The Red Bulls came from behind to grab a comfortable 4-2 victory over Cincinnati at Sports Illustrated Stadium in an entertaining second-half display. After a cagey first half that ended level, New York turned up the heat after the break and pulled away decisively. Ronald Donkor was the standout performer, orchestrating the hosts' attacking play with a composed display that earned him the official man of the match rating. Cincinnati had their chances—they matched the Red Bulls' shot count at 17 apiece and even had six corner kicks to exploit—but couldn't maintain their early momentum once the home side found their rhythm. It was a result that felt inevitable once New York seized control of the second period. The visitors will rue a performance that started promisingly but petered out when they needed to dig in. For the Red Bulls, this was a timely reminder of their attacking prowess, especially with Donkor pulling the strings in midfield. Three points against a side like Cincinnati matters in this league, and they'll head into the next match with real confidence.
The Matchup
New York Red Bulls beat FC Cincinnati 4-2 at Sports Illustrated Stadium, and the numbers from the match back up how the game played out. New York Red Bulls also had the better share of the ball, holding 52% possession, which usually goes hand in hand with the extra control a winning side tends to show. The shot count told a similar story, with 18 attempts from New York Red Bulls against 17 from FC Cincinnati over the course of the game. FC Cincinnati had their moments and did not make it easy from start to finish, but ultimately came up short on the day. Small margins like this one tend to add up over a season, and results such as this are often what separates teams in the table further down the line. Here is a closer look at exactly how the two sides compared, statistically.
Man of the Match
Match Statistics
Match Events
| Min | Team | Card | Event | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12' | New York Red Bulls | Goal — J. Hall (assist: C. Cowell) | 1-0 | |
| 17' | FC Cincinnati | Goal — P. Bucha (assist: K. Denkey) | 1-1 | |
| 37' | FC Cincinnati | Bryan Ramirez | 1-1 | |
| 48' | New York Red Bulls | Goal — E. Forsberg | 2-1 | |
| 57' | New York Red Bulls | Ronald Donkor | 2-1 | |
| 65' | New York Red Bulls | Goal — K. Smith | 3-1 | |
| 67' | FC Cincinnati | Substitution — S. Gidi on, T. Anunga off | 3-1 | |
| 70' | New York Red Bulls | Substitution — M. Dos Santos on, O. Valencia off | 3-1 | |
| 70' | New York Red Bulls | Substitution — C. Cowell on, T. Rosborough off | 3-1 | |
| 73' | FC Cincinnati | Goal — K. Smith | 3-2 | |
| 75' | FC Cincinnati | Substitution — N. Hagglund on, T. Hadebe off | 3-2 | |
| 75' | FC Cincinnati | Substitution — T. Barlow on, K. Mboma off | 3-2 | |
| 75' | FC Cincinnati | Substitution — K. Smith on, A. Powell off | 3-2 | |
| 80' | FC Cincinnati | Matthew Miazga | 3-2 | |
| 80' | New York Red Bulls | Substitution — J. Ruvalcaba on, M. Sofo off | 3-2 | |
| 80' | New York Red Bulls | Substitution — A. Mehmeti on, N. Benedetti off | 3-2 | |
| 83' | New York Red Bulls | Omar Valencia | 3-2 | |
| 84' | FC Cincinnati | Substitution — M. Miazga on, A. Jabbari off | 3-2 | |
| 86' | New York Red Bulls | Substitution — E. Forsberg on, E. M. Choupo-Moting off | 3-2 | |
| 90+5' | FC Cincinnati | Alvas Powell | 3-2 | |
| 90' | New York Red Bulls | Goal — M. Sofo (assist: R. Donkor) | 4-2 |
New York Red Bulls vs FC Cincinnati Lineups
Looking Ahead
New York Red Bulls have a quick chance to build on this result. Their next test comes at home to Philadelphia Union, and how they respond after this result will be worth watching. You can follow the build-up and everything you need to know when New York Red Bulls vs Philadelphia Union going to play at 29 August 2026 in Major League Soccer 2026.
FC Cincinnati, meanwhile, does not have long to wait before getting back out onto the pitch. They are next in action away at Nashville SC, a game that will give an early sense of how they carry this result forward. Full details are here: Nashville SC vs FC Cincinnati going to play at 30 August 2026 in Major League Soccer 2026.