FC Cincinnati 2 Goals: Castellano 31', Pinto 53'
New York City Football Club II Goals:
Quick Read
NYCFC II took their talents to Ohio on Sunday to face off against FC Cincinnati 2. The hosts took the lead in the 31st minute through Jesús Castellano. That lead was doubled by Malik Pinto in the 53rd minute. Matt Myers missed a penalty kick late on to keep the score at 2-0 to FC Cincinnati 2. Despite fighting until the final kick, NYCFC II were unable to fashion a route back into the game, and that confirmed a defeat on the road.
Match Recap
A trip to TQL Stadium awaited NYCFC II this weekend as they took on FC Cincinnati on Sunday evening.
Head Coach Matt Pilkington made several changes to the starting XI. In came experienced trio Stephen Turnbull, Samuel Owusu, and Jack Beer for Maximo Carrizo, Alex Hauschild, and Drew Baiera while Ronny Arévalo slotted in on the right of a front three in place of Gabe Segal.
A quick start to proceedings saw the hosts register the game's first shot on goal inside the opening minutes. Gerardo Valenzuela produced a shot from outside the box that Alex Rando did well to save.
Rando was again called into action in the 13th minute to deny Malik Pinto after he timed a run in behind the NYCFC defensive line. NYCFC II promptly went up the other end seconds later for a similar chance. Unfortunately, Matthew Myers was unable to convert.
Ten minutes later NYCFC II would find another opportunity to snatch the opening goal of the game. Nico Benalcazar decided to try his luck from distance, but the effort was wide of the target.
The deadlock would be broken in the 31st minute, and it came for Cincinnati 2. A turnover on midfield saw Cincy 2 break, and Jesús Castellano drove into the box before driving a low shot from right to left across Rando.
NYCFC II almost found an equalizer four minutes later when a corner kick found its way to the feet of Samuel Owusu at the top of the box. Despite making a clean connection his low effort was gathered by Cincy 2 goalkeeper Paul Walters.
Walters would be a busy man as the first half drew to a close. A cross from Owusu found Arévalo in space at the back post, and his header from point-blank range was somehow tipped onto the post by Walters and out for a corner.
Perhaps the best chance of the half would come in injury time after Turnbull's effort from distance somehow landed at the feet of Myers six yards out. His effort was well-saved and the follow-up from Jonathan Jiménez missed the target.
The second period brought just a single change for the hosts, as both sides pursued the second goal of the contest. Cincinnati 2 would find the goal in the 53rd minute through Pinto.
Matthew Pilkington would turn to his bench minutes later and introduce Jonathan Shore and John Denis in place of Piero Elias and Arévalo. Denis would be granted a chance to make an instant impact after his cross found Rio Hope-Gund, but he was unable to convert.
Denis was proving a problem for Cincinnati 2, and a freekick on the edge of the box allowed him to step up and try his luck. A deflection forced the effort behind for a corner.
NYCFC II were fighting valiantly in their attempt to get back in the game. Myers was often the man on the end of the team's chances - a missed header in the 63rd minute followed up with a shot in the 75th minute that almost caught Walters out.
In the 81st minute, Maximo Carrizo entered the game as Beer departed the contest. The Boys in Blue would earn a chance to convert from the spot after Christian McFarlane's marauding run down the left was halted by a foul in the box. Myers took the responsibility but saw his kick saved by Walters.
That would be the final notable act of the contest and confirmed an unfortunate defeat on the road for NYCFC II.
Match Highlights
How We Lined Up
What's Next
Next up for NYCFC II is a meeting with Philadelphia Union II on Sunday, September 3, 2023. Kickoff at Belson Stadium is set for 5:00PM ET.
Watch live on AppleTV and follow our official @NYCFCII Twitter page for updates.
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