NYCFC’s season on the brink after Game 1 loss to FC Cincinnati in MLS playoffs

Yamil Asad scored his first profession playoff extremity to assistance FC Cincinnati to a 1-0 triumph complete visiting New York City FC successful nan opener of their MLS Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff bid connected Monday.

MLS regular play assistance co-leader Luciano Acosta group up Asad’s 51st infinitesimal goal, nan first nan Argentine had scored successful 3 postseason appearances. He played for Atlanta United successful nan 2017 playoffs and for D.C. United successful nan 2018 playoffs.

Roman Celentano made 2 saves to support nan cleanable expanse for Cincinnati, nan 3rd seed successful nan Eastern Conference which will effort to adjacent retired nan best-of-three bid connected Saturday successful New York.

The Cityzens earned a 3-2 location triumph complete Cincy successful nan teams’ gathering earlier this period aft losing astatine Cincinnati 1-0 successful March. This time, NYCFC will person to gain a location triumph without Tayvon Gray, who was sent disconnected heavy successful second-half stoppage clip for raising an limb astatine Acosta.

Matt Freese made 5 saves for sixth-seeded New York City, which played nan hosts much aliases little moreover earlier halftime but was mostly connected nan protect aft it.

Cincinnati elevated its attacking prowess early successful nan 2nd half, pinch Luca Orellano seeing his effort deflected narrowly wide of nan adjacent station successful nan 49th infinitesimal earlier Asad put nan hosts successful beforehand successful nan 51st.

Orellano helped create nan chance pinch a walk that freed Yuya Kubo for a first changeable from adjacent nan endline connected nan correct broadside of nan punishment area.

Kubo dragged his effort from a tight perspective wide of nan acold post. Acosta chased it down and sent a first-touch transverse to Asad, who headed it crossed nan statement from astir 4 yards retired straight successful beforehand of goal.

Not agelong after, FC Cincinnati’s Teenage Hadebe missed an exceptional chance to double nan lead, firing a mistimed volley complete nan crossbar.

City’s champion look astatine an equalizer came successful nan 63rd minute, erstwhile Celentano’s beardown hands pushed distant Andres Perea’s onslaught connected nan break.

Cincinnati looked to beryllium nan much apt squad to people nan 2nd goal. Hadebe’s 73rd-minute header forced Freese into his champion prevention of nan night, and Nicholas Gioacchini fired wide connected different chance created by Acosta successful second-half stoppage time.