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FC Cincinnati and New York City FC couldn’t decide a winner after neither side scored over 90 minutes, but Matt Freese moved NYCFC on to the MLS conference semifinal after making three saves in the penalty shootout in which NYCFC had a 6-5 edge on Saturday night in Cincinnati.

With the win in the best-of-three series, NYCFC takes on the rival New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

After three rounds of penalty kicks where each side converted their shots, the goalkeepers went save for save to keep the shootout going. New York’s Matt Freese and Cincinnati’s Roman Celentano took turns making saves, with Freese making one more.

Chidozie Awaziem of Cincinnati and Andres Perea of NYCFC stepped up in the eighth round but each sent their attempts over the crossbar before Freese made his third and final save on Teenage Habede. Teammate Mitja Ilenic ended the shootout directly after the save by converting his attempt.

It looked like the two teams that already faced each other five previous times this year in all competitions understood all the other team had planned. Defensively, both teams halted any creativity from the other side, leading to no surprises during the match leading to goals.

Luca Orellano had the best chances on goal as the match stayed goalless where the forward had two shots on the goal in the first half. The first came in the 31st minute, when Orellano sent a left-footed shot across the face of goal but Freese dove to make the save.

Then, in first-half stoppage time, Orellano dribbled through three defenders, holding possession, and sending a shot towards goal but it went wide right of the post. Orellano was busy offensively, sending in six shots and three on target, more than all of New York City FC who had one shot on target.

However, head coach Pat Noonan took Orellano out of the match before penalty kicks after he pulled up and limped late in the match, leading to the visitor’s best chance of the night.

In the 81st minute, New York City thought they had the go-ahead goal when Alonso Martinez received a pass on the end of that turnover off Orellano’s apparent injury. Martinez slotted the ball to the left of Roman Celentano but the offside flag went up with VAR confirming no goal.

–Field Level Media