New York City Football Club II Goals:Â Jack Beer 7', Massimo Murania Yankowitz 66'
FC Cincinnati 2 Goals: Benjamin Stitz 78'
Quick Read
New York City Football Club II clinched back-to-back wins at Belson Stadium with a 2-1 victory over FC Cincinnati 2. Goals from Jack Beer and Massimo Murania Yankowitz in either half claimed the points for the Boys in Blue, while Benjamin Stitz netted a late consolation for the visitors.
Match Recap
Matt Pilkington's side welcomed the Ohio side to Queens, looking for a second win in four days, after Thursday night's superb comeback over Toronto FC II.
The City Boys had impressed at home in 2023 with three victories from four, while Cincinnati had also fared well on home soil but had struggled on the road so far.
Looking to build on their midweek triumph and climb the Eastern Conference table, City started brightly and opened the scoring with just seven minutes on the clock, as Beer grabbed his second goal in a matter of days.
Having announced his return to action with the go-ahead goal on Thursday, he found the net again with a terrific free-kick from the top of the arc to break the deadlock in style.
The visitors almost forced an instant response a minute later, but Thursday's penalty save hero Alexander Yagudayev was alert to deny Stitz after Ryder Mills had won the ball back in a dangerous area, with Mills' rebound brilliantly blocked on the line.
Heeding the warning, NYCFC went in search of a two goal cushion, as Jonathan Jiménez and Piero Elias tried their luck, but would head into the break with a slender lead.
Yagudayev was called into action again shortly after the restart with Cincinnati pressing for a leveler, turning Mills' effort one-on-one wide of the near post.
Ronald Arévalo then went close for the hosts, before Beer struck the woodwork with another free-kick, watching his curling effort bounce back off the post.
Pilkington's side would double their lead through a set-piece however, when Yankowitz rose to meet Beer's corner and headed home on 65'.
Cincinnati pulled a goal back with 12 minutes of normal time left on the clock, with Stitz collecting a loose backpass and firing past Yagudayev to give the visitors hope and set up a tense finish.
Though the Ohio side mounted a late flurry of pressure, the City Boys stood firm to hold on for the points, clinching our third win from four in May.
How We Lined Up
Match Highlights
What's Next
New York City Football Club II are back in action on Sunday, June 4, traveling to Huntsville in a 7:00pm ET kick-off at Joe Davis Stadium.
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