As Spencer Richey dove onto the ball deep into stoppage time, fans erupted into scenes of excitement, euphoria and relief.
It was a moment that would have seemed impossible 15 minutes earlier. Then, FC Cincinnati were leading 3-0 against the Houston Dynamo and were closing in on a first win since May 11 – and first clean sheet since March 24.
But after Houston scored twice in two minutes (the 79th and 81st minutes), and what once felt like a delightful summer night was free falling into a nightmare.
Panic set in – not on the field, but in the stands.
When Nick Hagglund unluckily scored into his own net, Nippert Stadium sounded hollow, as if everyone was either numbed or in shock.
So, what followed from that were the most important minutes of FC Cincinnati’s year to date, and what felt like the moments that will be the turning point of the season.
As one orange wave of Dynamo attacks crashed after another, Cincinnati did something it had struggled to do the last two months of league play: the backline was unwavering.
In stoppage time alone, the Orange and Blue defended four-consecutive corner kicks. Once the potential harm felt subdued, the visitors attacked down Cincinnati’s left flank. Tommy McNamara crossed to an open Aljaz Struna, who forced Richey to make a point-blank save. It was then when Richey pounced on the loose ball, and in turn, stopped any possibility of another Houston goal.
Section after section around the stadium began to clap and start chants of “F-C-C.” Drums from The Bailey thumped in the background.
For all the stress and nerves the final 15 minutes of the match provided – and even the last several weeks since Cincinnati last won a game – the resiliency was valiant, and more importantly, gave fans a reason to believe.
“We got a little bit scared in the second half, but I am happy for the guys,” Interim Head Coach Yoann Damet said. “I feel they have earned it.”
It’s worth noting how opposite FC Cincinnati’s match Saturday night was in comparison to last weekend in Minnesota. There, the club lost 7-1 with only 16 players available. Three rookies were forced to play, while another was available on the bench.
In the win against Houston, one of those rookies, Rashawn Dally, scored his first MLS goal. In just his third league start, he collected the ball 14 yards out and smashed a shot into the net. As he ran toward the corner to celebrate, another rookie, Frankie Amaya, jumped into his arms.
The moment was one of joy in the present and unbridled hope toward the future.
Honestly, that’s what the win against Houston felt like: hope
After so many matches of Cincinnati having to explain unexplainable losses, their response Saturday was better than any words could say.
They didn’t play perfect, but played well. Keeping the same 4-3-3 formation, possession flowed and the game was the team’s best example to date in how it can transform spells of possession into meaningful attacking chances.
When Kekuta Manneh scored the first goal in the 29th minute, the play came from a lethal Emmanuel Ledesma through ball that sliced across Houston’s midfield and behind its backline. Ledesma did the same when he found Victor Ulloa for Cincinnati’s third goal.
As for Dally’s goal, his chance arrived via a strong tackle from Mathieu Deplagne atop the box, but the home side passed from their territory into that position.
Since Damet took over in May 11, that’s the identity and vision the Frenchman has wanted for his team. While we’ve seen that in previous matches, the moments came is short bursts, or acted as moral victories. In the 3-2 win, they lead to tangible results and an entertaining product.
“It’s up to us to make it become one of the turning points of the season,” Damet said. “We had a good wakeup call this past weekend. We had some meetings this week, some words in the locker room, too. It’s good to be home and getting results in. front of our fans, but also for us, like against our opponents in the Eastern Conference.”
The “us” Damet referred to was the players and coaching staff. For the latter, beating Houston showed that what the team is working on is indeed working. For players, they were rewarded for the effort they’ve put in.
That FC Cincinnati played with the same style and identity in the 7-1 loss as it did in the 3-2 win proved there’s a belief in the system and the process.
On Saturday night, that meant a first league win in almost two months, an emotionally draining and rewarding evening for the fans and hope that things will continue to improve.
