CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati defeated Philadelphia Union, 3-1, Saturday night in front of 23,443 fans at TQL Stadium.
With the win over first-place Philadelphia, the Orange and Blue improve to 8-8-8 (32 points). The Union remain atop the Eastern Conference despite the loss with 45 points (12-3-9).
The Union conceded three goals for the first time this season. FC Cincinnati scored three goals in the second half of a game for the first time in club history.
FC Cincinnati’s leading goal scorer Brandon Vazquez opened the scoring in the 50th minute. The buildup began with Luciano Acosta finding Álvaro Barreal down the left side. He delivered a cross right onto the feet of an on-running Vazquez who buried a near-post rocket past Philadelphia goalkeeper Andre Blake.
Vazquez scored his fourth goal in the past three games, and became the first player in club history with multiple goal-scoring streaks of three-plus games in his FCC career.
Five minutes later Brenner doubled FCC’s lead. With Acosta escaping pressure in the midfield, the captain drew in the Philadelphia backline and slotted a through ball for Brenner. The Brazilian finished a first time shot and sent the Orange and Blue ahead, 2-0.
Brenner scored his third goal in the past two games, and started his second goal streak of the season.
Álvaro Barreal provided insurance in the 71st minute. With the play beginning once again with Acosta, the Argentine sent a pass into the middle of the box for his fellow countryman, who dribbled through the Philadelphia defense and slotted home his sixth goal across all competitions this season.
Barreal has provided a goal contribution in three consecutive games.
Despite a 77th minute goal from Philadelphia’s Paxten Aaronson, the Orange and Blue defeated the Union for the first time in club history. It was also FCC’s first win over a first place club after the halfway point in the season in club history.
Roman Celentano was required for one save in net. FC Cincinnati outshot Philadelphia on target, 7-2.
FC Cincinnati finish Week 24 in MLS in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
FC Cincinnati will be represented at the MLS All-Star Game for the first time in club history as Luciano Acosta and Brandon Vazquez head to Minnesota. The MLS All-Star Game kicks off at 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN/Univision) on Wednesday, August 10 from Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
The Orange and Blue stay at home to host Atlanta United FC next Saturday, August 13. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. from TQL Stadium and the game can be watched on Star64, streamed in-market at fccincinnati.com, out of market on ESPN+ and listened to on the radio on ESPN 1530.
FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati vs. Philadelphia Union
Date: August 6, 2022
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: TQL Stadium
Attendance: 23,443
Kickoff: 7:38 p.m. ET
Weather: 80 degrees, clear
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
CIN: 0-3-3
PHI: 0-1-1
CIN - Brandon Vazquez (Barreal, Acosta) 50’, Brenner (Acosta) 55’, Álvaro Barreal (Acosta) 71’
PHI - Paxten Aaronson (Burke) 77’
GAME NOTES
• FC Cincinnati defeated Philadelphia Union for the first time in club history, having entered night 0-5-2 against the Union.
• FC Cincinnati defeated a first place squad after the halfway point in the schedule for the first time in club history … entering Saturday the club was 0-3-1 in such games.
• FC Cincinnati scored three goals in the second half of a game for the first time in club history … it was the fourth time overall (7/17/21 at MTL (1H); 10/27/21 vs NSH (1H); 6/29/22 vs NYC (1H)).
• Brandon Vazquez became the first player in club history with multiple goal-scoring streaks of three-plus games in his career … of the four streaks in club history, he owns two of those (Oct. 20-27, 2021).
• Vazquez became the first player in club history to reach 20 career goals for FC Cincinnati.
• Brenner has scored in consecutive games, which starts the 10th goal streak in club history.
• Luciano Acosta became the first player in club history to record three assists in a match.
• Haris Medunjanin played his final game with FC Cincinnati. He finishes his FCC career with 70 regular season appearances for FCC, the third-most in club history … he scored four goals and added four assists.
LINEUPS
CIN: Roman Celentano, Álvaro Barreal (John Nelson 76’), Ian Murphy (Tyler Blackett 46’), Geoff Cameron, Nick Hagglund, Alvas Powell (Ray Gaddis 67’), Junior Moreno (Yuya Kubo 76’), Obinna Nwobodo, Luciano Acosta (C) (Haris Medunjanin 85’), Brenner, Brandon Vazquez
Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Dominique Badji, Allan Cruz, Arquimides Ordonez
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
PHI: Andre Blake, Jack Elliot, Jakob Glesnes, Oliver Mbaizo, Kai Wagner, Daniel Gazdag, Jose Martinez, Alejandro Bedoya (C), Leon Flach (Jack McGlynn 59’), Mikael Uhre (Paxten Aaronson 74’), Julian Carranza (Cory Burke 59’)
Substitutes not used: Matt Freeze, Matthew Real, Chris Donovan, Nathan Harriel, Quinn Sullivan, Brandon Craig
Head Coach: Jim Curtin
STATS SUMMARY: CIN/PHI
Shots: 13 / 15
Shots on Goal: 7 / 2
Saves: 1 / 4
Corner Kicks: 3 / 7
Fouls: 10 / 10
Offside: 1 / 1
Possession: 48.1 / 51.9
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – Geoff Cameron (Yellow Card) 34’
CIN – Luciano Acosta (Yellow Card) 54’
CIN – Nick Hagglund (Yellow Card) 66’
OFFICIALS
Referee: Drew Fischer
Ast. Referees: Lyes Arfa, Kathryn Nesbitt
Fourth Official: Matthew Corrigan
VAR: Younes Marrakchi
AVAR: Craig Lowry
POSTGAME QUOTES
FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan
On the win
“A really good win for our group against a very strong opponent in really good form. We did a lot of good things on the field tonight in terms of how we created some chances to get our goals. There was some really good movement and a good commitment to get to goal and put them under pressure. I was very pleased with how we went about getting the goals. Defensively, really pleased with the overall effort. It would’ve been nice to see us keep a clean sheet, be a little bit smarter about how we see out the game and concede that goal. But that's really being nitpicky and critical of a moment where it allows belief at a 3-0 score line to allow your opponent back into the game. But I was pleased with how we saw those final 15 minutes out. And again, it was a strong performance and an important win at an important time.”
On how this performance came together against a quality opponent
“Based on our home form and our opponent, I don't think I would have expected us to create as many chances against a very good defensive team as we did. I was really pleased with that. But having said that, we know when we step on the field in this building, we can play and beat anybody. We've shown that. It's doing it on a more consistent basis that allows you to be more confident players, coaches, all of us. Hopefully, this strong performance can carry over now on to this stretch ride where we have three of the next four at home, and we can pick up some very important points.”
On ending the winless streak
“It felt like it's been a long time, and being in a winning position in numerous games and not coming away with three points, that makes that stretch seem like a very long time. This is an important win at an important time, and hopefully, we can find some confidence and momentum in the stretch run from these three points.”
On securing three points
“I liked the way we kept pushing after we got the first goal early in the second half. I thought we didn't back off; we didn't stop playing. That was important for our group. When it's 3-0, we have to do a better job of managing the period of the game where you just have to take all risk out of play. And I thought we brought too much risk into play with how we conceded that goal. That was being a little bit too naive. So, it made probably the last 15 minutes more interesting than it needed to be followed by a dangerous free kick. Then all of a sudden, you just find yourself having to defend and you give life to your opponent. We need to be better still in those moments. But having said that, I thought we saw out the game and in a strong way.”
On Brenner and Brandon Vazquez
“They're in really good form. Their partnership is allowing us to consistently score goals and create chances. They work well off of each other. When Brandon has his back to goal, it allowed us to move our lines. Brenner is high soccer IQ, how he finds pockets to receive balls to switch play, which is something we talked about a lot and how he receives balls to be able to run out defenders. They're doing those things well and then their movement in the box right now has been outstanding. They're hungry to score goals. You're seeing confident strikers. When the ball gets wide, when the ball is in central spaces that we can get our playmakers facing forward, their movement in behind opponents’ backlines has been very strong. They’ve done an excellent job in helping us create chances on a consistent basis.”
On defeating Philadelphia
“I have a great deal of respect for Jim (Philadelphia Head Coach Jim Curtin) and for that Philly club. Like I said last time we squared off, it's just nice to see familiar faces and people that you have strong relationships with and had a chance to compete against. But this was more about us winning an important game at an important stage of the season.”
FC Cincinnati forward Brandon Vazquez
On the result
“I'm ecstatic. The team put in a great shift tonight. And you know we deserve the three points I think the whole team was fed up with one point every game and we fought. We fought it out tonight and we deserve it.”
On the week of training
“After the last game, I think the team was, like I said, fed up and this team this week in training, we were on fire so I saw it in the group. We all had a good feeling coming into this game and you know, everybody in the locker room seemed more motivated than I'd ever seen them before. So, yeah, I think going into this game we knew we could win.”
On scoring before the All-Star Game
“It definitely gives me confidence. I'm ecstatic with 14. If somebody would have told me I would have been I would have scored 14 goals a season before the season started you know, I'd be I'd be bouncing off the walls so I'm happy the hard work is paying off and happy the team is helping me be where I am today.”
Fans can place deposits now for 2023 Season Tickets, and current season ticket holders can renew for 2023 now. Anyone with interest in 2023 Season Tickets can place their deposit HERE, or by calling 513-977-KICK, that’s 513-977-5425.
FC Cincinnati's 2022 schedule can be viewed, HERE. Fans can build their custom 3 Match Flex Plan today. Pick any three matches and save on single match ticket pricing with no fees at checkout. Fans can pick the same seats for three games or select different options around TQL Stadium.
Single match tickets to any of FC Cincinnati’s remaining home games are also available now, head to fccincinnati.com/tickets or call 513-977-KICK, to learn more.
FC Cincinnati are playing their fourth season of MLS competition in 2022, and their second playing at TQL Stadium. 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.
