Cover Image via FC Cincinnati
Written by: Kyra Campbell
FC Cincinnati (16-3-6) is back on track after its dominant 3-0 victory over NYCFC (5-10-11) on Saturday. This win, combined with St. Louis (14-9-2) losing this weekend, gives the Orange and Blue a 10 point lead in the Supporters’ Shield standings. Cincinnati is also 11 points clear of Philadelphia (13-7-4), who is second place in the Eastern Conference.
Due to the long game on Wednesday, a yellow card suspension, and injury, FCC was forced to do a bit of rotating. Roman Celentano got the start in goal, as usual in league play. Ian Murphy, Matt Miazga, and Nick Hagglund constituted the backline. Santiago Arias was joined at wingback by Bret Halsey, making his first MLS start. The midfield was made up of Luciano Acosta, Junior Moreno, with Yuya Kubo getting the start as well. Brandon Vazquez and Aaron Boupendza started at striker.
The match started off great for Cincinnati, when in the 6th minute, Boupendza headed in his second goal of the season off a rebound from Halsey’s blocked shot. FCC was able to control the game for much of the rest of the first half and NYCFC didn’t really look all that threatening. However, Miazga was shown a yellow card at the end of the first half for dissent. After the halftime break, Kubo was shown a yellow card of his own in the 50th minute. Two minutes later, however, Moreno put the home side up 2-0, assisted by Lucho. Then, in the 59th minute, Nick Hagglund headed home a Lucho corner to make the score 3-0. Comfortably up three goals, Cincinnati made a line change of substitutions in the 72nd minute, with Marco Angulo coming on for Kubo, Sergio Santos on for Boupendza, Ray Gaddis on for Arias, and Barreal on for Halsey, who looked great in his first start. FCC made their final substitution in the 84th minute, with Lucho coming out for Dada Valenzuela, his first minutes back after being out with injury for some time. After that, FCC was easily able to see out the match.
FC Cincinnati are back in action this Wednesday as they travel to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to take on Atlanta United (11-7-8) for the first time this season. The match is at 7:30p and, as always, fans can watch the match on the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.