SOCCER: Kevin Denkey's 2nd straight brace helps Cincinnati best Red Bulls

Kevin Denkey scored twice late in the first half and FC Cincinnati recorded a 2-0 victory over the visiting New York Red Bulls on Saturday night.

Denkey notched a multi-goal game for the second straight game after scoring twice in Wednesday's 4-4 draw with New York City Football Club. It was Denkey's third MLS brace, coming one day shy of the anniversary of his first last April 26 vs. Sporting Kansas City.

Denkey's second straight big game helped Cincinnati (3-4-3, 12 points) stop a four-game winless slide (0-1-3).

Denkey scored his first goal in the 40th when Cincinnati swiftly moved the ball past midfield towards the end line. Pavel Bucha made a move around New York's Joyeux Masanka Bungi and spotted Denkey cutting towards the goal.

Denkey eluded a defender and buried a right-footed shot into the lower left corner of the net for a 1-0 lead.

The 25-year-old finished off a penalty kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time after Evander was fouled by Bungi, beating goalie Ethan Horvath with a perfectly placed shot into the right corner of the net.

Denkey's goals helped Cincinnati withstand a charge by New York in the second half as goalie Roman Celentano denied Cade Cowell in the 57th, Ronald Donkor in the 63rd and Emil Forsberg a minute later.

Celentano stopped Forsberg again in the 69th and Jorge Ruvalcaba two minutes after that.

Celentano finished with six saves for his second clean sheet this season and 37th of his MLS career.

New York (3-4-3, 12 points) fell to 1-4-3 in its past eight matches. The Red Bulls have conceded 24 goals since opening the season with one-goal wins over Orlando and New England.

The Red Bulls attempted 20 shots but were blanked for the second time this season.

Horvath finished with three saves as Cincinnati had 15 shot attempts.

-Field Level Media/Reuters