FC Cincinnati 2 came from behind to defeat Crown Legacy FC 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium. FCC 2 improve to 4-3-1 (13 points) on the season with their third straight win, while CLFC falls to 1-3-3 (6 points).
The first half of action was a defensive battle, and the match was scoreless after 45 minutes. The scoring began in the 62nd minute when The Crown were able to find the back of the net off of an Aron John goal.
The Orange and Blue found the equalizer after a foul inside the box on Stefan Chirila in the 75th minute set him up for a penalty kick, which he was able to convert. With the penalty kick, U17 academy striker scored his first professional goal in just his second professional match. Six minutes of extra time was added onto the 90, but Cincinnati only needed two as Jesus Castellano was able to find Peter Mangione for the game-winning goal.
Next up FC Cincinnati 2 head to Lower.com Field on May 12 to face Columbus Crew 2 in the first rivalry matchup of the season.
AS IT HAPPENED
CLFC: Aron John, GOAL – 62’ (0-1) – Crown Legacy attacked the box heavily as a handful of passes found Cameron Duke on the right post. Duke navigated a pass to the middle of the box, where it found John for the first goal of the match.
CIN: Stefan Chirila, GOAL (Penalty) – 77’ (1-1) – In the 75th minute, Chirila drew a foul inside the box to set himself up for a penalty kick. He sent a strike right down the middle of the net, eluding Crown Legacy goalkeeper, Chituru Odunze, and even the match at one a piece.
CIN: Peter Mangione, GOAL – 90’ +2 (2-1) – The Orange and Blue capitalized off a contested header which deflected into the stride of Jesus Castellano. Castellano laced a pass to Mangione, who beat a defender and sent a right footed shot into the left side of the net to break the tie.
FC CINCINNATI 2 GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati 2 vs Crown Legacy FC
Date: May 4, 2024
Competition: MLS NEXT Pro
Venue: Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium
Kickoff: 4:03 p.m. ET
Weather: 74 degrees, cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
CIN: 0-2-2
CLFC: 0-1-1
CIN – Stefan Chirila (Penalty) 77’, Peter Mangione (Jesus Castellano) 90’ +2
CLFC – Aron John (Cameron Duke) 62’
LINEUPS
CIN: Evan Louro, Isaiah Foster, Brian Schaefer, London Aghedo, Moses Tablante, Stiven Jimenez (Alejandro Guido 88’), Peter Mangione (Nicholas Samways 90’ +4), Nico Benalcazar (C), Amir Daley (Gael Gibert 69’), Stefan Chirila, Ben Stitz (Jesus Castellano 69’)
Substitutes not used: Connor Stout, Illia Tyrkus, Juan Machado, Hunter Morse
Head Coach: Tyrone Marshall
CLFC: Chituru Odunze, Jahlane Forbes (Julian Bravo 61’), Assane Ouedraogo, Willian Sangoquiza, Josue Rodrigues, Philip Mayaka(C), Aron John, Filip Mirkovic (Erik Peña 86’), Cam Duke (Sebastian Bourget 81’), Nimfasha Berchimas (Dylan Sing 61’), Jonathan Nyandjo (Chandler Young 86’)
Substitutes not used: Nicholas Holliday, Brandon Parrish, Brian Carmona, Jack Neeley
Head Coach: Jose Taveres
STATS SUMMARY: CIN/CLFC
Shots: 18 / 13
Shots on Goal: 7 / 2
Saves: 1 / 5
Corner Kicks: 8 / 5
Fouls: 15 / 15
Offside: 1 /1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CLFC – Assane Ouedraogo (Yellow Card) 58’
CIN – Moises Tablante (Yellow Card) 65’
CIN – Stiven Jimenez (Yellow Card) 72’
CLFC – Assistant Coach Pedro Mané (Yellow Card) 79’
OFFICIALS
Referee: Olvin Oliva
Ast. Referees: Fernando Pina, Christopher Slane
Fourth Official: Kevin Fikar
