A 17-Year-Old Kid and a Penalty Kick Saved Cincinnati From Disaster Against NYCFC
This is the kind of collapse that haunts you. New York City FC had FC Cincinnati on the ropes, up 4-2 with the clock ticking down. Then Andrei Chirila, a 17-year-old homegrown defender, decided his second MLS match was the perfect time to score his first career goal. Two minutes into second-half stoppage time, Chirila ripped one from outside the box. Then, three minutes later, Kevin O'Toole committed a foul in the penalty area, and Evander buried the spot kick. Final: 4-4. Cincinnati escaped with a draw, but NYCFC just blew one of those games that feels like a loss.
Cincinnati Needed This More Than You Know
Before tonight, FC Cincinnati was 0-3-2 on the road this season. That's brutal. That's not a trend, that's a problem. The draw moves them to 2-4-3 overall with 9 points, but at least they're not in the ditch anymore after Kevin Denkey scored twice, including one early to keep his team breathing. Roman Celentano made five saves in goal to keep it manageable until the final moments. This team needed something to feel good about, and late-game grit will do it.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiNicolas Fernandez Is Turning Into a Problem for Everyone Else
NYCFC's Nicolas Fernandez scored twice in the first half and now has eight goals in nine matches. Think about that. He's only played nine games and he's already tied his entire production from last season, when he scored three in 11 matches. Fernandez is now the fourth player in franchise history to score at least 10 goals within his first 20 regular-season appearances. He opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Roman Celentano couldn't cleanly field a service and Fernandez deposited the loose ball. He added his second in the 35th minute after running onto a through ball from Maxi Moralez. The guy is on a different level right now. Agustin Ojeda and Talles Magno also scored for NYCFC, but none of it mattered once Cincinnati woke up.
NYCFC sits at 3-3-3 with 12 points, but they're winless in their last five matches (0-3-2). Matthew Freese made two saves, but the backline has to clean this up. You don't blow a two-goal lead in stoppage time and expect fans to feel good about it.
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