Feature Photo Credit: Katie Stratman/Imagn Images
Soccer is back in the United States! After a comparably short offseason in MLS, the New York Red Bulls returned to action just 77 days following their heartbreaking loss in MLS Cup Final to the LA Galaxy, opening the 2025 season on the road, New York played a familiar foe in FC Cincinnati. Despite a respectable and good performance, Red Bull would lose to Cincinnati on MLS' Opening Weekend.
Red Bull would fall to Cincinnati 1-0 thanks to a goal from the home team's $16 million record signing Kevin Denkey in the 70'. The Togo striker made a run behind the Red Bull defense, and with goalkeeper Carlos Coronel charing late, Denkey headed the ball over the Paraguayan to score the game's only goal.
“I said this directly in the locker room to our guys on one side when we analyzed our performance, I think it was very well, especially the first 60-70 minutes," said head coach Sandro Schwarz. "After we conceded the goal, it was an open game. But we had our moments."
Red Bull showed the potential of their offense in the first half with multiple chances to open the scoring, but game one of any season will see players not fully in form and it cost New York any chance at a point, let alone all three.
The first chance for Red Bull came in the 24' after a lovely switch of the field from Alexander Hack, who played well on the left side of the backline in his first MLS game, to Cameron Harper. Cutting infield, Harper then played a one-two with Eric Choupo-Moting before striking a left-footed shot towards goal but hit it just left of the post.
Ten minutes later, Red Bull would start stepping on the gas, when the ball finally landed on the foot of Choupo just outside the six yard box. Lewis Morgan made a sneaky run behind the Cincinnati defense and his first-time cross would wind up in the path of the newest Red Bull designated player. Unfortunately, the ball was slightly behind Choupo, which forced the Cameroon international to have his back toward goal and he attempted a back heel on goal which would be cleared off the line by Gilberto Flores.
Just before halftime, New York would see their best chances of the game and also some controversy. With two attempted failed clearances from Cincinnati, the ball bounced to in the box and Morgan beat Miles Robinson to the first touch and caught the studs from the defender in the box. With the play allowed to play on, while on the floor Morgan would be able to get a shot on target which was saved by Roman Celentano.
The play would continue with the rebound coming to Emil Forsberg, who would then strike the crossbar before the play would be ruled offsides. Based on the sequence of the play, offsides should not have been given with Obinna Nwobodo playing the ball leading the the Red Bulls attack.
The second half of the game would swing towards Cincinnati, who gave the Red Bulls a taste of their own medicine with some fantastic defending, limiting New York to a couple of half chances. After Kevin Denkey scored in the 70', Red Bull had no answer and couldn't claw themselves back into the game to save a point on the road.
In his post-game press conference, Sandro Schwarz said he was "satisfied" with how Red Bull played in Cincinnati. "We were very active. We had some good situations with the ball. I would say we had our chances to score the first goal, but at the end, we are disappointed about the result. Of course, we wanted also to give them today a result. But at the end of the performance, what I said was okay most of the time, and in our basic behavior, I was very satisfied today with the first game."
Three players made their first MLS starts in the season opener, including Panamanian international left-back Omar Valencia. The 20-year-old is coming off two and a half seasons with the second team and he made a real impression on Schwarz and taking his opportunity with Marcelo Morales just joining the team.
“Great first steps for him to play the first time in our starting lineup, and this is the identity of our club. To build up these young players. He came from the second team last season. Played a lot of minutes for the second team. He joined our training session with the first team, and he had a great preseason, and we have seen this today as well, in the first game, and he had a lot of good moments. He was strong in defense, good combination with (Alexander) Hack on the side. And he had also some good moments in our buildup situation to solve in small spaces. This situation in the final third, good runs. So, for the first game, was a very good performance of him."
Going back to that controversy in the 40', before leaving his post-game press conference, Lewis Morgan had some words about the officiating, mainly about the communication between the referees and the players about certain "questionable" decisions. Here's what the forward had to say:
The Red Bulls are back in action next Saturday, March 1st, as they open the newly named Sports Illustrated Stadium for the first time in 2025. New York will host an injury-riddled Nashville SC (0-1-0, 1 Point) who earned a 0-0 draw in their season opener against the New England Revolution.
Red Bull still has to worry about 2022 MVP Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge who combined for 20 goals last season in MLS.
Match Facts:
New York Red Bulls Starting XI (3-4-3)
Carlos Coronel (GK); Noah Elie, Sean Nealis, Alexander Hack; Cameron Harper, Daniel Edelman, Peter Stroud, Omar Valencia; Lewis Morgan, Eric Maxim Choup-Moting, Emil Forsberg (c)
Bench: Julian Hall (79′), Mohammed Sofo, Wiki Carmona (84′), Dennis Gjengaar, Felipe Carballo (79′), Tim Parker, Raheem Edwards, Dylan Nealis & A.J Marcucci
FC Cincinnati Starting XI (5-2-2-1)
Roman Celentano (GK); DeAndre Yedlin, Gilberto Flores, Miles Robinson (c), Teenage Hadebe, Lukas Engel; Pavel Bucha, Obinna Nwobodo; Evander, Yuya Kubo; Kevin Denkey
Bench: Evan Louro, Stefan Chirila (90+5′), Bret Halsey, Alvas Powel (85′), Noah Adnan, Stiven Jimenez, Brian Anunga (72′) Corey Baird (72′)
Scoring Summary
CIN – Kevin Denkey 70′ (Yedlin)
Stats (RBNY/FCC)
Possession: 52% - 48%
Shots: 15 (3) - 11 (2)
Big Chances: 2 - 6
Expected Goals (xG): 1.18 - 1.45
Passing: 418 (82%) - 349 (74%)
Fouls: 5 - 10
Corners: 2 - 4
Discipline
YC – Alexander Hack 59′ (RBNY, foul)
YC – Obinna Nwobodo 61’ (CIN, foul)
YC – Corey Baird 88′ (CIN, Dissent)
