Match Preview

Match Preview: Red Bulls Conclude Group E Matches with Cincinnati on Wednesday

Preview_CIN_0722

New York Red Bulls vs. FC Cincinnati


2020 MLS is Back Tournament Group Stage
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex – Orlando, Fla.
Wednesday, July 22, 2020 – 8 p.m. ET
ESPN, ESPN Deportes, TSN, New York Red Bulls Radio
#RBNYvCIN



Game Notes vs. FC Cincinnati

All-Time Series: New York leads, 3-0-0




HARRISON, N.J. (July 20, 2020) – To advance to the Knockout Round of the MLS is Back Tournament, the New York Red Bulls (2-1-1, 7 pts) will need a win or a draw against FC Cincinnati (1-3-0, 3 pts) on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Coverage of Wednesday's match will be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, TSN and Red Bulls Radio.


Both New York and Cincinnati are tied for second in Group E at three points with the Red Bulls holding the second tiebreaker of goal differential at -1 to -3. Wednesday's match will be the fourth time between New York and FC Cincinnati with the Red Bulls owning the 3-0-0 advantage. New York has outscored its opponent, 6-2 with four active players scoring against Cincy and four players each with two assists over the three-match span.


It will be 144 days since both teams faced off in the 2020 season opener where New York earned a 3-2 win at Red Bull Arena. Florian Valot, who began the season after coming off his second ACL surgery, had a strong season-debut with against Cincy with two first-half assists to lead the Red Bulls.


Under the Red Bulls high-press system, scoring the first goal is crucial in matches. Since 2015, New York is 71-12-17 when tallying the first goal of the match, while going 14-41-11 when allowing the first goal. In 2020, the results have not differed as New York scored first against Cincinnati (W, 3-2), Real Salt Lake (T, 1-1), Atlanta (W, 1-0), while Columbus Crew grabbed the game’s first goal (L, 0-2).