FC Cincinnati won their first match since May 11 on Saturday night when they beat the Houston Dynamo 3-2 at Nippert Stadium.
Here are three takeaways from the three-point performance:
Holding on late
When Victor UIloa scored in the 61st minute, he produced his first goal this season and gave FC Cincinnati a 3-0 lead. At the time, the Orange and Blue were comfortably on their way to three points until conceding two goals in two minutes.
After Houston scored from a penalty in the 79th minute, Nick Hagglund accidently scored an own goal when he went to clear a cross in the 81st minute. From there, Cincinnati had to scrap to hold onto the lead and the eventual win.
Impressive performance and result
Because of a suspension, injuries and the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, the Orange and Blue have been shorthanded for the past month. Saturday night saw the return of key players – and the return to Cincinnati earning a win.
Kendall Waston and Allan Cruz both started after playing for Costa Rica in the Gold Cup, while Leo Bertone was back from a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation.
Their return saw FC Cincinnati deliver an impressive performance that showcased a stout backline, a strong midfield and attacking chance after chance. After the recent losses, the display was a nice welcome and offered glimpses of what’s to come.
That first half…
The opening 45 minutes were some of the best we’ve seen from FC Cincinnati this season. The club possessed the ball from the start and created chance after chance.
The home side took the lead in the 29th minute when Emmanuel Ledesma played a brilliant through ball to Kekuta Manneh. The Gambian winger received the ball, then fired a shot toward the back post to give him his team-high third goal this season.
Cincinnati doubled the lead nine minutes later when Rashawn Dally scored his first MLS goal.
After a nice buildup that saw Frankie Amaya play Mathieu Deplagne through into the box, Deplagne lost possession atop the 18. He reclaimed the ball, however, and slipped a pass to Dally, who postage stamped a shot to the top right corner.
When the halftime whistle sounded, it marked the first time since May 19 since FC Cincinnati led in a match. That match was at Orlando City SC, when Darren Mattocks scored.
What comes next?
With the win, FC Cincinnati play at the Chicago Fire next Saturday night. The match kicks off at 8 p.m. ET. Before that though, the club will host the inaugural FCC3, a three-mile walk or run. The race begins at 7 p.m. in Downtown and will finish with a watch party to see the Orange and Blue play the Fire.
It’s also worth noting that beginning Saturday night against the Dynamo, three of the next four matches are at Nippert Stadium, with D.C. United visiting on Thursday, July 18. That mid-week match is a “White Out” and will be on ESPN, before New England visits on Sunday, July 21.
