NKU Soccer Stadium | Highland Heights, KY
Sunday, April 20 – 6:00 p.m. ET
MLSNEXTPro.com
#CINvNY
HARRISON, N.J. (April 18, 2025) – New York Red Bulls II (3-0-1, 10 pts) begin a two-match road trip with a battle against FC Cincinnati 2 (0-3-1, 2 pts) at NKU Soccer Stadium on Sunday, April 20. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. ET with coverage available on MLSNEXTPro.com.
New York has accumulated 10 points through its first four matches of the season, which is tied for the best start through four games in franchise history. Red Bulls II is coming off a 3-2 home win against Chicago Fire FC II at MSU Soccer Park. New York opened the scoring in the 14th minute as defender Matthew Dos Santos curled a free kick into the top right corner. Chicago equalized in the 49th minute. Red Bulls II reclaimed the advantage in the 72nd minute as midfielder Nehuen Benedetti flicked a feed to midfielder Ibrahim Kasule who played the ball to forward Julian Hall on the edge of the box. Hall collected the pass, turned, and ripped a shot into the back of the net. New York found the scoresheet again in the 89th minute as Kasule laced a shot from the top of the box into the top left corner to secure the victory.
Cincinnati earned their first points of the season last week in a road matchup against NYCFC II at Belson Stadium on April 9. The away side had an electric start scoring two goals in the first 19 minutes of play. NYCFC II bounced back in the 71st minute and equalized via a penalty kick in stoppage time. The match moved on to a penalty kick shootout, where Cincinnati went a perfect five for five from the spot to earn a 5-3 shootout win.
In four all-time MLS NEXT Pro matchups, New York is 3-1-0 against Cincinnati including 2-0 in road matches.
The two sides last faced one another on May 19, 2024, at MSU Soccer Park. Cincinnati opened the scoring in the second minute when forward Benjamin Stitz laced a one-time shot from the top of the box into the bottom right corner. Cincinnati doubled their lead in the 28th minute off a Stefan Chirilla free kick from the top of the box. New York struck back in the 50th minute courtesy of an Ibrahim Kasule penalty kick. Cincinnati’s Chirilla and Moises Tablante added to the lead in the 56th and 76th minutes to earn a 4-1 victory.
Of the current roster, Kasule leads the current team with three career goals against Cincinnati. He’s found the back of the net in each of his three appearances against the side.
Following Sunday’s match, New York will travel to Osceola Heritage Park to face Orlando City B on Sunday, April 27. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET with coverage available on MLSNEXTPro.com.
