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New York City keep MLS Cup hopes alive with crucial win over Cincinnati

AFP
Cincinnati's Miles Robinson fights for control of the ball with Alonso Martínez of New York City
Cincinnati's Miles Robinson fights for control of the ball with Alonso Martínez of New York CityLuke Hales / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
New York City FC defeated FC Cincinnati 3-1 to force a decisive game three in their first-round Major League Soccer playoff series on Saturday.

New York, needing a victory to keep their season alive, took the lead on 22 minutes after Costa Rica international Alonso Martinez worked a clever one-two with Mitja Ilenic before sweeping a low finish past Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano.

Brazilian defender Thiago Martins doubled New York's lead five minutes before half-time, heading in at the back post after a free-kick from wide on the right sowed confusion in the Cincinnati defence.

Third seeds Cincinnati hit back on 65 minutes with a superb individual goal from Argentine forward Luca Orellano, who nutmegged his marker before unleashing a thumping left foot shot into the top corner to make it 2-1.

Cincinnati pressed relentlessly for an equalizer in the closing stages, and Zimbabwe international Teenage Hadebe should have leveled in the 80th minute but blasted his close-range shot straight at New York goalkeeper Matt Freese.

In the closing minutes of stoppage time, New York made the game safe, with Uruguayan midfielder Santiago Rodriguez winning a penalty and scoring it himself with a cheeky chipped 'panenka' down the middle of the goal.

Game three in the series will take place in Cincinnati next Saturday.

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