Thanks to a goal 45 seconds into the match from Allan Cruz and a late one from Fanendo Adi, FC Cincinnati beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 on Saturday night at SeatGeek Stadium for their second straight win and first road win since March 24.
Here are takeaways from the match:
First road win since March 24
After beating the Houston Dynamo, 3-2, last Saturday night, the Orange and Blue beat Chicago 2-1 a week later. With those results, Cincinnati is now tied with Columbus Crew SC on points with 17.
FC Cincinnati opened the scoring 45 seconds into the match when Cruz scored his third goal this season and second in as many games.
Leo Bertone served a cross into the box, which Chicago failed to clear. Standing at the back post, Cruz half-volleyed a shot into the net for the fastest goal for the club in its MLS history.
After conceding in first-half stoppage time, when the Fire had a second penalty kick, the visitors responded in the 83rd minute when Adi first-timed a shot into the bottom-right corner.
With the three points, Saturday was FC Cincinnati’s first road win since March 24 in a 2-0 win against the New England Revolution.
Adi scores first goal in MLS this season
Entering the match as a second-half substitute, the Nigerian forward scored his first MLS goal this season in the 83rd minute when he coolly finished a shot from a Kekuta Manneh pass.
The goal was Adi’s second in 2019, the other arrived against Louisville City FC in the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
What comes next
FC Cincinnati have a short turnaround before their next match Thursday night against D.C. United at Nippert Stadium. The game will be on ESPN and is a “White Out,” meaning fans are asked to wear white. Additionally, Cincinnati native and World Cup champion Rose Lavelle will be at the match to celebrate the U.S. Women’s National Team winning the 2019 FIFA World Cup.
Additionally, hosting D.C. United will be Cincinnati’s first of two games in four days. After Thursday night’s match, the Orange and Blue host the New England Revolution on Sunday night. FCC won their last meeting with New England 2-0 on March 24. That was the club’s last win on the road before Saturday against Chicago.
