NY Red Bulls II and Cincinnati II shared the points at MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field on Saturday evening, going into a penalty shootout in the MLS Next Pro group stage. The match finished 1:1 after extra time before the visitors lifted the trophy on spot-kicks. We had backed the hosts to win with 69 per cent confidence, but the game took a different turn entirely.
J. Mize gave the home side the lead in the 39th minute, a moment that felt like it might set the tone. By then you could see Cincinnati settling into their shape rather than chasing the game. C. Gallagher pulled them level in the 81st minute, and the momentum shifted after that. The hosts had a man sent off in the 90th minute plus seven, J. Munson receiving a second yellow, which changed the complexion of everything that followed.
The penalty shootout told you exactly where the balance lay. NY Red Bulls II converted seven of their kicks while Cincinnati missed only one, N. Worth sending his effort wide. The rest went in without drama — Baitinger, Orejarena, Cadigan, Chavez, Gallagher, Samson, and Valencia all found the net. And here's the thing, when you lose your discipline like that, you're asking for trouble from the spot.
The statistics painted a picture of control that didn't match the result. The home side enjoyed 66 per cent possession and registered 96 attacks compared to 67 for the visitors. They had more shots on target too, four to three, but accuracy was just 19 per cent against 33 per cent for Cincinnati. To be fair, they created plenty but couldn't convert when it mattered most in open play.
What this means in the table is straightforward enough. The hosts sit top with 27 games played, 15 wins, and 46 points. Cincinnati occupy eighth place with seven wins from 27 matches and 20 points. Neither side has a draw to their name all season, which says something about the nature of this competition.
Cup football has its own rules, and this was a reminder that ninety minutes can be wasted if you lose your head at the wrong moment. The hosts dominated territory and possession but paid for that red card in the most brutal way possible. By then the damage was done, and there was nothing to do but watch the penalties unfold.
