Despite Emmanuel Ledesma’s 58th-minute strike, FC Cincinnati were unable to score another goal and left BMO Field with a 2-1 loss at Toronto FC.
The match was their first meeting this season, with the second coming Sept. 7 at Nippert Stadium. Here are takeaways from the match:
Second half flurry doesn’t lead to any points
Trailing 1-0 at halftime after allowing a goal to Nick DeLeon after 16 minutes, the Orange and Blue started the second half with a lot more urgency to pick up a second-straight win on the road. FCC led the stanza in possession (51.7%) after managing only 40.4% in the first half. And after only a single shot (off target) in the first half, Cincinnati pushed 10 shots forward in the second, including four on target.
Unfortunately, they left the match with no points.
Jozy Altidore doubled the deficit in the 50th minute with a curling effort from long range. From there, Cincinnati found the net in the 58th minute when Ledesma finished a driven shot into the net after Allan Cruz did well to work the ball into the 18.
Cincinnati was unable to equalize.
FC Cincinnati adjusted well despite wholesale changes
Before kickoff, Interim Head Coach Yoann Damet made seven changes to the starting lineup. Most stemmed from injuries during the past week, while Maikel van der Werff made his MLS debut.
After a quiet first half that saw the visitors play well defensively but lack creativity in the final third, that changed in the second half when Cincinnati came out with intensity and looked lively in possession.
Ledesma provided the main highlight in the 58th minute when he finished a driven shot into the net after Allan Cruz did well to work the ball into the 18.
But despite the lineup changes, which could explain a mild first half, FCC adjusted well and looked strong in the second half.
For it being his debut, van der Werff looked comfortable throughout the match alongside Kendall Waston as center back. Goalkeeper Przemysław Tytoń, who made his first league start since May 4, looked calm and collected throughout.
Roland Lamah and Victor Ulloa both made their first starts since June and provided moments of quality.
While that didn’t result in a win, it showed Cincinnati has depth on its squad and can create opportunities regardless of who Damet is able to select into his starting lineup.
What comes next
After Saturday night’s result at BMO Field, the Orange and Blue return to Nippert Stadium next Saturday night when they host Vancouver Whitecaps FC. It’ll be the second time in consecutive matches that Cincinnati play against a Canadian opposition.
More importantly, the match is the first of three home games in FCC’s next four on the schedule. When that same sequence of matches occurred last month, Cincinnati picked up six points. The Orange and Blue will be hoping for at least that this time around.
