After picking up a 3-0 victory over NYCFC II on Thursday, New England Revolution II capped off a double game week with a trip to NKU Soccer Park in Highland Heights, Kentucky, on Sunday as they squared off against 15th-placed FC Cincinnati 2.
Pablo Moreira made five changes from the midweek clash with NYC. Goalkeeper JD Gunn made his first appearance since assisting the Panama National Team as a training goalkeeper during the nation’s World Cup run. Chris Mbai-Assem, Jake Shannon, and Gabe Dahlin formed the backline behind the midfield of Carlos Zambrano, Eric Klein, Cristiano Oliveira, and MLS NEXT All-Star Logan Azar. Carlos Zambrano, Matthew Jean Baptiste, and Myles Morgan formed the attacking trio up top.
Disaster struck for Revs II in the 12th minute when a cleared cross fell to the feet of Leonardo Orejarena, who quickly slotted the ball to Stefan Chirila. Chirila drove the ball along the top of the box before curling it to the bottom-left corner. Goalkeeper JD Gunn was unable to track the ball through the sea of bodies in front of him until it was too late, as the ball dribbled around his outstretched hands and into the net as the home side took the early lead.
Cincinnati’s lead did not last long.
It all began with Dahlin receiving the ball and pushing up the right flank. He sent the ball sailing goalward that dipped just in time to evade the hands of the leaping Fabian Mrozek and into the back of the net to mark the defender’s first goal of the season as New England leveled the match at one apiece in the 12th minute.
Momentum swung further New England’s way in the 17th minute as Stiven Jimenez took a chunk out of Zambrano in the box as the midfielder earned New England a penalty kick. He stepped up to the spot, looking to add to his tally while giving Revs II the lead. The midfielder attempted to slot the ball to the bottom-left corner, but his shot was just wide of the left goalpost.
Moreira was forced to make his first change in the 43rd minute as Chris Mbai-Assem appeared to tweak his right leg while attempting to close in on a Cincinnati attacker. Joe Buck came in to replace the injured defender.
After missing from the spot earlier, Zambrano made amends in the 57th minute when he closed in on a Cincinnati defender, swiped the ball off their feet, and drove at goal before drilling the ball past Mrozek and into the net to notch his fifth goal on the season and give New England the 2-1 lead.
Dahlin nearly found a second goal in the 72nd minute. After driving up the left flank and along the touchline, Dahlin flashed the footwork to cut around the Cincinnati defense and trailed back before unleashing a shot to the right side of the net that narrowly sailed wide of the goalpost.
Three changes came in the 80th minute as Sharod George, Aarin Prajapati, and Levi Katsell replaced Jean Baptiste, Klein, and Zambrano.
But disaster struck for the Revs in the 81st minute when Yair Ramos poked the ball away from Buck and into the path of Stefan Chirila, who slotted the ball past Gunn and into the net to notch his second goal of the night and tie the game at two apiece.
Moreira’s last change came in the 84th minute as Shuma Sasaki replaced Wells. 90 minutes was not enough time to separate the two sides as the game ended in a 2-2 draw, and we went to a penalty shootout.
Chirilla got things started for Cincinnati by sending a right-footed shot to the right side of the net and in. Jake Shannon was first for New England and snuck a right-footed shot to level the shootout.
Matias Vazquez was next for Cincy and delivered with a rocket of a left-footed strike to the upper-left corner and in. Prajapati was next for Revs II, but the Academy prospect came up short as his shot to the bottom-right corner was batted away.
Nathan Gray looked to give Cincinnati the advantage and did so with a right-footed strike to the left side of the net. Oliveira was next as he looked to keep New England’s head above water. The midfielder attempted to laser a shot to the upper-left corner, but it was saved.
Yair Ramos stepped to the spot next, looking to seal the shootout victory, and did so with a strike to the left side of the net to seal the 4-2 shootout victory. It didn’t go the way Revolution II would have liked, but they can take a sliver of solace knowing they head back to New England with a point under their belt.
Moreira and New England Revolution II return to action on August 2 when they travel to MSU Soccer Park to face Red Bull New York II.
