Ahead of the 2016 USL Cup Final, Presented by Nike, we’re taking a look at the road of the two finalists to their first visit to the championship game. Tune in this Sunday on ESPNU, the WatchESPN app, or SiriusXM FC 85 as the New York Red Bulls II host the Swope Park Rangers at 8 p.m. ET.

FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls II
July 20, 2016 – Nippert Stadium

The battle for first place in the USL’s Eastern Conference had established three major contenders by the end of July, which made the USL Game of the Week on ESPN3 between FC Cincinnati and the New York Red Bulls II a must-see not only for fans of both teams, but for fans across the league.

The game lived up to its billing. In front of 16,127 fans at Nippert Stadium, the Red Bulls II were as aggressive moving forward as their hosts, as the youth of New York’s Tyler Adams, Derrick Etienne Jr. and Junior Flemmings matched up with the experience of Cincinnati’s Sean Okoli, Andrew Wiedeman and Omar Cummings.

Proceedings remained scoreless at the halftime break for both sides, but Cincinnati grabbed the lead in the 60th minute when Omar Cummings broke into the right side of the penalty area and sent a cross through the box to Jimmy McLaughlin. The former Philadelphia Union player controlled, cut inside a sliding attempt to block, and fired a low shot into the right corner of the net.

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Cincinnati remained on top until the final 10 minutes, when the Red Bulls II’s resilience came into full view. The first came with eight minutes to go, when Vincent Bezecourt was brought down 20 yards from goal centrally. Justin Bilyeu stepped up to take the free kick, and sent a curling finish into the left corner of the net to level the score.

Four minutes later, New York grabbed all three points. Etienne – who finished the season with a team-leading six assists – created the chance with a fine back-post cross from the left that found Florian Valot, who rose above his marker to head into the right corner of the net.

The victory allowed New York to not only create separation from Cincinnati at the top of the standings, but also maintain pressure on Louisville as the two sides dueled for the remainder of the season. It also showed that no matter the circumstances, the Red Bulls II were not a side that could be ruled out at any point.