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New York City FC fell 2-1 to FC Cincinnati on Wednesday night at TQL Stadium, undone by an Evander stoppage-time winner after Luighi had leveled the match in the first half. Kenji Mboma Dem opened the scoring in the 11th minute before Luighi answered 10 minutes later, but the Brazilian playmaker had the final say deep into second-half stoppage time.
The loss leaves NYCFC at 7-8-5 with 26 points and seventh in the Eastern Conference. Cincinnati improved to 8-6-6 with 30 points and moved into fifth. It was NYCFC’s fourth straight defeat across all competitions.
Match Stats – via Sofascore
Goals:
• CIN – Kenji Mboma Dem, 11′
• NYC – Luighi (Ojeda, Fernández), 21′
• CIN – Evander (Valenzuela, Bucha), 90+1′
FC Cincinnati / NYCFC
• Shots: 14 / 16
• Shots on Goal: 7 / 8
• Possession: 54.7% / 45.3%
• Corners: 2 / 5
• Fouls: 11 / 9
• Saves: 7 / 5
Attendance: 23,317
Mboma Dem Breaks Through, Luighi Answers
Cincinnati found the opener in the 11th minute when an Evander through ball created an opportunity for Kévin Denkey. Kevin O’Toole recovered to nick the ball away, but it rolled into the path of Mboma Dem, who beat a sliding NYCFC defender and finished with his left foot for his ninth goal in all competitions this season.
NYCFC responded 10 minutes later. Agustín Ojeda and Nicolás Fernández combined in the buildup before Ojeda centered for Luighi, who finished the move with a side-footed volley. It was the Palmeiras loanee’s second goal in two games.
The equalizer shifted momentum toward the visitors, with James Sands and Keaton Parks both going close before halftime. In a late flurry, Bénie Traoré drew a save from Roman Celentano, while Fernández Mercau had efforts blocked by Matt Miazga and Miles Robinson in quick succession.
Evander Delivers Late
NYCFC began the second half on the front foot. Fernández Mercau and Luighi both forced saves from Celentano in the opening minutes, and Celentano later kicked away a quick turn and shot from Luighi.
Pascal Jansen made his first changes in the 64th minute, introducing Malachi Jones and Seymour Reid for Traoré and Luighi. Jonny Shore and Nico Cavallo replaced O’Toole and Parks in the 75th minute, before Talles Magno came on for Ojeda in the 81st. Celentano remained busy late, denying Talles Magno from a tight angle, saving Shore’s long-range effort and stopping another Talles Magno attempt.
Despite that pressure, Cincinnati found the winner in the first minute of stoppage time. Miles Robinson played to Pavel Bucha, who found Gerardo Valenzuela. Valenzuela redirected the ball to Evander inside the box, where the Brazilian created space between two NYCFC defenders and struck a left-footed finish past Matt Freese.
Evander’s goal was his fourth career stoppage-time goal for FC Cincinnati. It also gave him a league-leading 23 goal contributions this season. Cincinnati have scored 17 goals from the 75th minute onward, the most in MLS.
Bucha’s assist was his 20th for Cincinnati in all competitions, two shy of Emmanuel Ledesma’s total for fourth-most in club history. Obinna Nwobodo made his 150th appearance for Cincinnati, becoming the sixth player in club history to reach that milestone. The result moved Cincinnati to 4-1-1 on Wednesdays this season and 22-6-8 under head coach Pat Noonan.
What’s Next
NYCFC have conceded seven goals across their past three games in all competitions. The lineup at Cincinnati included Raul Gustavo and James Sands in central defense, with Kevin O’Toole at left back.
NYCFC return to action Sunday, August 23, against the New England Revolution.
The post Evander’s Stoppage-Time Strike Extends NYCFC’s Losing Streak appeared first on Hudson River Blue.
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