FC Cincinnati and the Philadelphia Union played to a 2-2 draw Saturday night in Chester, Pennsylvania at Subaru Park. The result sees the Orange and Blue (17-4-7, 58 points) continue to pace the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings while the Union (14-8-5, 47 points) remain fourth in the east, as other league results stand.
Jose Martinéz scored his third goal of the season in the 23rd minute to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Martinéz struck well from distance near the top of the Cincinnati box and was able to beat a diving Roman Celentano. Jack McGlynn, who assisted on three goals in 2022, picked up his second assist of the season.
The Union were able to double their lead from the penalty spot in the 37th minute after Daniel Gazdag was fouled by Celentano inside the box. Gazdag broke in behind the Cincinnati defense and threatened goal, and he was tripped up by the FC Cincinnati keeper. Gazdag would step to the spot and convert with a perfectly placed penalty for his 12th goal of the season.
Aaron Boupendza, who came on as a halftime substitute for Sergio Santos, made an immediate impact in the 49th minute, scoring his third goal for the Orange and Blue. Brandon Vazquez created the chance after holding up play and finding Yuya Kubo, who made a dashing run down the left wing. Kubo played the final ball across the face of goal and onto the foot of Boupendza, who redirected the pass into the back of the net with ease.
Brandon Vazquez brought the match level in the 76th minute to earn FC Cincinnati a point on the road in a comeback effort. Boupendza once again had a hand in the goal, delivering an early pass into the box from the left wing and finding Vazquez holding off a Philadelphia defender in the box.
Vazquez had to deal with Andre Blake, who came out to claim Boupendza’s pass, but Vazquez was first to the spot and chipped a quick attempt over Blake and into the back of the net. The goal is Vazquez’s sixth of the campaign and 14th in all competitions, and it’s the first league assist for Boupendza.
FC Cincinnati will face CF Montréal next in a midweek fixture on Wednesday, September 20 at Stade Saputo, set to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET. The match will stream exclusively on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Fans can also listen to the match locally on ESPN 1530.
FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati at Philadelphia Union
Date: September 16, 2023
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: Subaru Park
Attendance: 19,365
Kickoff: 7:39 p.m. ET
Weather: 71 degrees, clear
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
PHI: 2-0-2
CIN: 0-2-2
PHI – Jose Martinéz (Jack McGlynn) 23’, Daniel Gazdag (PK) 37’
CIN – Aaron Boupendza (Yuya Kubo, Brandon Vazquez) 49’, Brandon Vazquez 76’
GAME NOTES
- Luciano Acosta missed Saturday night’s fixture against the Union after serving a one-match yellow card accumulation suspension. Acosta will be eligible to return Wednesday as the Orange and Blue face CF Montréal midweek.
- FC Cincinnati, sitting on 58 points, continue to lead the Supporters’ Shield standings. As current league results stand, the Orange and Blue hold an eight-point lead over Orlando City SC in those standings.
- Aaron Boupendza has scored in two of his last three MLS league appearances and has four goal contributions in his last four appearances across all competitions. It is Kubo’s second assist of the year and first MLS assist since July 1 against New England Revolution.
- Vazquez has now scored in three of his last five matches across all competitions and his second goal over his last three MLS regular season appearances.
- Yerson Mosquera and Jack Elliot were sent off in the contest after each receiving two yellow cards. Each team finished the match with 10-men on the field.
LINEUPS
PHI: Andre Blake, Jack Elliot, Jakob Glesnes, Damion Lowe (Chris Donovan, 90’+3), Nathan Harriel, Kai Wagner, Jose Martinez (Jesus Bueno, 63’), Daniel Gazdag, Jack McGlynn, Mikael Uhre (Tai Baribo, 73’) Julián Carranza
Substitutes not used: Joe Bendik, Matt Real, Jeremy Rafanello, Olivier Mbaizo, Joaquin Torres, Quinn Sullivan
Head Coach: Jim Curtin
CIN: Roman Celentano, Yerson Mosquera, Matt Miazga, Nick Hagglund (Ian Murphy, 46’), Álvaro Barreal, Junior Moreno, Obinna Nwobodo, Santiago Arias (Ray Gaddis, 90’), Yuya Kubo (Dominique Badji, 71’), Sergio Santos (Aaron Boupendza, 46’ (Alvas Powell, 87’)), Brandon Vazquez
Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Marco Angulo, Malik Pinto, Bret Halsey
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
STATS SUMMARY: PHI/CIN
Shots: 14 / 14
Shots on Goal: 6 / 6
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 3 / 3
Fouls: 22 / 21
Offside: 2 / 1
Possession: 42.4 / 57.6
MISCONDUCT SUMMARYCIN – Matt Miazga (Yellow card) 19’
PHI – Jack Elliot (Yellow card) 19’
PHI – Daniel Gazdag (Yellow card) 21’
CIN – Roman Celentano (Yellow card) 35’
CIN – Yerson Mosquera (Yellow card) 36’
PHI – Daniel Gazdag (Yellow card) 42’
CIN – Nick Hagglund (Yellow card) 45’+5
PHI – Julián Carranza (Yellow card) 63’
PHI – Kai Wagner (Yellow card) 74’
CIN – Yerson Mosquera (Yellow card, red card) 83’
PHI – Tai Baribo (Yellow card) 85’
PHI – Jack Elliot (Yellow card, red card) 90’+4
OFFICIALS
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Ast. Referees: Nick Uranga, Kathryn Nesbitt
Fourth Official: Jeremy Scheer
VAR: Geoff Gamble
AVAR: Robert Schaap
