Major League Soccer Regular Season - 6
New York Red Bulls 4 - 2 FT FC Cincinnati
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
12' J. Hall (C. Cowell)
P. Bucha (K. Denkey) 17'
HT
48' E. Forsberg
58' R. Donkor
65' K. Smith
↓ S. Gidi ↑T. Anunga 67'
70' ↓ C. Cowell ↑T. Rosborough
70' ↓ M. Dos Santos ↑O. Valencia
K. Smith 73'
↓ T. Barlow ↑K. Mboma 75'
↓ K. Smith ↑A. Powell 75'
↓ N. Hagglund ↑T. Hadebe 75'
80' ↓ A. Mehmeti ↑N. Benedetti
80' ↓ J. Ruvalcaba ↑M. Sofo
M. Miazga 80'
83' O. Valencia
↓ M. Miazga ↑A. Jabbari 84'
86' ↓ E. Forsberg ↑E. M. Choupo-Moting
90'+3 M. Sofo (R. Donkor)
A. Powell 90'+5
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
New York Red Bulls
Goalkeepers
Ethan Horvath 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
97
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
61%
Pass Acc
Dylan Nealis 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Robert Voloder
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
47%
Pass Acc
Matthew Dos Santos
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
Midfielders
Adri Mehmeti 
MAGNET
96
Activity
96
Activity
87
Passes
9
Duels
Emil Forsberg 
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
0
Contribution
0
Contribution
8.3
Rating
Yes
Captain
Ronald Donkor
MAGNET
72
Activity
72
Activity
61
Passes
11
Duels
Forwards
Cade Cowell
ARCHITECT
5
Key Passes
5
Key Passes
1
Assists
22%
Pass Acc
Julian Hall 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Jorge Ruvalcaba
LATE SHIFT
10
Late Mins
10
Late Mins
80
Total Mins
80
Entry
BENCH
John McCarthy 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Omar Valencia
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tim Parker
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Juan Mina
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tanner Rosborough
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nehuen Benedetti
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
17
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mohammed Sofo 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.6
Rating
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rafael Mosquera
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
FC Cincinnati
Goalkeepers
Evan Louro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
97
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Kyle Smith 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Own Goal
Mistake
Own Goal
Mistake
1
Fouls
7.2
Rating
Matthew Miazga
LATE SHIFT
6
Late Mins
6
Late Mins
84
Total Mins
84
Entry
Nick Hagglund 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Bryan Ramirez
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
50%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Ender Echenique
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Pavel Bucha
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Samuel Gidi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
67
Total Mins
67
Entry
Tom Barlow
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
75
Entry
Forwards
Kévin Denkey
ARCHITECT
5
Key Passes
5
Key Passes
1
Assists
25%
Pass Acc
Evander
ARCHITECT
5
Key Passes
5
Key Passes
0
Assists
32%
Pass Acc
BENCH
Fabian Mrozek
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Alvas Powell
FRIENDLY FIRE
Red Card
Mistake
Red Card
Mistake
1
Fouls
6
Rating
Teenage Hadebe
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gilberto Flores
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Andrei Chirila
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tah Anunga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
30
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Obinna Nwobodo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kenji Mboma Dem
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ayoub Jabbari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/04/2026 | New York Red Bulls | 4 - 2 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Sports Illustrated Stadium |
| 10/04/2025 | New York Red Bulls | 0 - 1 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Sports Illustrated Stadium |
| 02/23/2025 | FC Cincinnati | 1 - 0 | New York Red Bulls | Major League Soccer | TQL Stadium |
| 07/20/2024 | New York Red Bulls | 3 - 1 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Red Bull Arena |
| 04/06/2024 | FC Cincinnati | 1 - 2 | New York Red Bulls | Major League Soccer | TQL Stadium |
| 11/04/2023 | New York Red Bulls | 1 - 1 (PEN 7-8) | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Red Bull Arena |
| 10/30/2023 | FC Cincinnati | 3 - 0 | New York Red Bulls | Major League Soccer | TQL Stadium |
| 10/04/2023 | FC Cincinnati | 1 - 2 | New York Red Bulls | Major League Soccer | TQL Stadium |
| 07/12/2023 | New York Red Bulls | 1 - 2 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Red Bull Arena |
| 05/23/2023 | New York Red Bulls | 1 - 1 (PEN 3-5) | FC Cincinnati | US Open Cup | Red Bull Arena |
04/04/2026
10/04/2025
02/23/2025
07/20/2024
04/06/2024
11/04/2023
10/30/2023
10/04/2023
07/12/2023
05/23/2023
New York Red Bulls Win
FC Cincinnati Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 4 GD: +4
P: 5 GD: +4
P: 6 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: +8
P: 3 GD: +6
P: 3 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 4 GD: +4
P: 5 GD: -5
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 5 GD: -5
P: 5 GD: -12
League Standings
P: 10 GD: +15
P: 10 GD: +6
P: 11 GD: +3
P: 10 GD: +8
P: 11 GD: -2
P: 11 GD: -3
P: 11 GD: -1
P: 11 GD: -2
P: 11 GD: +1
P: 11 GD: 0
P: 11 GD: -11
P: 11 GD: -6
P: 11 GD: -16
P: 10 GD: -9
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Red Bulls Survive Cincinnati in Six-Goal Eastern Conference Slugfest
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 100/100. New York's relentless attack and a stoppage-time dagger from M. Sofo proved the difference in a chaotic regular-season thriller.
Early Fireworks at Sports Illustrated Stadium
The game started at breakneck speed. Fans at Sports Illustrated Stadium barely had time to settle before New York Red Bulls struck first. J. Hall slotted home a smooth feed from C. Cowell in the 12th minute, igniting the home crowd. But the lead was painfully short-lived. FC Cincinnati immediately answered back. K. Denkey carved out space and found P. Bucha, who leveled the game just five minutes later. The Balance of play shifted wildly in those opening exchanges. Neither team wanted to hold back, turning the midfield into a mere suggestion. New York edged possession overall, but Cincinnati looked dangerous on every fast break. It set the tone for an exhausting, open contest where defending took a back seat to attacking ambition.
The Second-Half Pendulum
Coming out of the locker room, the hosts turned up the heat. Emil Forsberg wasted no time, finding the back of the net in the 48th minute to restore New York's advantage. The Intensity spiked as Cincinnati scrambled to respond. A barrage of 35 combined shots throughout the game turned this into a pure shooting gallery. Disaster then struck for the visitors when K. Smith inadvertently knocked the ball into his own net, gifting the Red Bulls a two-goal cushion. Most players would crumble. Smith did the exact opposite. He pushed up the field and hammered home a legitimate goal for Cincinnati eight minutes later to drag his squad right back into the fight. The sheer chaos of this middle stretch defined the entire match.
Sofo's Dagger Closes the Show
Holding a fragile one-goal lead, New York needed fresh legs to survive the late onslaught. The coach brought on M. Sofo in the 80th minute, and it proved to be a masterstroke. The Stakes were immense for two Eastern Conference squads looking to climb the standings, and the tension was palpable. As Cincinnati pushed every number forward in search of an equalizer, they left the back door wide open. Ronald Donkor perfectly timed a pass to Sofo, who buried the stoppage-time dagger to kill the game once and for all. Frustration boiled over immediately after, with A. Powell seeing red for Cincinnati deep into stoppage time. It was a chaotic, beautiful mess that showcased the very best of MLS regular-season drama.
Key Questions
How did the red card for A. Powell impact the match?
A. Powell's stoppage-time dismissal ended any lingering hopes of a Cincinnati comeback, arriving just moments after New York scored their fourth goal to seal the result.
What caused the 6-goal thriller?
An open, transition-heavy game with 35 combined shots and clinical finishing from both sides turned the field into an absolute shooting gallery.
How dramatic was the late winner by Emil Forsberg?
While Forsberg's brilliant 48th-minute strike seized early second-half momentum, it was actually substitute M. Sofo who delivered the decisive 90th-minute dagger to put the game away.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
First Blood in a Chaotic Opening Leg
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 41/100. With both backlines leaking goals at an alarming rate, this first leg will test nerve and discipline before the tie moves to Ohio.
The Setup
The Stakes are massive as New York Red Bulls host FC Cincinnati at Sports Illustrated Stadium on April 04, 2026. This is just the first chapter of the tie, with the decisive return fixture slated for April 25. A dismal Form rating exposes severe defensive cracks; both sides have shipped a staggering 11 goals in just five league outings. Despite the chaos at the back, the competitive Balance remains tight. The hosts hold a slight edge in front of their fans, but high Stars quality on the pitch guarantees a punishing 90 minutes for any defensive slip-up.
Key Battle
Julian Hall goes head-to-head against Ender Echenique. Hall is terrorizing defenses this season and will look to exploit Cincinnati's fragile back line early on. Meanwhile, Echenique must pull the strings for the visitors in transition to capitalize on the inevitable space left behind by New York's pressing system.
Our Prediction
Expect an open, messy affair. The Red Bulls will press high and likely find the net in the first half, but Cincinnati's counter-attack will keep them firmly in the contest. Our take is a narrow home win that leaves everything to play for in the second leg.