FC Cincinnati outscored Toronto FC, 4-3, in an Eastern Conference heavyweight thriller Saturday night at BMO Field in Toronto.
The Orange and Blue (10-2-3, 33 points) earned a seventh-straight win, setting a new longest win streak in the club’s Major League Soccer history. Additionally, with a fourth-straight road win, Cincinnati set a new longest road win streak in club history, and earned a sixth road win of the season, most in MLS.
FC Cincinnati became the fourth team since 2000 to win seven-consecutive matches in a single season, the first since LAFC in 2022.
Toronto FC (7-7-1, 22 points) opened the scoring in the 25th minute and took the one-goal lead into the halftime break. But Cincinnati would score twice in the 53rd and 55th minutes with goals from Luca Orellano and Kevin Kelsy, respectively.
From there, the game featured four more goals, with Toronto equalizing in the 63rd minute on an own goal, but Luca Orellano responding in the 79th minute with his second goal of the evening. Toronto equalized again from the penalty spot in the 83rd, but substitute Sergio Santos secured FCC’s fourth and final goal three minutes into second-half stoppage time to send the Orange and Blue ahead for good, 4-3.
Cincinnati’s four second-half goals were the club’s most in a match since September 10, 2022 against San Jose Earthquakes, when FCC scored five times in the second half. Head Coach Pat Noonan surpassed 150 points as head coach of FC Cincinnati with the win. His 42-16-25 record (151 points) has resulted in the most points of any coach since the start of the 2022 season.
AS IT HAPPENED
TOR: Deybi Flores, GOAL – 25’ (1-0) – Toronto FC struck first off a corner kick, as Lorenzo Insigne swung in an out-swinging ball which Deybi Flores headed in for his first MLS goal.
CIN: Luca Orellano, GOAL – 53’ (1-1) – FC Cincinnati responded early in the second half. Luciano ‘Lucho’ Acosta took possession in Toronto’s defensive third and played a ball centrally for Gerardo ‘Dado’ Valenzuela who was taken down on a turn towards net. Dado was fouled but on advantage the ball found Luca Orellano, who in tight space took a left-footed shot past the diving Sean Johnson for an equalizer.
CIN: Kevin Kelsy, GOAL – 55’ (1-2) – Two minutes later, Luca Orellano capitalized on a turnover in the back from Toronto and found himself all alone in behind the Reds’ defense. Orellano’s initial shot was saved by Sean Johnson but the rebound found Kevin Kelsy who calmly deposited his shot into the back of the net for his third goal in four games.
TOR: OWN GOAL – 63’ (2-2) – Toronto FC off a corner played it short and drove towards the box, swinging in a ball in a tight area which deflected off Cincinnati’s Ian Murphy into the net.
CIN: Luca Orellano, GOAL – 79’ (2-3) – Luca Orellano netted his first-career brace. Sergio Santos took possession in the box and danced around a Toronto defender. As he shifted to the left, he was taken down but his pass found Orellano, who clinically placed his second goal of the night into the bottom corner of the net.
TOR: Lorenzo Insigne, PENALTY KICK GOAL – 85’ (3-3) – After Price Owusu was fouled in the box, Toronto’s Lorenzo Insigne stepped up to the spot and converted the penalty to level the score.
CIN: Sergio Santos, GOAL – 90’+3 (3-4) – FC Cincinnati drove down the field seeking a fourth goal and found it. Lucho Acosta chipped a ball into the box which Yamil Asad settled for Sergio Santos running in to bury the game winner past Sean Johnson three minutes into stoppage time.
FC Cincinnati host Nashville SC at TQL Stadium this Wednesday, May 29 in the last home match before the upcoming June FIFA International Break. Tickets are still available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK) and the match will air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and fans can also listen to the match on ESPN 1530.
GAME NOTES
- FC Cincinnati earned a seventh-straight win, setting the club’s longest MLS win streak and becoming the fourth team since 2000 to win seven-consecutive games in a single season.
- FC Cincinnati set a new club record with a fourth-straight win on the road.
- Cincinnati’s six road wins are the most in MLS this season.
- FC Cincinnati are unbeaten under Pat Noonan against Toronto FC, 5-0-1.
- Luca Orellano netted the first brace of the 2024 season for FC Cincinnati, the 15th multi-goal game in the club’s regular season history.
- At 90’+3, Sergio Santos’ game-winning goal was tied for the latest regular season game-winning goal in club history (Brandon Vazquez, 5/7/22 at MIN; Obinna Nwobodo, 7/12/23 at RBNY).
- Luciano Acosta extended his goal contribution streak to nine games, extending the longest streak in club history and standing alone as the new longest streak in MLS this season.
- FC Cincinnati are 23-4 since the start of the 2023 season in games decided by one goal … the next closest win total over that span is 12, held by Orlando City SC.
- Pat Noonan surpassed 150 points as head coach of FC Cincinnati … His 42-16-25 record (151 points) has resulted in the most points of any coach since the start of the 2022 season.
FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati at Toronto FC
Date: May 25, 2024
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: BMO Field
Attendance: 27,941
Kickoff: 7:40 p.m. ET
Weather: 65 degrees, clear
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
TOR: 1-2-3
CIN: 0-4-4
TOR – Deybi Flores (Insigne) 25’, Own Goal – Ian Murphy 63’, Lorenzo Insigne (penalty) 85’
CIN – Luca Orellano 53’, Kevin Kelsy 55’, Luca Orellano (Santos) 79’, Sergio Santos (Asad, Acosta) 90’+3
LINEUPS
CIN: Roman Celentano, Luca Orellano (Yamil Asad 88’), Ian Murphy, Matt Miazga, Miles Robinson, Bret Halsey (DeAndre Yedlin 65’), Pavel Bucha, Obinna Nwobodo, Luciano Acosta (C), Kevin Kelsy, Gerardo Valenzuela (Sergio Santos 72’)
Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Nick Hagglund, Kipp Keller, Malik Pinto, London Aghedo, Stiven Jimenez
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
TOR: Sean Johnson, Nicksoen Gomis, Sigurd Rosted, Raoul Petretta, Matty Longstaff, Deybi Flores (Alonso Coello 70’), Jonathan Osorio (C) (Kobe Franklin 70’), Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty (Kevin Long 75’), Tyrese Spicer (Derrick Etienne Jr. 58’), Lorenzo Insigne, Prince Owusu
Substitutes not used: Luka Gavran, Aime Mabika, Cassius Mailula, Deandre Kerr, Kosi Thompson
Head Coach: John Herdman
STATS SUMMARY: TOR/CIN
Shots: 11 / 15
Shots on Goal: 4 / 7
Saves: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 4 / 3
Fouls: 16 / 15
Offside: 3 / 2
Possession: 48.1 / 51.9
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
TOR – Deybi Flores (Yellow Card) 33’
CIN – Luca Orellano (Yellow Card) 60’
TOR – Matty Longstaff (Yellow Card) 63’
TOR – Kevin Long (Yellow Card) 78’
CIN – Miles Robinson (Yellow Card) 83’
TOR – Lorenzo Insigne (Yellow Card) 90’+8
CIN – Kevin Kelsy (Yellow Card) 90’+10
OFFICIALS
Referee: Victor Rivas
Ast. Referees: Corey Parker, Kyle Atkins
Fourth Official: Renzo Villanueva
VAR: Alejandro Mariscal
AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
