2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 14
New York City FC vs. FC Cincinnati
Red Bull Arena – Harrison
September 26 – 7:00 PM ET
STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US
LOCAL TV: Star64, YES
New York City FC will look to rebound from their first loss in seven games when they host an FC Cincinnati squad that have four points from their last two in an Eastern Conference showdown Saturday at Red Bull Arena.
NYCFC (5W-6L-2D) are coming off a 1-0 loss to Toronto FC, while FC Cincinnati (3W-6L-4D) drew the Philadelphia Union 0-0 at Nippert Stadium Wednesday to move within a point of the playoff line in the East.
The teams met two weeks ago at RBA, with NYCFC claiming a 2-1 victory on goals by Alex Ring and Anton Tinnerholm. Brandon Vazquez struck late to give the visitors late life.
New York City FC
NYCFC were not only unlucky not to claim all three points, it was downright cruel they were on the losing end of a 1-0 scoreline against Toronto FC Wednesday night at Red Bull Arena. The Cityzens were punished for lacking that last bit of magic in the final third and, to compound things, lost forward Heber to what the club confirmed on Friday to be a season-ending ACL injury just before conceding Alejandro Pozuelo's 90th-minute winner from the penalty spot.
"That's really sad, of course," NYCFC head coach Ronny Delia said. "It's sad for Heber himself, but also for us because we lose a fantastic football player, a good guy as well, an experienced goal scorer. That's sad for everybody."
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Maxi Moralez (M) - knee injury
- OUT: Gedion Zelalem (M) - knee injury
- OUT: Tayvon Gray (D) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Heber (F) - ACL injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: Alexander Callens (D)
- International duty: None
FC Cincinnati
After an impressive win over the New York Red Bulls, FC Cincinnati returned home and claimed a point from a 0-0 draw against the Union Wednesday. It was their fourth straight 0-0 draw at Nippert Stadium this season. There were zero shots registered on goal until the 92nd minute when Joseph-Claude Gyau’s left-footed effort was denied by Andre Blake.
"The most important thing for us is that we tried to be very positive in our approach, we tried to press up the pitch – sometimes we succeeded in doing that, so that was very good," FC Cincinnati coach Jaap Stam said. "Sometimes it’s a bit more difficult, but you’re also playing against a team that can play very good football."
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Jimmy McLaughlin (M) - ankle injury
- OUT: Saad Abdul-Salaam (D) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Przemyslaw Tyton (GK) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Siem de Jong (M) - undisclosed injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
Series Matchup at NYCFC
- NYCFC: 2 wins, 7 goals
- FC Cincinnati: 0 wins, 3 goals
- 4 draws
Officials
- Referee: Armando Villarreal
- Assistant Referees: Gjovalin Bori, Diego Blas
- 4th Official: Luis Arroyo
- VAR: David Gantar
