Heber, NYCFC power past hapless FC Cincinnati

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:22 am

Forward Heber scored two goals and midfielder Maximiliano Moralez added one goal and a career-best three assists as New York City FC rolled to a 5-2 victory over FC Cincinnati on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium.

Alexandru Mitrita and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi also scored goals and defender Anton Tinnerholm had two assists as New York City FC (5-1-8, 23 points) extended the longest active unbeaten streak in MLS play to 10 matches. NYCFC is 5-0-5 during the stretch.

The five goals were a season high for NYCFC, which reached the mark for the third time in franchise history.

Both goals for FC Cincinnati (3-11-2, MLS-low 11 points) were courtesy of own goals by NYCFC.

FC Cincinnati has been outscored 15-4 while losing four straight matches.

New York City FC took 20 shots with nine on target. FC Cincinnati put four of 15 shots on target.

New York City FC opened the scoring 11 minutes into the game when Moralez slid the ball to Mitrita. The forward, stationed in the box, tapped the ball past FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Spencer Richey.

New York City FC made it 2-0 six minutes later on a goal assisted by Moralez and Tinnerholm. Moralez spotted a wide-open Tinnerholm, who immediately fed the ball to a streaking Heber, who deflected the ball past Richey.

In the 29th minute, NYCFC recorded their third goal as Tinnerholm passed the ball to Tajouri-Shradi, and the midfielder drilled a left-footed shot past Richey at the near post.

FC Cincinnati got on the board in the 37th minute on Heber's own goal. Midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma sent a free kick toward the net, and NYCFC goalkeeper Brad Stuver leaped but didn't touch the ball. A stunned Heber, who was standing right behind Stuver, headed the ball into the net.

Heber tallied for his own team four minutes into the second half. Moralez threaded a pass to an open Heber, who corralled the ball with the chest and unleashed a right-footed blast past Richey to make it 4-1.

Another own goal occurred in the 76th minute. Stuver stopped the close-ranged left-footed shot by FC Cincinnati midfielder Frankie Amaya, and the ball caromed off defender Sebastien Ibeagha and into the net.

Moralez capped his big game with a goal in the 90th minute. He staged a give-and-go with forward Valentin Castellanos and knocked a short right-footed shot past Richey.