CHESTER, Pa. – FC Cincinnati fell 4-1 to Philadelphia Union Saturday night at Subaru Park.
The Orange and Blue (1-1-0, 3 points) suffered defeat for the first time in 2025 in four games across all competitions. The Union (2-0-0, 6 points) earned their second win in as many MLS games.
Tai Baribo netted a hat trick, beginning with his opener in the 6th minute. He doubled the Union’s lead in the 30th minute prior to his third goal coming in the 52nd. Cincinnati’s Evander scored his first MLS goal for his new club in the 58th minute, a brilliant left-footed strike from just outside the box. The Union netted their final goal in second-half stoppage time from substitute Bruno Damiani.
FC Cincinnati return to TQL Stadium for two home matches starting Tuesday, March 4 against Tigres UANL in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16. Kickoff for the first leg is set for 6:30 p.m. ET and tickets are available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling 513-977-KICK.
The Orange and Blue host Toronto FC on Saturday, March 8 in the club’s next MLS match. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from TQL Stadium.
AS IT HAPPENED
PHI: Tai Baribo, GOAL – 6’ (1-0) – Philadelphia connected a string of passes along the left touchline, with Quinn Sullivan finding Kai Wagner. The Union full back played an early cross behind the Cincinnati back line, which Baribo attacked and slotted into the net.
PHI: Tai Baribo, GOAL – 30’ (2-0) – As the Union attacked down the left flank, a through ball pinged off of midfielder Tah Brian Anunga and found Dániel Gazdag, who centered a pass for Tai Baribo for his brace.
PHI: Tai Baribo, GOAL – 52’ (3-0) – Tai Baribo would complete his hat trick on a broken play in the penalty area. After a ball shot across the face of goal, Philadelphia’s Dániel Gazdag found himself on the ball at the edge of the six-yard box. He shot the ball back across the frame, finding the foot of Baribo for his third of the match.
CIN: Evander, GOAL – 58’ (3-1) – Cincinnati would respond quickly through Evander, who won the ball back twice for Cincy before shrugging off a pair of defenders and finishing with a low curling shot into the far corner.
PHI: Bruno Damiani, GOAL – 90+3’ (4-1) – Philadelphia would seal all three points as Bruno Damiani scored a sliding finish from six yards out, latching onto an early cross from Quinn Sullivan.
GAME NOTES
- Evander scored his first goal for FC Cincinnati, his second across all competitions (February 19 at FC Motagua, Concacaf Champions Cup).
- FC Cincinnati allowed four goals in MLS play for the first time since April 15, 2023 at St. Louis CITY SC (5-1 loss).
- The loss snapped a three-match regular season unbeaten run for FC Cincinnati at Subaru Park.
FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati at Philadelphia Union
Date: March 1, 2025
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: Subaru Park | Chester, Pa.
Kickoff: 7:40 p.m. ET
Weather: 38 degrees, cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-FT
PHI: 2-2-4
CIN: 0-1-1
PHI – Tai Baribo (Wagner) 6’, Tai Baribo (Gazdag) 30’, Tai Baribo (Gazdag) 52’, Bruno Damiani (Q. Sullivan) 90’+3
CIN – Evander 58’
LINEUP
CIN: Roman Celentano, Lukas Engel (Kenji Mboma Dem 85’), Teenage Hadebe, Miles Robinson (C), Gilberto Flores (Alvas Powell 70’), DeAndre Yedlin (Bret Halsey 58’), Tah Brian Anunga (Pavel Bucha 58’), Obinna Nwobodo, Yuya Kubo (Corey Baird 58’), Evander, Kévin Denkey
Substitutes not used: Evan Louro, Stefan Chirila, Peter Mangione
*
Head Coach:* Pat Noonan
PHI: Andre Blake (C), Jakob Glesnes, Kai Wagner, Olwethu Makhanya, Francis Westfield, Dániel Gazdag (Indiana Vassilev 82’), Jovan Lukic (Jesús Bueno 89’), Danley Jean Jacques, Quinn Sullivan, Mikael Uhre (Bruno Damiani 69’), Tai Baribo (Cavan Sullivan 82’)
*
Substitutes not used:* Andrew Rick, Olivier Mbaizo, Chris Donovan, Ian Glavinovich
*
Head Coach:* Bradley Carnell
STATS SUMMARY: PHI/CIN
Shots: 14 / 7
Shots on Goal: 7 / 2
Saves: 1 / 3
Corner Kicks: 7 / 2
Fouls: 8 / 9
Offside: 3 / 6
Possession: 50.5 / 49.5
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – Obinna Nwobodo (Yellow Card) 75’
OFFICIALS
Referee: Allen Chapman
Ast. Referees: Corey Parker, Kyle Atkins
Fourth Official: Victor Rivas
VAR: Sorin Stoic
AVAR: Tom Supple
FC Cincinnati’s full 2025 schedule can be viewed HERE. FC Cincinnati’s MLS matches air live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, the unprecedented subscription service which features every MLS Regular Season, MLS Cup Playoff and Leagues Cup match.
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