New York Red Bulls Maintain Unbeaten Home Record Defeating FC Cincinnati 3-1

By James Nalton.

New York Red Bulls’ unbeaten home record, the only such record remaining in Major League Soccer, was supposed to be tested by FC Cincinnati, the reigning Supporters’ Shield champion and the team with the best away record in the league, but that was not the case as the team’s New Jersey stronghold held firm with a 3-1 win.

Cincinnati has not been able to take advantage of a Messi-less Inter Miami in the standings. This has mostly been down to Miami’s Impressive results in Messi’s absence, but is also the result of a few stumbles from the Ohio team.

Inter Miami is also the only team with a better home record than the Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference. Miami is not unbeaten but has 27 points to the Red Bulls’ 26.

In New Jersey on Saturday night, Cincinnati stumbled once again as the Red Bulls maintained their undefeated stand on the banks of the Passaic River in 2024.

The Red Bulls’ opening goal came from a long pass out from the back from Dylan Nealis, over or through the entirety of Cincinnati’s high press and defensive line to Elias Manoel.

The Brazilian sprinted beyond the back line before squaring to an unmarked Lewis Morgan in the middle. Three Cincinnati defenders chased Manoel rather than following Morgan’s run, and the number 9 finished well past Roman Celentano.

The Red Bulls have a long-standing reputation for chaotic soccer but this has been less of a feature this season. They are at least not as frantic in their pressing as previous iterations of this team. They are currently more counter-attacking than counter-pressing under head coach Sandro Schwarz.

Indeed, no team has scored more goals from counter-attacks in MLS this season than the Red Bulls’ 10, per WhoScored data.

Taking a lead should, then, be the ideal scenario for New York Red Bulls. FC Cincinnati was already pushing high and pressing, but Pat Noonan’s side now needed to chase the game.

The Red Bulls had further chances in the first half. Morgan saw a shot saved by Celentano and Daniel Edelman sent the rebound just past the far post from outside the area.

Having reset at halftime as the leading team, the Red Bulls really started to execute their game plan.

Cincinnati introduced star player and reigning MLS MVP Luciano Acosta along with one of their most effective wide players this season, Luca Orellano, but it didn’t help them.

Within 15 second-half minutes, the Red Bulls were 3-0 up.

Kyle Duncan picked out the top corner from outside the area–the obligatory MLS matchday golazo–before Morgan scored his second from Wikelman Carmona’s knockdown.

Kyle Duncan picks out the top corner from distance for his goal during the New York Red Bulls’ 3-1 win vs FC Cincinnati ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/iqCikiYbH9

— The Soccer Times (@nySoccerTimes) July 21, 2024

Though pressing soccer is not quite as prominent for the Red Bulls this season, it is still a feature. The play that led up to the third goal came about after some pressing from the front four of Carmona, Morgan, Manoel, and Dennis Gjengaar led to a turnover. The advance to goal began from there.

Noah Eile found the surging midfielder Ronald Donkor and following his burst forward from midfield he played it wide for Gjangaar whose cross led to the goal.

It could have been more than three for the Red Bulls, too. Celentano saved from Morgan at close range, and there were chances at the end, including a good one for Gjengaar which he couldn’t take.

Cincinnati had just one shot in the second half and scored from it. A fairly scruffy play including some equally uncouth defending led to a goal for Corey Baird, initially given offside but confirmed as a goal by referee Ted Unkel after checking the replay.

FC Cincinnati had 65% possession but registered just three shots at goal with another blocked. By contrast, the Red Bulls had 14 shots on goal with five blocked. It proves again that a team can dominate a game without dominating ball possession.

“It was our match plan to be active from the beginning, finding good moments in our pressing,” head coach Schwarz said after the game.

“To start today more from a 4-2-3-1 and to control the opponents 6 space more. Lewis against the ball comes more from the 10 space.

“There were lots of good moments in transition and we scored from these moments too. It was a very good performance from the whole team.”

The Red Bulls go into the break for the Leagues Cup well-placed for a top-four finish in the Eastern Conference once the season resumes at the end of August.