FC Cincinnati fell 4-2 to DC United at Audi Field on Saturday night. It was a difficult road match for FCC, matching up against the second-stingiest home defense in MLS, but a pair of goals from Brandon Vasquez and Luciano Acosta would not be enough to complete the comeback on the night.
The Orange and Blue dropped to 4-13-8 on the season, while DC United improve to 11-11-4 and leap back into 6th place in the Eastern Conference and into the playoff spots.
FC Cincinnati continue the road trip Wednesday at Toronto FC. Kickoff from BMO Field is set for 7 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised on WSTR 64, carried on the radio on ESPN 1530, streamed regionally on fccincinnati.com/stream, out of market on ESPN+, while an audio stream will be available via the iHeartRadio app.
For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. Additionally, fans are encouraged to download the team’s official mobile app on the Apple App Store or Google Play for instant access to mobile tickets, team content and match notifications.
Information about seating options at the club’s state-of-the-art TQL Stadium is now available at TQLstadium.com. For more information about 2022 Season Ticket Deposits and Renewals, which are coming soon, visit TQLstadium.com or the stadium’s social properties on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @TQLStadium, or by calling the team’s sales and service staff at 513-977-5425.
D.C. United 4, FC Cincinnati 2
Audi Field | Washington, D.C.
**September 25, 2021
SCORING SUMMARY
**DC – Arriola (7’, 41’), Birnbaum (21’), Robertha (72’)
CIN – Vasquez (80’), Acosta (84’)
FC Cincinnati: Przemysław Tytoń, Gustavo Vallecilla, Geoff Cameron, Ronald Matarrita, Nick Hagglund, Zico Bailey, Luciano Acosta (c), Allan Cruz, Yuya Kubo, Caleb Stanko, Brenner
Bench: Kenneth Vermeer, Edgar Castillo, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Haris Medunjanin, Tyler Blackett, Chris Duvall, Brandon Vazquez, Florian Valot, Calvin Harris
Stats: Shots 15, Shots on Goal 6, Saves 4, Corners 8, Offside 4, Fouls 12, Possession 54.4%, Passes 427 (78.7%)
D.C. United: Bill Hamid, Steve Birnbaum (c), Andy Najar, Donovan Pines, Junior Moreno, Russell Canouse, Kevin Paredes, Julian Gressel, Ola Kamara, Edison Flores, Paul Arriola
Bench: Felipe, Jon Kempin, Joseph Mora, Yordy Reyna, Yamil Asad, Frederic Brillant, Nigel Roberta, Griffin Yow, Moses Nyeman
Stats: Shots 19, Shots on Goal 8, Saves 4, Corners 7, Offside 4, Fouls 13, Possession 45.6%, Passes 358 (77.7%)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
DC – Bill Hamid (Yellow) 34’
Referee: Chris Penso
Ast. Referees: Kyle Atkins, Kevin Klinger
Fourth official: Adam Kilpatrick
VAR: Sorin Stoica
AVAR: Craig Lowry
Weather: 67 degrees and clear
Attendance: 16,069
GAME NOTES
- FC Cincinnati remain winless all-time against DC United, 0-3-3.
- Brandon Vasquez netted his first goal of 2021 for FC Cincinnati, scoring in the 80’ after coming on as a substitute just seconds earlier.
- Vasquez got his second assist of the season four minutes later when he fed Acosta for FCC’s second goal.
- Luciano Acosta scored his fifth goal of the season in the 84’
- Geoff Cameron made the 120th start of his MLS career, and Nick Hagglund made his 110th
- Florian Valot made his 50th MLS appearance when he came on as a substitute in the 80’
AS IT HAPPENED
- 7’ – DC UNITED GOAL | Paul Arriola tapped in a low cross at the back foot off the service from Julian Gressel.
- 21’ – DC UNITED GOAL| Steven Birnbaum heads in the cross from Julian Gressel’s free kick, an arching ball over the top from the center of the pitch.
- 36’ – FC Cincinnati Big Chance | Allan Cruz is slipped through by Luciano Acosta, but his effort is saved by Bill Hamid. Acosta gets to the rebound and fires the follow up off the post.
- 41’ – DC UNITED GOAL | Paul Arriola gets his second of the night with a right-footed finish into the back of the net after a back post ball from Edison Flores.
- 72’ – DC UNITED GOAL | Nigel Robertha was ruled onside as a launching ball found his feet and he was off to the races, scoring to make it 4-0.
- 80’ – FC CINCINNATI GOAL | Brandon Vasquez gets his first goal of the season, scoring just seconds after coming on as a substitute.
- 84’ – FC CINCINNATI GOAL | Luciano Acosta gets another one back, scoring his fifth of the season and making the score 4-2.
POSTGAME QUOTES
FC Cincinnati Head Coach Jaap Stam
On the match tonight:
“A tough game, especially if you make it easy for the opposition. The team that we were playing against, they showed a lot of energy in what they were trying to do. In the press, going forward, they play very direct. They play very high, especially in the first half. In the second half as well, we pressed them high, and they played those balls in behind.”
On the fight shown by the team at the end of the match:
“Towards the end of the game, when you score two goals, you need to keep on going. I spoke about it a lot of times, you need to play without fear, you need to press, you need to go high up and take that initiative, and you need to score goals.”
On Brandon Vasquez, who had a goal and an assist tonight:
“Brandon is a great guy, a positive guy, willing to work hard for the team. When you come in, you need to show yourself in those minutes. You need to work hard, take the ball as it comes without thinking too much. That’s what he did with the first goal, it was a great finish.”
FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta
Translated from Spanish
On the match tonight:
“Very frustrated with that result, but we move forward. We keep working, we move onto the next one. As far as the goal, unfortunately it didn’t do much for the team and for the result. Personally, it’s always good to get a goal”
On not celebrating after scoring against his former club:
“Every goal is obviously great. It’s been a while since I’ve been back to D.C. and it’s always beautiful. I didn’t celebrate out of respect for that team, for the fans. I spent a lot of years here, so that was what that was.”
FC Cincinnati forward Brandon Vasquez
On momentum at the end of the game, and the mood as FCC looks ahead:
``I think we created so much in the last couple of minutes. I really thought we could have come back, even being down 4-nil – I think we could have come back and scored 4 goals. We had a ton of opportunities so hopefully the game against Toronto is like that. Hopefully we get a ton of opportunities and we put them all in the back of the net.’’
