MLS NEXT Pro: Early Niang Strike Propels FC Cincinnati 2 Past NYCFC II

Staff Writer
Apr 14
2 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — A clinical 14th-minute finish from Cheikhou Niang proved to be the difference on Monday afternoon as FC Cincinnati 2 handed New York City FC II a narrow 1-0 defeat at NKU Soccer Stadium. Despite a relentless offensive push from the visitors that lasted until the final whistle, Cincinnati’s backline held firm to secure the full three points.

The result leaves NYCFC II still searching for their first win of the 2026 campaign, as Matt Pilkington’s young squad moves to 0-2-2 through their first four matches.

The Breakthrough

After a cagey opening ten minutes, the match swung in favor of the hosts. The decisive moment arrived when Félix Samson pressured NYCFC II defender Adonis Campos, successfully nicking the ball away deep in the attacking third. Samson squared a precise pass into the path of Niang, who converted from close range to give Cincinnati the 1-0 advantage.

NYCFC II nearly found an immediate response through academy product Henrik Hvatum, but the winger’s effort lacked the accuracy to beat Cincinnati goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek.

A Tale of Two Keepers

The first half was a highlight reel for both shot-stoppers. NYCFC II’s Mac Learned was the busier of the two, recording several high-profile saves to keep his side within striking distance. Just after the half-hour mark, Learned produced a sprawling save to tip Deiver Mosquera's powerful shot behind for a corner.

On the opposite end, Fabian Mrozek proved to be an immovable object. Mrozek denied Gil De Souza in the 19th minute and weathered a late first-half flurry from Sebastiano Musu. By the time the halftime whistle blew, Cincinnati held their one-goal lead despite being out-possessed by a surging New York side.

Frustration for the "Baby Blues"

Head Coach Matt Pilkington turned to his bench early in the second half, introducing Dylan Randazzo, Cooper Flax, and Jacob Arroyave to spark the attack. The tactical shift led to total dominance in territory, with Drew Kerr and Luka Sunjic seeing multiple goal-bound efforts blocked by a desperate Cincinnati defense.

In the 90th minute, Cooper Flax nearly salvaged a point with a stinging shot from the edge of the box, but Mrozek again rose to the occasion to preserve his clean sheet.

Match Statistics

Stat	FC Cincinnati 2	NYCFC II
Score	1	0
Goals	Niang (14')	—
Saves	Mrozek (5)	Learned (4)
Clean Sheet	Fabian Mrozek	—

Looking Ahead: Home Opener for NYCFC II?

New York City FC II will look to put this road loss behind them as they prepare for a regional clash later this week.

Opponent: CT United
Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: Stream live via MLSNEXTPro.com.

NYCFC II Lineup: Mac Learned; Joseph Suchecki, Drew Kerr (Jacob Arroyave 68'), El Hadji Samb (Jonny Lopez 68'), Adonis Campos (Dylan Randazzo 46'); Sebastiano Musu, Luka Sunjic (Uriel Zeitz 84'), Gil De Souza (Cooper Flax 58'); Henrik Hvatum, Michael Sullivan, Drew Kerr.