FC Cincinnati 2 traveled to Chester, Pennsylvania to take on the top of the table, Philadelphia Union II. After a 2-0 win, FCC2 was able to snap Union II’s home winning streak and complete the season sweep.
The match started with Union II on the front foot, but they were unable to make much of their opportunities. This was the theme of the match as the typically high-scoring Union II was held scoreless for the first time all season. FCC2’s defense was able to squeeze the box and consistently win back possession. Importantly, when FCC2 won possession, they kept possession.
“The key in stopping their attack was keeping the ball,” FCC2 manager Tyrone Marshall said. “If you don’t have the ball you can’t score. That was the aim, making sure we had the ball and that we were able to impose the type of game that we wanted to play tonight. We always knew they would have chances but limiting them to good chances is what we accomplished tonight.”
The second half is where the game took a turn. In the 63rd minute, FCC2 made two important substitutions, bringing on Moises Tablante and Kenji Mboma Dem. It didn’t take long for their impact to be felt. In the 69th minute, a long ball played to Tablante had him racing to beat his man to the end line. Once there, he played the ball back into the middle of the box where Mboma Dem shot a low left-footer to the near post. The ball beat the outstretched Andrew Rick for the match’s opening goal.
Union II tried desperately for a quick equalizer but was unable to find the necessary polish their final touches needed.
In the 88th minute, it was the super subs once again delivering for FCC2 by putting the nail in the coffin. A skillful slide tackle by Tablante found the ball deflected centrally to Ben Stitz. Stitz played it back out wide to Tablante who, once again, drove to the end line and passed the ball back into the center of the box. Mboma Dem again chose a low driving left-footed shot at the near post for the goal.
The final whistle sounded and FCC2 headed home with a huge three points.
“We knew coming in that it would be a good challenge for us,” Marshall said. “The message to the boys was, look, let’s get out there and see where we are because this is one of the best teams in MLS NEXT Pro and the mentality was that we don’t lose two in a row. We let the game against Miami get away from us but, look, that’s in the rearview mirror.”
GOALS
PHI – None
CIN – Kenji Mboma Dem (Tablante) 69’, Kenji Mboma Dem (Tablante) 88’
LINEUPS
PHI: Andrew Rick, Francis Westfield, Olwethu Makhanya, Neil Pierre, Jamir Berdecio (Gavin Wetzel 73’), Alex Perez (Cavan Sullivan 62’), Carlos Rojas (Nick Pariano 46’), Sanders Ngabo, Kyle Tucker (C), Leandro Soria (Edward Davis 46’), Sal Olivas
Substitutes not used: Michael Sheridan, Ryan Zellefrow, John Andrus, Randy Meneses, Antonios Horozoglou
CIN: Paul Walters, London Aghedo, Brian Schaefer, Kipp Keller (Gaël Gibert 50’), Isaiah Foster (Moises Tablante 63’), Amir Daley, Malik Pinto (Kenji Mboma Dem 63’), Nico Benalcazar (C), Peter Mangione (Jesus Castellano 81’), Stiven Jimenez, Guilherme Santos (Ben Stitz 81’)
Substitutes not used: Hunter Morse, Alejandro Guido, Juan Machado
NEXT MATCH
MLS NEXT PRO – at Carolina Core – Saturday, June 15th at 7:30 pm – Apple TV+
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