernandez stepped to the spot and scored the game's first goal. It was the first time all season that NYRB had scored from the penalty spot, and the third time a penalty kick was scored on FC Cincinnati. 

Junior Moreno brings the energy

With a 1-0 deficit at half time, acting head coach Kinnear made his first substitution of the match, bringing on Venezuelan midfielder Junior Moreno for Malik Pinto who made his second start of the season.

Moreno brought control and energy to the FCC midfield, immediately asserting his presence by dominating play in the middle third and both feeding the offense while steadying the defense. 

After coming on at half, FCC won the possession battle 55-45 despite losing it in the first half by as much as nine percentage points at times. 

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