Jesus Medina's brace powers NYCFC past Cincinnati, 5-0

Updated: May 17, 2023, 12:07 am

Jesus Medina opened and closed the scoring as New York City FC rolled to a 5-0 home win against FC Cincinnati on Saturday.

It was a dominating performance from the home side, who looked the better team from the first whistle. NYCFC controlled long stretches on the ball against a Cincinnati side that struggled in their build-up and only looked dangerous on the counterattack.

NYCFC (1-1-0, 3 points) bounced back from a season-opening loss at D.C. United last week. For Cincinnati (0-1-1, 1 point), the early season struggles continue.

The defensive issues for Cincinnati are a carryover from the week before when they were outshot 31-7 in a 2-2 road result with Nashville SC.

NYCFC got off to a strong start, taking the lead in the seventh minute off a set piece on the left side of the penalty area that was taken by left back Gudmundur Thorarinsson, making his Yankee Stadium debut.

The free kick was headed down and fell to Valentin Castellanos, whose shot was deflected by a Cincinnati defender. Waiting at the back post to collect the deflection was Medina, who left-footed a powerful shot from inside the 6-yard box past a helpless Cody Cropper in Cincinnati's goal.

After an own goal in the 53rd minute by Cincinnati's Nick Hagglund, Thorarinsson ensured the victory for NYCFC by magnificently bending a ball around the wall on yet another free kick from 20 yards out for a 3-0 lead in the 57th minute.

Ten minutes later, Castellanos added another when he purposefully pinged a ball from a corner kick off a Cincinnati defender.

All afternoon, Cropper in Cincinnati's goal was being shelled. In the 30th minute, he did well in diving to his right to stop a Maxi Moralez shot from 18 yards out. And in the 49th minute, Medina was denied from 8 yards out by Cropper, who pushed the close-range shot over the bar after rushing out to close down on the angle.

A brilliant left-footed curling shot from Medina in the 83rd minute capped the scoring for NYCFC, which finished with a 22-12 edge in shots.

NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson was solid on the afternoon, coming up with five saves including back-to-back saves in the 70th minute from point blank attempts. For Johnson, it was the 68th shutout of his MLS career.