NYCFC’s season on the brink after Game 1 loss in MLS playoffs

Yamil Asad scored his first career playoff goal to lift FC Cincinnati to a 1-0 win over visiting New York City FC in the opener of their MLS Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff series on Monday.

MLS regular season assist co-leader Luciano Acosta set up Asad’s 51st minute goal, the first the Argentine had scored in three postseason appearances. He played for Atlanta United in the 2017 playoffs and for D.C. United in the 2018 playoffs.

Roman Celentano made two saves to keep the clean sheet for Cincinnati, the third seed in the Eastern Conference which will try to close out the best-of-three series on Saturday in New York.

The Cityzens earned a 3-2 home win over Cincy in the teams’ meeting earlier this month after losing at Cincinnati 1-0 in March. This time, NYCFC will have to earn a home win without Tayvon Gray, who was sent off deep in second-half stoppage time for raising an arm at Acosta.

Matt Freese made five saves for sixth-seeded New York City, which played the hosts more or less even before halftime but was mostly on the defensive after it.

Cincinnati elevated its attacking prowess early in the second half, with Luca Orellano seeing his effort deflected narrowly wide of the near post in the 49th minute before Asad put the hosts in front in the 51st.

Orellano helped create the chance with a pass that freed Yuya Kubo for a first shot from near the endline on the right side of the penalty area.

Kubo dragged his effort from a tight angle wide of the far post. Acosta chased it down and sent a first-touch cross to Asad, who headed it across the line from about 4 yards out directly in front of goal.

Not long after, FC Cincinnati’s Teenage Hadebe missed an exceptional chance to double the lead, firing a mistimed volley over the crossbar.

City’s best look at an equalizer came in the 63rd minute, when Celentano’s strong hands pushed away Andres Perea’s strike on the break.

Cincinnati looked to be the more likely team to score the second goal. Hadebe’s 73rd-minute header forced Freese into his best save of the night, and Nicholas Gioacchini fired wide on another chance created by Acosta in second-half stoppage time.