Heartbreak for Paddy Barrett and Richie Ryan as Cincinnati bow out of USL play-offs

There was heartbreak for Paddy Barrett and Richie Ryan as their FC Cincinnati side were eliminated from the USL Eastern Conference play-offs at the semi-final stage.

Cincinnati topped the Eastern Conference by 11 points during the regular season but came unstuck against fifth-ranked New York Red Bulls II at Nippert Stadium on Saturday evening.

Barrett captained the side and played 90 minutes at the heart of defence while Ryan, who only recently returned from a stress fracture, was an unused sub.

Amando Moreno fired New York – the development side for the MLS team – into a 12th minute lead and, despite dominating the game, the home side couldn't break down their dogged opponents.

Cincinnati topped the regular season scoring charts with 72 goals but failed to score in either of their play-off games, having beaten Nashville on penalties last weekend.

 

It's a disappointing end to the season for the upwardly-mobile Ohio club, who recruited Barrett from Dundalk last November before adding Ryan from Miami in February.

Later on Saturday night/Sunday morning Irish time, former St Patrick's Athletic midfielder James Chambers captains Bethlehem Steel as they face Dubliner Niall McCabe's Louisville City.

    About Dave Donnelly

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