August 5, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release
With top spot in the group on the line FC Cincinnati hosted New York City FC in a rare Monday night game at TQL Stadium that went the distance. The Orange and Blue mounted a late game comeback, scoring four times in the final ten minutes to earn victory, and advance to the knockout stages of Leagues Cup with a 4-2 win and as winners of group East 1.
The four goals scored, all coming from substitutes to the game, and a heroic night from homegrown keeper Paul Walters (who equaled his professional record in saves with 8) earned FC Cincinnati a match with Club Santos Laguna of Liga MX in the knockout stages.
Mindful of fatigue and team fitness, Pat Noonan selected a lineup that was looking to win but clearly provided an opportunity for those who rarely get starts to prove their metal. Midfielder Malik Pinto made the starting XI in place of Pavel Bucha, and Bret Halsey also made the start at left wingback where Yamil Asad had started on Thursday.
Breakthrough prospect Paul Walters also made his debut with the squad, starting in the place of Roman Celentano as goalkeeper. Despite being a first time roster player Walters, a signee from the FC Cincinnati Academy, has primarily appeared for FC Cincinnati 2 in MLS NEXT Pro action and had been dominant for the side, making eight starts and conceding just 11 goals with a 6-2 record for the second team.
Despite the rotated lineup, FC Cincinnati controlled the opening 20 minutes of the match and peppered the NYCFC goalkeeper with dangerous looks. A corner kick tap from Halsey rolled along the white paint of the goal line but couldn’t muster the spin to cross it, a shot from Kevin Kelsy was saved by the keeper and a Gerardo “Dado” Valenzuela volley from a corner kick beat the keeper but wrapped off the post and out in what was inches from a goal of the tournament candidate.
But in a moment truly against the run of play, NYCFC took the lead in the 25 minute thanks to some clean passes through the box and a quality shot from New York DP Santiago Rodriguez, who found the perfect ankle to curl a shot around Walters to the back post and in.
After that score, Paul Walters closed the door for the rest of the half. With the confidence of a lead at their back NYCFC pushed forward for another but Walters was there to make stop after stop, tallying four – each more heroic than the last – to keep the deficit at just one headed into the half.
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