NYCFC routs FC Cincinnati 4-0 behind Mitrita's brace

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:14 am

Alexandru Mitrita scored twice, including the quickest goal in club history, helping New York City FC to a 4-0 victory over FC Cincinnati at Red Bull Arena on Saturday night.

Mitrita's goals were his first in 2020 after finding the net 12 times the previous season and came in the first game since his team lost 2019 leading scorer Heber for the season to an ACL tear.

Anton Tinnerholm also scored after assisting Mitrita's opener for NYCFC (6-6-2, 20 points), who have won five of their last eight games after losing five of their first six.

Jesus Medina added a late goal on a deflected free kick in New York's highest scoring performance and most lopsided win of the season. He had come on for Alex Ring, who departed late in the first half with an apparent knee injury.

Goalkeeper Spencer Richey made four saves for Cincinnati (3-7-4, 13 points), which is waiting for starter Przemyslaw Tyton to be available. Tyton has returned from a trip to his native Poland for personal reasons but is now in self-isolation under the league's COVID-19 protocols.

It's doubtful Tyton would've fared much better on a night his team was outshot 22-8 overall and 8-4 in efforts on target.

Mitrita put NYCFC in front after just 30 seconds.

Tinnerholm provided a long diagonal pass from the right. Mitrita extended his leg to take his first touch around charging defender Kendall Waston, pushed the ball forward with his second, and with his third unleashed a low, right-footed strike that rocketed past Richey's dive and inside the left post.

Tinnerholm found his team's second in the 25th minute. Keaton Parks started the move with a gorgeous, cross-field ball to find Ismael Tajouri-Shradi on the right. Tajouri-Shradi found Tinnerholm on the overlap, and after taking a couple touches toward goal, Tinnerholm hammered a low finish through Richey's legs from a tight angle.

Mitrita made it 3-0 in the 43rd minute when he somehow found space inside the penalty area, took James' Sands pass and sent another low finish past Richey.