In the end, FC Cincinnati's 2024 season was reduced to a lottery, and FCC lost. FC Cincinnati was eliminated from the MLS Cup playoffs Saturday by New York City FC in an Eastern Conference first-round match at TQL Stadium.

A scoreless deadlock in regulation gave way to a penalty kick shootout, and the sequence served as a worthy showcase for two U.S. men’s national team hopefuls in goal: Matt Freese of NYCFC and Cincinnati’s Roman Celentano.

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

Matt Freese had three saves in a nine-round shootout and Mitja Ilenic scored the winner as New York City FC beat Roman Celentano and FC Cincinnati 6-5 on Saturday after the two clubs dueled to a scoreless draw in regulation of the rubber match in the best-of-three first-round series.

Penalty kicks were needed to help NYCFC past third-seeded Cincinnati, as New York overturned a 1-0 series deficit to make it to the last eight