Vazquez goal knocks NYCFC out of Open Cup in 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati

Courtesy: NYCFC

By Chris Tsakonas

New York City FC’s US Open Cup comes to an end in the Round of 32, as they fell 1-0 to FC Cincinnati tonight at TQL Stadium. Brandon Vazquez had the lone goal for Cincinnati in the win.

The first half started strong for the NYCFC attack,. In the 4th minute, Talles Magno got on the end of a buildup, ultimately hitting the ball over the bar. New York City would get another good look in the 8th minute, when a ball from Justin Haak found Thiago Martins in the area, but his shot was deflected.

From that point, FC Cincinnati started to get more of a footing in the match. In the 16th minute, Alvaro Barreal took a free kick from about 40 yards out, and was able to find Yuya Kubo for the shot that was saved by Matt Freese.

“I think in those shots from outside the box that we restricted them to, I thought [Freese] had done really, really well,” head coach Nick Cushing said after the match.

The breakthrough finally came for Cincinnati in the 56th minute. Off a corner kick, Alvaro Barreal sent in a cross that was headed home powerfully by Brandon Vazquez at the edge of the six to make it 1-0.

With the second half winding down, NYCFC dialed up the pressure in search of an equalizer. In the 75th minute, O’Toole took a hard shot from a 30 yard free kick that just missed over the crossbar. In the 79th minute, O’Toole got involved again, this time setting up James Sands with a cross that was headed on frame, but stopped by keeper Alec Kann for what ultimately ended up being their only shot on goal as a team.

“I think we have to be better in [the final third],” Cushing said. “we're working on it, and we will continue to work on it. I thought the way we progressed the ball today, and how we progressed the ball into offensive areas was excellent.”

The defeat leaves New York City winless in all competitions away from the five boroughs - a streak that they’ll have a chance to break on Saturday night when they head to Red Bull Arena for the first Hudson River Derby of 2023.