FC Cincinnati 0, New York Red Bulls 2 | 2019 MLS Match Recap

Kaku capitalized on an FC Cincinnati defensive blunder to help lift the New York Red Bulls to a 2-0 win Saturday night at Nippert Stadium. 

Mathieu Deplagne had the ball stuck at his feet deep in the FC Cincy defensive third and Kaku pounced, stripping the French defender before racing in alone and slipping a shot under goalkeeper Spencer Richey in the 78th minute. 

Deplagne nearly rectified his mistake, taking an open shot from distance that bounced just wide of the net in the 83rd minute.

Omir Fernandez tacked on an insurance goal in stoppage time, latching onto a Brian White cross and putting a diving header into the net.

FC Cincinnati were the more dangerous team in the first half and, if not for a pair of superb saves by Luis Robles, would have likely gone into the halftime break with a lead.

Robles, who made four saves in the opening 45 minutes, raced off his line to kick away a Fanendo Adi toe-poke after he was played in behind by Roland Lamah in the sixth minute.

Adi put a glancing header on frame five minutes from halftime, but Robles somehow reached back to sway the ball away for an FC Cincinnati corner.

Goals

• 78’ — RBNY — Kaku | WATCH 
• 90’+1’ — RBNY — Omir Fernandez | WATCH

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: It’s time to give Chris Armas some credit. Again his substitutions pay off in a big way, with Kaku and Fernandez both coming off the bench to score late. The Red Bulls claimed seven points from a three-match week, while FC Cincinnati were punished for missed first-half chances and a late defensive blunder for a seventh loss in their last eight games.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH
: Goals change games, as do defensive miscues. Kaku did well to snatch the ball from Deplagne’s feet and clinically finish for his first goal of the season.

MAN OF THE MATCH
: Robles didn’t need to make a second-half save. That’s fine, because he came up with 90 minutes worth of class in the opening half.

Next Up

• CIN: Saturday, June 1 at Colorado Rapids (8:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada)
• RBNY: Saturday, June 1 vs. Real Salt Lake (7:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada)