FC Cincinnati notched the biggest win in club history, sending the team to its first MLS Playoff appearance. FCC beat new Wooden Spoon-holders D.C. United by a score of 5-2 to clinch their place in the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The match started with some immediate nerves for FCC, as the side allowed multiple attempts in the team’s final third. FCC looked vulnerable on the wings. This didn’t seem to be a great start for the team, considering how leaky the defense was last week.
However, the FCC offensive attack improved its finishing ability compared to last week’s Chicago match.
That improvement was immediately apparent in the team’s first two chances, as Lucho Acosta and Brenner tallied a goal apiece in the sixth and eighth minute, respectively. Brandon Vazquez played a key role in the first goal, with him tallying the assist.
Following these two goals, there was a bit of a lull in intense pressure from both sides. There was much jostling for possession, with D.C. definitely growing into the match.
FCC wasn’t done with its finishing, however, as Vazquez continued to show he’s a complete forward, with his passing opening the shot for Brenner, who slotted the ball into the net.
The next phase of the match saw D.C. get some of its best attack of the game. D.C. gave FCC a lot of trouble, which made the side have to crowd into the box and defend. This allowed Ravel Morrison to get a ton of space on top of the box, where he had the ball and rocketed it into the back of the net way outside the area.
D.C. wasn’t done attacking, either, as the side continued its pressure on the FCC penalty area. It showed some decent composure and patience to get some very good chances, and it’s incredibly obvious that the team’s young players have a lot of potential.
But, it was not to be on the final matchday for D.C. Brenner, vastly against the run of play, got the ball thanks to Vazquez and shot the ball into the top corner to get another hat trick this season.
The second half saw D.C. come out and almost immediately, again, put pressure on FCC, but this time the young side was able to score. Kristian Fletcher received the ball on the edge of the ball with space and took a great shot that sailed into the net.
Following the goal, FCC definitely felt it needed to show more and started to put more pressure on D.C. That showed up almost instantly with Vazquez getting his first goal of the match thanks to a small pass from Brenner.
The rest of the match saw neither side do much of anything. There was some decent shot creation from them, but neither was able to put the ball into the net.
Matchday 34 – D.C. United vs FC Cincinnati
Result: FC Cincinnati 5, D.C. United 2
BOX SCORE
FC Cincinnati Starting XI:
Roman Celentano (GK), Geoff Cameron, Matt Miazga, Nick Hagglund (Ian Murphy 70′), Álvaro Barreal (Ronald Matarrita 85′), Alvas Powell (Ray Gaddis 60′), Luciano Acosta, Júnior Moreno (Yuya Kubo 45′), Obinna Nwobodo, Brenner, Brandon Vázquez (Dominique Badji 85′)
Bench: Allan Cruz, Alec Kann, John Nelson, Quimi Ordonez
D.C. United Starting XI:
David Ochoa, Matai Akinmboni (Kimarni Smith 76′), Steve Birnbaum, Tony Alfaro, Chris Odoi-Atsem (Drew Skundrich 45′), Sofiane Djeffal, Ravel Morrison (Jackson Hopkins 76′), Christopher Durkin, Christian Benteke, Kristian Fletcher (Ola Kamara 60′), Theodore Ku-Dipietro (Nigel Robertha 60′)
Bench: Miguel Berry, Sami Guediri, Jon Kempin, Martín Rodríguez
Scoring Summary:
CIN– Lucho Acosta (Vazquez) 6′
CIN – Brenner (Acosta) 8′
CIN – Brenner (Vazquez) 24′
DCU – Ravel Morrison (Djeffal) 26’
CIN – Brenner (Vazquez) 37’
DCU – Kristian Fletcher (Nwobodo) 46’
CIN – Brandon Vazquez (Brenner) 53’
Discipline:
CIN – Junior Moreno 30’
DCU– Stephen Birnbaum 45+2′
CIN – Alvaro Barreal 61’
Next up:
at New York Red Bulls, time TBA
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