FC Cincinnati was able to salvage an away point thanks to a second-half free-kick goal from Luca Orellano at Nashville SC, as Nashville striker Sam Surridge played the starring role for the home side.
The beginning of the match was a nightmare for FCC. Hany Mukhtar sprung the attack and then saw a cross come into the middle of the box. Taylor Washington got the touch that then allowed Surridge to shoot and put it easily past Roman Celentano for the opening goal in only the fourth minute.
Just when it looked like the game might begin to turn into exactly what Nashville wanted, FCC picked up the ball in transition. It ended up going to Orellano on the right wing, after which he passed it to Yamil Asad, who decided to leave it for Lucho Acosta. Acosta shot it from the top of the box and it kissed the left post and went in for the equalizing goal in just the ninth minute.
Following the early barrage of goals, there was a period of time when both sides looked to possess the ball and attack in numbers.
However, that was over soon enough as the set-piece woes continued in the 26th minute. Nashville had a corner kick and Surridge found himself being marked by Sergio Santos. He found the ball and headed it into the back of the net.
Following Nashville’s second goal, it seemed like they were about to get a third, but the finish from Jonathan Perez wasn’t up to snuff.
Then, FCC looked to have tied it up for the second time in the first half. Niko Gioacchini scored what should have been the tying goal, but an FCC player was called offside for some reason. Despite that, and despite multiple replays not really showing a clear offside call, the referee was not called to the monitor to view the play again, meaning FCC was stripped of a goal it should have had.
The second half almost began exactly as the first did, because Hany Mukhtar scored a goal that might have effectively ended the match. However, this time Nashville was on the receiving end of an offside call, as Surridge impacted the play while being in an offside position.
Then almost immediately after that call, Gioacchini was fouled at the top of the box, and the only question was whether Acosta or Orellano would take it. Orellano was the one to step up to the spot in the 52nd minute and curled it perfectly into the top-left corner to beat Joe Willis.
The remainder of the match saw both sides look to try and get that game-winner, but neither of them was able to get it. Nashville had a couple of outstanding chances, including one where Mukhtar was in on goal, but Celentano was able to remain big and not allow him the room to shoot.
Match #30 – Nashville SC vs FC Cincinnati
Geodis Park, Nashville, Tennessee
Attendance: 29,976
Result: FC Cincinnati 2, Nashville SC 2
BOX SCORE
FC Cincinnati Starting XI:
Roman Celentano, Yamil Asad (DeAndre Yedlin 56’), Ian Murphy (Teenage Hadebe 86’), Miles Robinson, Chidozie Awaziem, Luca Orellano, Yuya Kubo, Obinna Nwobodo, Luciano Acosta (C), Sergio Santos (Kevin Kelsy 67’), Niko Gioacchini (Gerardo Valenzuela 87’)
Bench: Evan Louro, Alvas Powell, Corey Baird, Kipp Keller, Malik Pinto
Nashville SC Starting XI:
Joe Willis, Daniel Lovitz, Josh Bauer, Taylor Washington (Brent Kallman 87’), Walker Zimmerman (C), Julian Gaines (Shaq Moore 87’), Patrick Yazbek (Anibal Godoy 72’), Jonathan Pérez (Teal Bunbury 62’), Brian Anunga (Alex Muyl 72’), Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge
Bench: Elliot Panicco, Amar Sejdic, Forster Ajago, Sean Davis
Scoring Summary:
NSH – Sam Surridge (Washington, Pérez) 5’
CIN – Luciano Acosta (Orellano, Santos) 9′
NSH – Sam Surridge (Mukhtar) 25’
CIN – Luca Orellano 52’
Discipline:
CIN – Chidozie Awaziem 19’
NSH – Sam Surridge 41’
CIN – Ian Murphy 74’
NSH – Anibal Godoy 75’
CIN – DeAndre Yedlin 79’
NSH – Daniel Lovitz 90’
Next up:
vs Los Angeles FC, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, September 28, TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, Ohio)
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