Matt Miazga scores in FC Cincinnati's 1-1 tie with New York Red Bulls

HARRISON, New Jersey − On a night when FC Cincinnati's most significant offensive contribution came from a center back, a draw against the New York Red Bulls wasn't anything to gripe about.

In the close-out match of FC Cincinnati's two-game season series with Red Bulls, Cincinnati managed a 1-1 draw at Red Bull Arena Saturday before an announced crowd of 16,525. The clubs played to 1-1 draws in both of their meetings this season.

Matt Miazga's headed goal put Cincinnati ahead in the 14th minute, but that was the sum total of Cincinnati's offense as the attacking trio of Luciano Acosta, Brandon Vazquez and Brenner Souza da Silva combined for just one shot.

In the midst of a tightly contested Eastern Conference playoff race for one of seven postseason spots, the result was bittersweet. But at the very least, FCC took something tangible from a challenging road environment against one of the top four clubs in the east.

Cincinnati moved to 8-8-10 (34 points) in 2022. Other results around MLS Saturday and Sunday would dictate if the club remained in seventh place, which is where it sat after the final whistle.

“It was a sloppy game. I thought, if you’re looking at both sides of the ball, defensively we were pretty strong," FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said. "Thought Geoff Cameron was outstanding tonight. Obi (Nwobodo) really grew into the game, did a really good job in the middle of the field to help us win some balls and deal with the duels. Overall, with the ball, we were subpar. Whether it was decision-making on the ball, poor hold-up play, we just didn’t get enough out of our attack on the evening to be able to put them under a little bit more pressure on a consistent basis. So, on a night when we weren’t good on the ball, I think it’s good that we were able to defend in a strong way and see out the game to make sure we get a point.”

New York held in the fourth position in the east on 41 points (11-8-8).

Miazga, starting in his second straight game for FC Cincinnati since joining the club at the end of the secondary transfer window, nodded home an Alvaro Barreal free kick to put FCC in front.

The goal marked Miazga's return to Red Bull Arena, the soccer-specific venue of his youth. It was also the first home stadium in his professional career as the Red Bulls organization gave rise to his career and eventual move to English powerhouse Chelsea FC.

"Obviously, when you're coming into the game and you're leading one-nil, you'd like to continue to close that out but we're playing away," Miazga said. "They're a difficult team. They work hard. They make it difficult with their style of play. I thought we defended really well but a lot of things to also work on and continue to progress... This is where I grew up. I was here since I was a kid, going to games as a ball boy, as a fan and then going as a homegrown, playing a lot of minutes and later. I always hold Red Bull in my heart but now it's FC Cincinnati. I'm disappointed we couldn't get the three points because that was the most important thing on my mind, and our minds."

More:What FC Cincinnati's transfer window means for 2022, beyond

Another refereeing decision against FCC

The Red Bulls hit back through Patryk Klimala, who converted a penalty kick awarded to New York on video review for a foul on FCC's Junior Moreno.

Referee Ismail Elfath went to the field-side video monitor and reversed his original call of a free-kick to Cincinnati, which Noonan didn't seem to object too much to.

“I’ve looked at it. You know, it’s tough. You have to look at the particular play and say ‘is it clear and obvious,’ and I could go either way," Noonan said. "If that happened on the other side and we were able to get a penalty, I think it’s one that could go either way to be quite honest because the player is going to ground. I don’t think (Junior) really takes him down, but we get a piece of him. It’s unfortunate, but the disappointing part was that was really the difference. It feels unfair in that regard.”

The goal arrived in the 23rd minute and seemed to invigorate New York, but the home side was held back for the duration of the match. The Red Bulls fired off 14 shots, but just three were on-target and FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano was equal to the challenges he faced from open play.

"When you see how the game played out, I don't think we conceded too much defensively," Noonan said. "I would say it's probably a fair point when you look at how the game played out and the lack of real chance creation from both sides."

Cameron noted the frustration the club felt about video-assistant refereeing (VAR) decision going against FC Cincinnati, but also had high praise for Elfath.

"We've had VAR go against us a lot this season, and with last weekend and the no-call with VAR for offside, it's been frustrating but Ismail is a pretty good referee and he's probably one of the best ones we've had all season," Cameron said. "I think it's just been inconsistent, to be honest. For instance, last week when it didn't even go to VAR, I think that's kind of frustrating and I think it's completely wrong... We've been on calls with the players union and it's been poor for (MLS) players on both sides. We've had a bit of up and down you can say, but it goes both ways for both teams.

"I think it just hits us a little hard because we've had key moments in games where it's gone against us and then, when it's clear and obvious it should be a no-brainer, it ends up not even going to VAR. I think it's been very frustrating - inconsistent ... There are good referees in the league and we had one tonight."

A yellow-card suspension setback

A definitively negative outcome from the draw was defensive midfielder Obinna Nwobodo's yellow card in the 66th minute, which will result in a suspension for the next FCC match due to yellow-card accumulation.

The yellow-card caution was Nwobodo's eighth of 2022, and he'll be suspended for next weekend's rivalry game against Columbus Crew at TQL Stadium.

Noonan said Nwobodo would have had his yellow card total reduced by one for good behavior − that means not receiving a yellow card or other discipline in five consecutive appearances, per MLS rules − if he'd emerged unscathed from the Red Bulls match.

"That part really hurt and I think... (Nwobodo) could have been a little more patient and not going to ground and not fouling there," Noonan said. "But he puts everything he has into every play. I can't fault him for that. That's one of his strengths."

Instead of being two yellow's away from suspension, Nwobodo will be missing for what's essentially a must-win match against Columbus. It's also Nwobodo's second suspension for yellow-card accumulation since arriving to Cincinnati from the Turkish top-flight in late April.

Suspensions for yellow-card accumulation occur when an individual accrues five, eight, 11, and 13 yellow cards. Every two yellow cards after that is also a suspension, and each suspension has a corresponding fine, too.

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HARRISON, New Jersey - Welcome to Cincinnati.com's live coverage of FC Cincinnati versus New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena (6 p.m.). Refresh this page throughout the match for live updates and analysis of the game, and follow Enquirer FC Cincinnati reporter Pat Brennan on Twitter (@PBrennanENQ) for further updates.

In-game updates:

• Final: New York Red Bulls 1, FC Cincinnati 1.

• Halftime: New York Red Bulls 1, FC Cincinnati 1.

• 23rd minute - GOAL, New York Red Bulls (1-1): Patryk Klimala scored on a penalty awarded to the Red Bulls following a field-side video review.

• 14th minute - GOAL, FC Cincinnati (0-1): Matt Miazga headed home off Alvaro Barreal's free-kick. The goal was Miazga's first since joining FCC, and it came against his former club.

• Match underway at about 6:10 p.m.

Pre-match updates:

• FC Cincinnati starting XI: Roman Celentano (GK), Alvaro Barreal, Matt Miazga, Geoff Cameron, Nick Hagglund, Alvas Powell, Junior Moreno, Obinna Nwobodo, Luciano Acosta, Brenner Souza da Silva, Brandon Vazquez.

• FC Cincinnati bench: Tyler Blackett, Allan Cruz, Ray Gaddis, Calvin Harris, Alec Kann (GK), Yuya Kubo, Ian Murphy, John Nelson, Quimi Ordonez.

• New York Red Bulls starting XI: Carlos Coronel (GK), Kyle Duncan, John Tolkin, Sean Nealis, Caden Clark, Cameron Harper, Patryk Klimala, Andres Reyes, Dru Yearwood, Cristian Casseres Jr.

• New York bench: Frankie Amaya, Tom Barlow, Aaron Long, Luquinhas, Sean Meara, Lewis Morgan, Sean Nealis, Tyler Pasher, Steven Sserwadda.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Matt Miazga scores in FC Cincinnati's 1-1 tie with New York Red Bulls