New York City FC advances to the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals
Cincinnati, OH (Saturday, November 9, 2024) — New York City FC faced off against FC Cincinnati on Saturday in a decisive do-or-die Game 3. Both teams battled through a tense and tight first half, with neither able to claim a goal. That carried through into the second period, with the game finishing goalless. That forced the series to be decided by penalties. The fine margins continued into penalties with both sides missing one of their first five spot kicks. After eight penalties each, the score was tied at 5-5. A miss from Teenage Hadebe with Cincinnati’s ninth penalty handed Mitja Ilenič the chance to win the game – his successful spot-kick helping City advance and setting up a Conference Semifinal meeting with Red Bulls.
New York City FC advances to the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals to host the first-ever Hudson River Derby in postseason play.
Midfielder Maxi Moralez made his 200th appearance in MLS including playoffs. In his 200 appearances Moralez scored 32 goals and provided 80 assists.
New York City FC is fielding the same lineup tonight against FC Cincinnati in Game 3, as they did last week in Game 2. This marks just the second time this season that the team has used the exact same starting XI in back-to-back matches.
The only other instance was on April 13 against New England Revolution and April 20 against D.C. United, where they won both matches. This time, New York City earned one win and one draw, with the draw ultimately leading to a shootout victory.
New York City FC has been held scoreless nine times resulting in a record of 0W-7L-2D (including playoff matches).
There was one other match (Matchday 26, v. Chicago Fire) where neither team scored first, and the result ended in a 0-0 draw.
New York City FC has played 11 away matches in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, maintaining a record of 2W-5L-4D over those games. When playing away from home, NYC scored 12 goals, produced 11 assists, and conceded 19 goals (including an own goal).
This match marks the third shootout win in postseason, previously having won the shootout against Portland Timbers and New England Revolution in 2021.
New York City has recorded their first clean sheet when playing away during the postseason.
New York City FC traveled to Ohio for the seventh overall face-off against Cincinnati on their home turf in the all-time series history in MLS play between these two Eastern Conference teams.
All-time in regular season matches, NYC has a record of 7W-3L-2D against FC Cincinnati, scoring 31 and conceding 19 over those matches.
Away specifically, the team has a record of 2W-1L-1D, with 10 goals scored and 10 conceded in regular season play.
In the postseason, NYC has a record of 1W-1L-1D against Cincinnati. Over those three matches, the Club has scored three goals and conceded two.
New York City has been held scoreless twice. The previous occurrence dates back to their 0-1 loss at TQL Stadium during the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
In the 14 overall matchups between these two sides, NYC has kept three clean sheets against FC Cincinnati, while Cincinnati has held the Club scoreless four different times.
Maxi Moralez made his 200th appearance in MLS including playoffs. In his 200 appearances Moralez scored 32 goals and provided 80 assists.
Matt Freese made his third appearance in a shootout this season, previously featured in the Leagues Cup matches against Columbus Crew and New England Revolution. This match marks the second time in which New York City FC has won a shootout match this season. Freese made three penalty saves against Cincinnati.
Prior to this match, NYC won a shootout match against New England Revolution.
Freese’s three saves in this shootout are the most he’s made in a single match, surpassing his one penalty save against Columbus Crew during the Leagues Cup.
Overall, Freese has now recorded four penalty saves in shootouts this season.
UP NEXT
New York City FC will host the New York Red Bulls in the first-ever postseason Hudson River Derby in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
OFFICIALS
Referee: Drew Fischer
Ast. Referee 1: Logan Brown
Ast. Referee 2: Michael Barwegen
Fourth official: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
VAR: Kevin Stott
Ast. VAR: Tom Supple
MATCH RECAP
A place in the next round of the Audi MLS Playoffs was at stake on Saturday afternoon as New York City FC took on FC Cincinnati.
A victory for City last Saturday in Queens forced a Game 3 at TQL Stadium, with both teams eager to continue their postseason journey.
Head Coach Nick Cushing fielded the same lineup that overcame Cincinnati 3-1 at Citi Field a week prior.
A fast start to the game saw both teams fly out of the blocks in search of the first goal. In the 11th minute, DeAndre Yedlin got off a shot that whizzed across the box and just past Matt Freese’s post.
City responded soon after via a set-piece opportunity. Keaton Parks got his head to a near post corner but could not find the target.
Cincinnati’s best chance of the half came in the 31st minute after a loose ball fell to Luca Orellano 12 yards out. His close-range shot seemed destined for the bottom corner until Freese pulled off a remarkable save to deny him.
The hosts were ramping up the pressure in search of a breakthrough, but in their way stood a dogged and resolute City side.
The half finished with a flurry of action at both ends. Kevin O’Toole nearly put City ahead with a volley from a corner, and moments later, Orellano raced downfield, flashing a shot just wide of the post.
The start of the second half saw both sides struggle to generate a settled rhythm in possession.
Chances were few and far between as the game ticked past the 65-minute mark. City’s first change of the game would arrive ten minutes later as Andrés Perea replaced Hannes Wolf out wide.
City thought they had claimed a lead in the 81st minute after a lightning-quick breakaway instigated by Maxi Moralez.
Eventually finished by Alonso Martínez, his joy was short-lived, however, as the goal was ruled out for offside.
That would be Martínez’s last involvement as he was replaced by Mounsef Bakrar in the 85th minute. City almost snatched victory deep into stoppage time after some neat combination play between O’Toole, Bakrar, and Parks allowed the latter to fire off a shot that Roman Celentano claimed.
Ultimately, neither side was able to find a goal on the night, meaning penalties would decide the series.
The fine margins continued into the penalty shootout with both sides missing one of their first five spot kicks. After eight penalties each, the score was tied at 5-5. A miss from Cincinnati’s Teenage Hadebe handed Mitja Ilenič the chance to win the game and the series – his confident spot-kick winning the game for City and setting up a Conference Semifinal meeting with the Red Bulls.
QUOTES
NEW YORK CITY FC HEAD COACH NICK CUSHING
On the performance in the second half and the mindset before the shootout…
“It was a typical playoff game. We are so used to these one-off games that I rely on the [likes of] James Sands, Keaton Parks, Maxi Moralez, and Thiago Martins to play the game that is in front of us and that is to defend incredibly well but have a threat on the other end… In playoff football, the margins are so small that you have to live on the edge at moments and be brave, and you have to try and take your chances on the other end. So, we lived in counterattack a little bit more than we wanted to, but this is a tough place to come and win. Our record here will show that. So, to get to penalties was a positive because it gave us a chance.”
On what Matt Freese has meant to the team and his performance throughout the season…
“Matt’s last season in 2023, he had to be patient to get the shirt. Him and Luis [Barraza] have fought it out and continue to and the goalkeeping department is so competitive, [including] Tomás Romero and Alex Rando. The reason why Matt Freese can compete at the level that he can is because of the chemistry and the cohesion that Rob [Vartughian] has with the goalkeepers. Matt is growing into a real leader in the group. He has a real presence in the dressing room, but it’s just his desire. I say all the time all I want in our locker room is guys that are hungry, that believe and that have ambition. [When] we have those three things, we have a chance, at least a chance. Matt Freese, every time we missed [on penalties], he just showed the ambition and the hunger to save another one tonight. That is just a great example of a guy that is a real high contributor to a team.”
NEW YORK CITY FC DEFENDER MITJA ILENIČ
On advancing through after a three-game series…
“What can I say? I’m super happy about it. It’s a relief, but it’s not over. Not a long time ago I said that we would try to go until the end…We are all confident and all super happy. I think everybody in that dressing room deserves this. The club deserve this. [I’m] super happy about this and it’s not end.”
On Matt Freese’s performance during the match and the penalty shootout…
“What can I say about him? He is really a beast… He really deserved this. This guy is always in the gym, always doing his rehab, always doing [workouts] with the rope outside. He is just a machine. I’m super happy to have him because it means a lot when he saved the game. Also congrats, I think he saved [three] penalties and for me to just to put the cherry on top [and score], how great was that?”
