FC Cincinnati defeated Nashville SC, 3-1, Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd at TQL Stadium. With the win, FCC surpassed 50 points this season and tied for the fastest team in MLS history to reach the half-century mark in points, doing so in just 23 games.
The Orange and Blue improve to 15-2-6 (51 points) this season. NSC drop to 11-8-5 (38 points).
FC Cincinnati defeated Nashville for the first time at home in club history. The Orange and Blue swept the season series over Nashville, earning a fourth season-sweep over an opponent in club history.
After a 52-minute weather delay prior to kickoff, the visitors scored first, a 31st minute goal from Walker Zimmerman. But it did not take long for FC Cincinnati to bring the match level as Luciano Acosta converted from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute for his 12th goal of the season. Nashville’s Alex Muyl was whistled for a handball in the box stemming from an Álvaro Barreal cross.
With the goal, Acosta moves into a tie for second in the MLS Golden Boot Race.
Level at the break, two vital moments in the match came three minutes apart in the 68th and 70th minutes, as Nashville’s Taylor Washington and Fafa Picault were each sent off with second yellow cards, requiring the visitors to play with nine men for the final 20 minutes.
The Orange and Blue took advantage through Santiago Arias’ second goal of the season in the 74th minute. Acosta picked up his eighth assist of the campaign, squeezing a pass past three Nashville defenders to put Arias through in on goal inside the box.
Acosta earned his sixth game this season of multiple goal contributions, tied with Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar for the most in MLS.
FC Cincinnati’s Aaron Boupendza debuted one minute later and would later tally the latest goal in club history nine minutes into stoppage time.
With time winding down, FC Cincinnati utilized numbers in their attacking third as Vazquez picked out a wide-open Boupendza onside at the top of the penalty area. The Gabonese striker took a touch and fired home the third goal of the evening.
FC Cincinnati will begin play in the first edition of Leagues Cup next Sunday, July 23 when the Orange and Blue take on Sporting Kansas City at TQL Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the match will stream exclusively on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Fans can also listen to the match locally on ESPN 1530.
FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati vs Nashville SC
Date: July 15, 2023
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: TQL Stadium
Attendance: 25,513 (sellout)
Kickoff: 8:31 p.m. ET (52 min. delay before kickoff)
Weather: 77 degrees, clear
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
CIN: 1-2-3
NSH: 1-0-1
CIN – Luciano Acosta (PK) 42’, Santiago Arias (Acosta) 74’, Aaron Boupendza (Vazquez) 90+9’
NSH – Walker Zimmerman 31’
GAME NOTES
• FC Cincinnati won for the first time in club history - at home - when allowing the first goal. All three previous instances came on the road.
• Cincinnati defeated Nashville in the Queen City for the first time in three tries.
• The Orange and Blue swept a regular season series over an opponent for the fourth time in club history, the first time this year.
• FC Cincinnati surpassed 50 points for the first time in club history … By reaching 50 points through 23 matches, the club tied the MLS record (LAFC 2019, 2022) for the fastest team to reach the half-century mark.
• Luciano Acosta netted his sixth game of multiple goal contributions this season, tied for the most in MLS (Mukhtar).
• FC Cincinnati were awarded a penalty for the third-consecutive game for the first time in club history.
• For the second-straight game, FC Cincinnati held their opponent to just one shot on target. The club held Nashville without any corner kicks.
• FC Cincinnati had an opponent shown a red card for the first time this season … FCC’s opponent went down to 9-men for the third time in club history (7/16/20 vs ATL – Red Cards: Mulraney 26', Williams 90+10'; 7/31/21 vs DC – Red Cards: Nyeman 52', Mora 90+2').
• With a 52-minute weather delay prior to kickoff, the delay marked the seventh delay in club history, the fourth-longest and the second this season.
• Sergio Santos (100 career MLS appearances) and Roman Celentano (50 career MLS appearances) each hit milestone marks on Saturday night.
LINEUPS
CIN: Roman Celentano, Álvaro Barreal, Yerson Mosquera, Matt Miazga, Nick Hagglund (Ian Murphy 90+1’), Santiago Arias (Alvas Powell 82’), Obinna Nwobodo, Junior Moreno (Marco Angulo 90+1’), Luciano Acosta (C), Sergio Santos (Aaron Boupendza 75’), Brandon Vazquez
Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Malik Pinto, Ray Gaddis, Arquimides Ordoñez, Bret Halsey
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
NSH: Joe Willis, Lukas MacNaughton, Josh Bauer (Jacob Shaffelburg 90+2’), Taylor Washington, Walker Zimmerman (C), Dax McCarty (Sean Davis 57’), Randall Leal (Luke Haakenson 81’), Alex Muyl, Brian Anunga (Jan Gregus 81’), Hany Mukhtar (Teal Bunbury 81’), Fafa Picault
Substitutes not used: Elliot Panicco, Ethan Zubak, Laurence Wyke
Head Coach: Gary Smith
STATS SUMMARY: CIN/NSH
Shots: 16 / 6
Shots on Goal: 7 / 1
Saves: 0 / 3
Corner Kicks: 7 / 0
Fouls: 16 / 16
Offside: 1 / 0
Possession: 56.1 / 43.9
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – Santiago Arias (Yellow Card) 26’
NSH – Taylor Washington (Yellow Card) 37’
CIN – Luciano Acosta (Yellow Card) 45+7’
CIN – Matt Miazga (Yellow Card) 62’
NSH – Fafa Picault (Yellow Card) 62’
NSH – Taylor Washington (Second Yellow, Red Card) 68’
NSH – Fafa Picault (Second Yellow, Red Card) 70’
NSH – Luke Haakenson (Yellow Card) 86’
CIN – Brandon Vazquez (Yellow Card) 87’
CIN – Aaron Boupendza (Yellow Card) 90+11'
OFFICIALS
Referee: Ramy Touchan
Ast. Referees: Jose Da Silva, Jeffrey Greeson
Fourth Official: Adam Kilpatrick
VAR: Younes Marrakchi
AVAR: Joshua Patlak
