When FC Cincinnati took a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute, it felt like an emphatic moment. Following a Victor Ulloa backheel, an Andrew Gutman cross and a piledriver from Allan Cruz, Cincinnati hammered their way into the lead against a New York City FC side that hammered FCC 5-2 in the previous matchup.
The problem, however, was the lead lasted two minutes, evaporated in first-half stoppage time and eventually Cincinnati left the field with a 4-1 loss on Saturday night at Nippert Stadium.
Here are three takeaways from the match:
“I think we could’ve had a result, but there’s no use saying that when you lose 1-4,” FCC Head Coach Ron Jans said midway through his first press conference at Nippert Stadium.
The sentence summed up the night.
Truthfully, Cincinnati was the better team earlier in the match and deserved the 1-0 lead it created when Cruz scored his team-high fifth goal of the season. But, if we’re also being truthful, that should’ve doubled FCC’s lead.
Minutes earlier, Darren Mattocks played a through ball to Roland Lamah, who barreled down on the NYCFC goal. The only thing that could prevent a certain goal was Lamah getting fouled in the box. That occurred, and Emmanuel Ledesma missed the ensuing penalty.
“I think we really did a good job of going ahead,” midfielder Caleb Stanko said. “It’s unfortunate we missed the PK. That would’ve sealed the deal, in my opinion. Them coming back and scoring two minutes later just took the wind out of our sails.”
The smoke was still rising following FC Cincinnati’s goal when NYCFC equalized.
During his post-match comments, Jans said that would’ve been a fair score at halftime, but Cincinnati could’ve had a comfortable lead by that point and could’ve prevented New York’s stoppage time goal to make it 2-1 at the break.
In six of the last nine games, FCC have conceded between the 40th minute and halftime. It happened in Columbus, too.
It would’ve been easy for FC Cincinnati players and the coaching staff to be negative after the loss. But rather than being down, Jans kept his mood upbeat.
Saying he was satisfied would be false, but he was pleased with moments of the game when Cincinnati played well and created chances similar to things they focused on in training during the week.
When FCC took the lead, the goal was well-worked down the left flank, but it was also exactly what Jans wanted: he wanted to spread NYCFC out wide, which would create space. That’s exactly what happened.
In the second half, Cincinnati nearly scored when Ulloa pinpointed a free kick to Mathieu Deplagne at the back post, but the Frenchman’s shot was off target. Had he scored, the play was perfect execution – and similar execution to when FCC scored off an early corner against Columbus last Saturday at MAPFRE Stadium.
“There were moments in the game when we could’ve led more than one-nil,” Jans said. “Maybe when we scored on the penalty. But, that is only if. What I see is a group that is better than the 18 points we have now, and I am sure we will get results. That is why I am always positive.”
The Orange and Blue believe one sour result won’t spoil the momentum the club created last weekend on the road.
The loss to NYCFC was the interim of the 2019 #HellisReal Derby.
Last week, FC Cincinnati played at Columbus Crew SC, and next Sunday, the two meet at Nippert Stadium. It’ll close the 2019 series and marks the first time Crew SC comes to Cincinnati since FCC won, 1-0, in a 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match.
Even if both teams sit outside the playoff picture, they have big bragging rights between the two and are separated by only 110 miles.
That’s why Jans was quick to say there’s still plenty to play for, and Stanko said the 4-1 loss to New York doesn’t change anything with Columbus coming to the Queen City.
“With this new head coach, I think he brings a lot of energy,” Stanko said. “He’s playing a different style that takes time to adjust to, but I think the guys have done well and we’re adjusting quickly. I think this will carry over into next season, and of course, into next week.”
What comes next is conveniently FC Cincinnati’s biggest game of the season.
Fresh off the lopsided loss, there’s little time to look back and reflect. The Orange and Blue simply have to move forward, especially with part two of the #HellisReal Derby coming to Nippert Stadium next Sunday night … on national TV on FS1.
The first meeting saw Cincinnati take a two-goal lead, only to allow two unanswered in Jans’ first match as the new head coach. Now, his second home match be hosting Columbus in a match for bragging rights, momentum and potentially one of the biggest results in FCC’s inaugural season in MLS.
