New York Red Bulls 1-2 Cincinnati: MLS Eastern Conference leader grabs dramatic win

FC Cincinnati played its fifth game without forward Brandon Vazquez as he represented the USMNT in the Gold Cup but the Eastern Conference leaders finally managed to end their three-game streak without a win but not without their struggles.

FC Cincinnati was once again missing its star man and once again it was obvious as it had to rely on a last-gasp, 93rd-minute goalkeeping error to beat the New York Red Bulls Wednesday night.

Already missing Vazquez and Matt Miazga to international duty, and Ian Murphy out of action after seeing red in the previous game against Charlotte, Cincy also found itself without head coach Pat Noonan due to personal reasons.

But the watch from home wouldn’t have been any easier as his side struggled to beat 10th place New York.

Finding themselves 1-0 down after the first half, Cincinnati toiled to pull the trigger until being bailed out by VAR and a last-gasp scrappy winner, and it’s no coincidence that their struggles have coincided with the loss of Vazquez to international duty as the visitors’ failure to find the finishing touch without their man up top proved costly.

New York Red Bulls midfielder Omir Fernandez opened the scoring from the penalty spot

Fernandez runs away to the crowd to celebrate breaking the deadlock in the 28th minute

They found themselves on the hunt for an equalizer when defender Nick Hagluund found himself on the receiving end of a harsh handball decision from referee Lukasz Szpala resulting in a penalty for the hosts in the 28th minute.

Omir Fernandez stepped up to take for New York, taking a short run up before calmly slotting it into the bottom left corner and sending Roman Celentano the wrong way.

Cincinnati wasn’t without chances but without Vazquez in the side they initially looked unable to finish them off and the missed opportunities appeared they would come to cost the visitors.

But the side was finally handed a lucky break from VAR when in the 80th minute Szpala pointed to the spot after a trip to the pitchside monitor, eliciting a loud groan from the home supporters. Luciano Acosta wasted no time in handing his teammates a lifeline after their – and his own – attacking woes as he equalized from the spot.

Yet, the true lucky break was to come in stoppage time when an effort from Obinna Nwobodo bobbled past New York goalkeeper Carlos Coronel.

Hassan Ndam was the sole change for New York from a 2-1 win over a ten-man New England Saturday, with the defender stepping in for Andres Reyes, who was missing through his accumulation of yellow cards.

But just three minutes in, Ndam had already followed in the footsteps of his suspended teammate, picking up a yellow card, leading to a Cincinnati free kick. It was the first real glimmer of attacking action for the visitors but the Red Bulls easily escaped trouble.

Both sides saw chances but amid a scrappy start in New Jersey neither could break the deadlock.

The referee gave a penalty kick for handball against Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund

Fernandez was surrounded by Red Bulls teammates after sending goalkeeper the wrong way

New York Red Bulls forward Dante Vanzeir (13) tries an overhead kick in the opening exchanges

Cincinnati seized moments to stream forward but no one could seem to seal the deal and find the back of the net. More defensive carelessness at the back from the Red Bulls, gifted Cincinnati a golden chance with a free kick right in front of the corner flag but once again they failed to truly threaten.

Meanwhile, the hosts had been knocking themselves. Dante Vanzeir attempted an overhead kick from a corner, only to sky it over the bat in the 14th minute, while ten minutes later, Malik Pinto was booked for a challenge, setting up a New York free kick.

They continued to push forward after Fernandez’s opener from the spot, with Cameron Harper giving Celentano a scare with a bullet of an effort from outside the spot which glanced past the far left post.

The second half followed a similar tale with both sides ramping up the pressure but neither managing to find the target until Cincinnati’s efforts were ultimately rewarded with equalizing spotkick and winner. 

Despite leaving Red Bull Arena with a win, Noonan will be desperate for Vazquez to return.  

Cincinnati midfielder Malik Pinto (26) is shown a yellow card in what was a scrappy first half

Cincinnati forward Arquimides Ordonez and Red Bulls defender Kyle Duncan fight for the ball