May 31, 2023 (Bronx, NY) – FC Cincinnati wins a chippy affair with 11 yellow cards in the Bronx, thanks to clinical finishing by birthday boy Lucho Acosta and fellow Argentine Álvaro Barreal.
- Date: May 31, 2023
- Competition: MLS Regular Season Matchday 16
- Venue: Yankee Stadium
- Kickoff: 7:39 p.m. ET
- Weather: 69 degrees, sunny
- Box Score: New York City FC 1 vs FC Cincinnati 3
Starting XI
Colorado Rapids (3-4-3): 49 Freese; 93 Alfaro, 4 Chanot, 24 Gray; 3 Cufré, 55 Parks, 6 Sands, 34 Turnbull; 10 Rodriguez, 19 Segal, 11 Pereira (Head Coach – Nick Cushing)
FC Cincinnati (3-4-1-2): 18 Celentano; 32 Murphy, 21 Miazga, 15 Mosquera; 31 Barreal, 7 Kubo, 93 Moreno, 13 Arias; 10 Acosta; 19 Vazquez, 14 Badji (Head Coach – Pat Noonan)
STATS: (NYC/CIN)
- Shots: 12/11
- Shots on Goal: 6/5
- Saves: 2/5
- Corner Kicks: 5/0
- Fouls: 12/17
- Offside: 2/2
- Possession (%): 60/40
SCORING SUMMARY
38′ Luciano Acosta (Assist: Dom Badji, Álvaro Barreal)
59′ Álvaro Barreal
64′ Brian Cufré (Assist: Alfredo Morales)
70′ Brandon Vazquez (Penalty)
MISCONDUCT
- 37′ Yellow Card – Nick Cushing (NYC – coach)
- 41′ Yellow Card – Brian Cufré (NYC)
- 43′ Yellow Card – Yerson Mosquera (CIN)
- 45’+5′ Yellow Card – Brandon Vazquez (CIN)
- 50′ Yellow Card – Luciano Acosta (CIN)
- 53′ Yellow Card – Maxime Chanot (NYC)
- 56′ Yellow Card – James Sands (NYC)
- 66′ Yellow Card – Gabriel Pereira (NYC)
- 82′ Yellow Card – Tony Alfaro (NYC)
- 88′ Yellow Card – Alfredo Morales (NYC)
- 90’+1′ Yellow Card – Raymon Gaddis (CIN)
BY THE NUMBERS
5: 5 straight league wins – that’s a new club record for FC Cincinnati.
6: 6 wins in the month of May, another record for FC Cincinnati. They went unbeaten through the month, going 6-0-1 (19 points).
29: Lucho Acosta scored on his 29th birthday!
36: 36 points in 15 matches. That’s the most by any team in their first 15 matches in MLS history. (excluding the shootout era)
MOTM: Luciano Acosta (CIN)
It’s the birthday boy! Acosta was once again the focal point of the offense once the midfield got the ball to him. The opening goal of the match was a perfect finish by Acosta, and he set up the second – drawing a foul and earning a free kick in dangerous territory for Barreal to score from. This is all with him not taking the PK for the third goal, instead handing it to USMNT forward Brandon Vazquez to get him on the scoresheet—a true “Ted Lasso” moment.
Photo Credits: @FCCincinnati (via Twitter)
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