Cover Image via FC Cincinnati
Written by: Kyra Campbell
FC Cincinnati’s Leagues Cup run has come to end after its penalty shootout defeat by Nashville SC on Friday.
Cincinnati went with a strong lineup for its Round of 32 matchup, clearly hoping to advance. Alec Kann once again got the start in goal. The backline was made up of Ian Murphy, Matt Miazga, and Yerson Mosquera. Alvaro Barreal and Alvas Powell started at the wingback positions. Junior Moreno, Obinna Nwobodo, and Luciano Acosta formed the midfield. Brandon Vazquez and Aaron Boupendza started up top at striker.
The first half of the match was largely uneventful, with both teams having decent chances but nothing came of any of them. The second half started the same way, but all that changed in the 64th minute when Nashville’s Anibal Godoy found the back of the net following a corner to put the visiting side up 1-0. After that FCC focused in on the attack to try to get an equalizer and brought on Yuya Kubo and Bret Halsey in the 71st minute and Marco Angulo in the 80th. That equalizer would eventually come in the 85th minute when Jack Maher conceded a penalty that Vazquez easily converted, putting the game level at 1-1. FCC brought on Nick Hagglund to help see the game to penalties in stoppage time, while Nashville brought on goalkeeper Elliot Panicco in preparation for the shootout.
The penalty shootout started out even, with both Lucho and Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar making their kicks. It remained even through the second round with Vazquez making his second penalty of the night and Fafa Picault converting his as well. In the third round, Matt Miazga’s attempt was saved by the recently subbed on Panicco and Godoy made his, putting Nashville ahead. Both kickers converted their attempts in the fourth round, where Kubo took for Cincinnati and Walker Zimmerman took for Nashville. Barreal made his fifth round attempt, putting all the pressure on the next kick for FCC to stay alive, however, Dax McCarty made his attempt and Nashville advanced 5-4 on penalties.
With FC Cincinnati out in the early rounds of the tournament, the team has a long break before league play resumes on August 20th, when they will travel up I-71 for the away leg of the Hell is Real rivalry against the Columbus Crew.