MLS: FC Cincinnati beat Red Bull 2-1 to win first playoff game

Brandon Vazquez hit the target on an 86th-minute breakaway to give FC Cincinnati a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls in a first-round game in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. MLS, Saturday afternoon in Harrison, New Jersey.

FC Cincinnati, playing their first playoff game since entering MLS in 2019, will face the Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference semi-finals next Thursday.

The Red Bulls took the lead with a goal from Lewis Morgan in the 48th minute.

FC Cincinnati believed they had tied the game in the 61st minute but video assistance to the referee showed that Geoff Cameron was in an offside position when he deflected Junior Moreno’s long shot.

Luciano Acosta, however, tied the game with a penalty in the 74th minute.

The Union (19-5-10) won the Eastern Conference championship with a total of 67 points, 18 more than FC Cincinnati (12-9-13). However, one of the Union’s five losses came at Cincinnati on August 6, 3-1.

In their only other meeting, on June 18 at Union ground, the two clubs drew 1-1.

In California, the Los Angeles Galaxy beat Nashville SC 1-0 to advance to the semi-finals in the West.

Julian Araujo scored his first goal in two years, going there with a successful header in the 60th minute.

The Galaxy will face Los Angeles FC on Thursday.