LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – FC Cincinnati took down the New York Red Bulls 2-0 this week in the MLS is Back Tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Disney World. The win takes Cincy to the Knockout round of 16.
The Group E match of the World Cup-styled tournament that started the 2020 MLS season, Cincinnati continued their strategy of holding back with a stronger back line, and then pushing for opportunities. It worked.
Yuya Kubo game-winner in the 43rd minute. RBNY was lax on clearing the ball from a corner kick, and Kubo took advantage and put it in from 20 yards out for the 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute.
The Orange and Blue scored again in the 56th minute when Haris Medunjanin’s corner kick. The midfielder curled in a left-footed shot that RBNY midfielder Florian Valot flicked on and goalkeeper David Jensen pawed into his own net for the 2-0 setback.
FC Cincinnati will next play Tuesday against the winner of Group F, which will be Los Angeles FC.
“Today was a difficult game.” said Cincinnati head coach Jaap Stam. “We knew that from the start. Playing against a very good team with good players but also as a team working very well together. They’ve done that for the last couple of seasons already, so we spoke about it before and we needed to give everything defending-wise to not give away too many chances or open chances and to wait for the moment ourselves to come out and be decisive and score that goal. That’s what we’ve done twice.”
