Red Bulls don’t go down easy vs. Cincy
HARRISON − Even for the typically-stoic Pat Noonan, something was off about his body language and general demeanor as he prepared to address the media following FC Cincinnati’s dramatic Game 2 win against New York Red Bulls.
FC Cincinnati came back from a onegoal deficit Saturday at Red Bull Arena to force penalty kicks that lasted 10 rounds. They came out on top, winning the shootout, 8-7. It secured one the most frenzied and chaotic wins in club history and saw the team advance the Eastern Conference semifinals for the second consecutive year.
But as Noonan spoke, he didn’t convey the kind of enthusiasm you’d expect given the result he’d achieved. It was almost like he needed to hear himself state the positives from the result to be convinced he could feel good about it.
“I’m very pleased that we’re moving on. It was not an easy game and we advanced. That’s the important thing,” Noonan said.
But Noonan said next − “it took its toll on us” − revealed where his mind was. The battle that had been won was, at least for the time being, a Pyrrhic victory that could have serious consequences moving forward.
There were injuries, a suspension that could debilitate Cincinnati’s typicallybruising defense, frustrations stemming from refereeing decisions and, perhaps, more questions than answers ahead of the club’s second round matchup, which won’t be played prior to Nov. 25.
One of the most colorful and memorable victories in FC Cincinnati history had a decidedly bittersweet taste, and it might have been more bitter than sweet. Here’s why:
The game was the most physical and chippy of the 45 FC Cincinnati played so far in 2023. That was to be expected given the involvement of a Red Bulls side facing elimination in the new best-of-three series first-round format following FCC’s 3-0 win on Oct. 29 at TQL Stadium.
The fans played their part, too. The environment inside Red Bull Arena was, by far, the most spirited FCC had ever experienced in all its trips to Harrison.
“It’s Red Bull. It’s away in Jersey. These are some interesting folks out here, so that’s what you’re going to get,” FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano said. “You know going in it’s going to be like that. They’re going to do every little bit to get under our skin, to get the ref going, whether it’s good or bad.”
On the field, New York seemed to outphysical FC Cincinnati, but FCC didn’t hesitate to shove right back. Referee Victor Rivas had his hands full officiating the frequent arguments and shoving matches during pauses in the action. The game held 34 fouls. A few were violent.
The bumps and bruises added up. Dominique Badji exited the match prematurely in the first half due to what was thought to be a muscular injury. Later, defensive midfield stalwart Obinna Nwobodo exited due to an injury stemming from having his foot stepped on. He left the field walking slowly and with a cleat in-hand.
Luciano Acosta and Yerson Mosquera played through obvious discomfort, too.
Noonan could abide the injuries that occur normally in the course of a 90-minute game. He couldn’t abide the suspension Matt Miazga received after receiving two yellow cards after the final whistle.
The first yellow was assessed as Miazga had an exchange with Rivas regarding a disallowed FC Cincinnati goal in the 97th minute. The second was assessed after a prolonged gesture directed at Red Bulls supporters.
“Matt knows better,” Noonan said. “That’s − we shouldn’t be missing him for the next round. Simple as that.”
In the sixth round of penalty kicks, Miazga buried his shot with confidence. The former Red Bull player than gestured to the New York supporters end behind the goal.
Bear in mind Miazga is a Clifton, New Jersey native. He grew up a proud product of the Red Bulls’ storied development pipeline, eventually springboarding to success in Europe after winning two Supporters’ Shield with “RBNY.”
Whether the connection Miazga felt to New Jersey soccer fans frayed over the course of the match remains to be seen but, depending on your perspective, he was either goading the Garden Staters and New Yorkers in attendance or paying homage to them.
Either way, it didn’t go over well. Already on a yellow card after debating the disallowed goal, Miazga held aloft a heart-shaped hand gesture to the supporters section.
Demonstrative? No. Trolling? Perhaps. Prolonged? Yes. Provocative? Enough for Rivas to show him yellow again, at least.
According to this year’s postseason rules, Miazga didn’t receive a red card after the second yellow. He also didn’t have to leave the field. The consequence was the same as a red card, though, as it triggered a one-match suspension for accumulating too many yellow cards. The threshold to avoid is three prior to the conference final, and that was Miazga’s third.
In a stark contrast to the 2022 season, FC Cincinnati scarcely found itself on the wrong side of officiating controversies in 2023. In fact, in the rare moments when FCC needed a call, it got one (see: 1-0 win vs. Seattle Sounders FC on March 11).
Controversy found FC Cincinnati on what was essentially the last kick of the 90-plus minutes, a corner kick by Acosta redirected into the New York net off Sergio Santos for what was thought to be a 2-1 lead. Coronel came into contact with FCC players during the scramble to push the ball over the line, but many indications pointed to the goal being awarded, including Rivas’ arm signals.
That was followed by video assistant referee (VAR) overturning the goal due a foul on Coronel, which FC Cincinnati disagreed with. But in a post-match statement provided via the league’s pool reporter system, the Rivas-led officiating crew stated the opposite: That no goal was awarded due to a foul on Coronel and that VAR confirmed no clear and obvious error on the foul call.
“Maybe there’s the goal there at the end, but, you know, I haven’t seen enough of the replay to get clarity that it’s a foul,” Noonan said. “So it’s just, it didn’t look like a ton. But again, that’s a biased opinion. So, I’d like to think you let that go and then you use the VAR if it’s clear and obvious, but they saw something and they called it.”
At the outset of the penalty kicks, neither club appeared to be aware that no coin flip would be used to determine which side of the stadium the penalty kicks would take place. Rivas was overheard on the Apple TV live stream as he informed both captains that the only pro-penalty coin flip would be to decide which team shot first.
Rivas stated MLS had determined which end the teams would shoot into, which turned out to be in front of the Red Bulls’ supporters.
FC Cincinnati officials indicated they weren’t expecting that but ultimately weren’t concerned, adding that they expected any penalty-kick situations at TQL Stadium to also be staged in front of their fans’ supporters section, The Bailey.