SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – That was ‘MLS After Dark’ at its absolute finest last night. FC Cincinnati (11-3-3) defeated the San Jose Earthquakes (3-2-12) by a final score of 4-2 after a hat-trick by second half substitute Yuya Kubo and another heroic performance by Lucho Acosta.
FIRST HALF
The first 45 minutes didn’t nearly have as many fireworks as the second half, as both sides were a little sloppy in the final third. The Orange and Blue did have the better of the chances, a couple of long-range attempts by Acosta which had San Jose goalkeeper William Yarbrough stretching over the bar.
In the 36th minute, Luca Orellano put a shot on frame but it was saved by Yarbrough. Just before the first half ended, Acosta curled a shot that went just wide of the far post.
San Jose meanwhile struggled to create chances, as FCC keeper Roman Celetano had a quiet first half.
Both sides were locked at 0-0 going into halftime.
SECOND HALF
The second half can be summed up in one word, madness.
FCC opened up the scoring in the 53rd minute after a giveaway by Earthquakes captain Jackson Yueill, which was intercepted by Pavel Bucha who slotted the ball past Yarbrough to make it 1-0 Cincinnati.
The Earthquakes showed more quality in the final third in the second half, as they were the better side in the next nearly 15 to 20 minutes. Club-record transfer Hernan Lopez found the equalizer in the 57th minute as, after a Celentano save, Lopez hammered the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
In the 64th minute, star center back Matt Miazga had to be stretchered off the field after his left leg collided with the goal-post. Mizaga was attempting a slide tackle to prevent Earthquakes forward Ahmal Pellegrino from scoring, taking one for the team in the process. Kipp Keller came on to replace Mizaga.
San Jose took the lead in the 72nd minute when Cristian Espinoza received a long ball from left back Vitor Costa and curled the ball into the back of the net on his left foot to give the Earthquakes the lead at home late in the second half.
Then, Yuya Kubo happened.
Kubo came on for Sergio Santos during the time Miazga was taken off the field. Acosta launched a through ball to Kubo who had one defender to beat, and calmly placed the ball past Yarbrough to tie the game at 2-2 in the 78th minute.
In the 80th minute, Acosta found Kubo again, as this time the Argentine dribbled inside the box and laid it off to Kubo, who scored again to give the Orange and Blue the lead again, making the score 3-2 FC Cincinnati.
FCC added a fourth whenKubo completed his hat-trick in the 87th minute. Obinna Nwobodo stopped a San Jose attack, fed the ball to Acosta who slotted Kubo through on goal, and took a shot that nutmegged Yarbrough to seal the victory for The Orange and Blue, 4-2.
REVIEW OF THE GAME
Kubo’s hat trick was the fastest in FC Cincinnati history, only taking nine minutes to complete the task. It also won’t go unmentioned that Acosta had a hat-trick of assists, helping Kubo in all three of his goals on the night.
Final stats from the night are that San Jose outshot Cincinnati 20-19 with eight shots on goal to FCC’s six. The Orange and Blue enjoyed the majority of the possession on the night, with 58 to 42 percent in favor of FCC. 16 fouls were whistled throughout the match, 11 for Cincinnati and just five for San Jose. Only one yellow card was handed out to each side.
Another road win, another three points for FCC, who now moves to an unbelievable 7-1-1 record on the road this season, and sits just two points behind Inter Miami in the Supporters Shield race, with two fewer games played. Miami has 38 points while Cincinnati now has 36.
Up next, FC Cincinnati returns home to TQL Stadium on Wednesday, facing off against a struggling Philadelphia Union side at the moment.
FC Cincinnati Lineup:
(3-4-1-2)
GK: Roman Celetano
D: Nick Hagglund (Gerardo Valenzuela 75′), Matt Miazga (Kipp Keller 64′), Ian Murphy
M: DeAndre Yedlin, Obinna Nwobodo, Pavel Bucha, Luca Orellano (Bret Halsey 84′)
CAM: Acosta
F: Sergio Santos (Yuya Kubo 64′), Kevin Kelsey (Yamil Asad 75′)
San Jose Earthquakes Lineup:
(4-2-3-1)
GK: William Yarbrough
D: Vitor Costa, Tanner Beason, Daniel Munie, Carlos Akapo (Paul Marie 75′)
M: Ahaml Pellegrino (Jack Skahan 75′), Jackson Yueill (Preston Judd 84′), Niko Tsakiris (Alfredo Morales 84′), Cristian Espinoza
CAM: Hernan Lopez
F: Jeremy Ebobisse (Benji Kikanovic 90+3′)
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