Kévin Denkey Shines as FC Cincinnati Defeats New York Red Bulls 2-0
CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati secured a decisive 2-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night, thanks to a standout performance from forward Kévin Denkey. The 23-year-old striker netted two first-half goals, while goalkeeper Roman Celentano recorded his second clean sheet of the season.
Denkey Delivers Early Breakthrough
Denkey opened the scoring in the 40th minute, capitalizing on precise assists from midfielders Pavel Bucha and Gerardo Valenzuela. The goal marked only the third time this season that Cincinnati has struck first in a match. Both Bucha and Valenzuela notched their third assists of the season, with Valenzuela matching his career-high contribution set earlier in 2024.
Just before halftime, Denkey doubled Cincinnati’s lead with a penalty kick in stoppage time after Red Bulls defender Joyeux Bungi fouled Evander Da Silva Ferreira. The strike brought Denkey’s season tally to six goals, putting him on pace to surpass his impressive 15-goal debut season in 2023.
Defensive Resilience Seals the Win
Celentano anchored Cincinnati’s defense with six crucial saves, earning his 37th career clean sheet in 128 starts. The Red Bulls struggled to break through, managing only three shots on target against Cincinnati’s disciplined backline.
New York’s goalkeeper, Ethan Horvath, made three saves in his ninth start since joining the team this season. The Red Bulls, who defeated Cincinnati 4-2 earlier in April, have now gone winless in their last four matches (0-3-1).
Notable Debut
Nineteen-year-old defender Tahir Reid-Brown made his Major League Soccer debut in the second half after being called up on a short-term loan from Orlando City B. His arrival provided fresh energy, but the Red Bulls couldn’t overcome Cincinnati’s early dominance.
What’s Next?
The Red Bulls will look to rebound when they host FC Dallas on Saturday. Meanwhile, Cincinnati aims to build momentum with an away match against the Chicago Fire.
With this win, Cincinnati improves to 3-4-3, while New York remains stuck in a mid-season slump.
— Reported by Nexio News
