A crowd of 24,795 fans filled TQL Stadium on Wednesday night to witness an exhilarating match between FC Cincinnati and the Philadelphia Union. Despite facing challenges, Cincinnati emerged victorious with a dramatic 4-3 win. FC Cincinnati entered the matchup riding a wave of momentum, having overcome a rocky start to the season. They are now looking like a strong playoff contender.
However, the team faced a setback with head coach Pat Noonan announcing that All-Star center-back Matt Miazga would be sitting out due to an injury sustained against San Jose. Noonan described the injury as “not great” and suggested it could be long-term, leaving FC Cincinnati down two of its best defenders.
Photo Cred: FC Cincinnati
The game started with Kevin Kelsey scoring his fourth goal of the season to give Cincinnati an early lead. Philadelphia’s Tai Baribo responded, tying the game 1-1 as the first half concluded. Cincinnati controlled possession with 60% and had five fouls compared to Philadelphia’s three. Both teams had one corner kick each.
In the second half, a hard foul on a Cincinnati player led to a penalty kick, allowing them to take a 2-1 lead. Philadelphia quickly answered with a header assist to Jesus Bueno, tying the game once more. Luca Orellano then delivered a spectacular goal from midfield, one of the season’s best, putting Cincinnati ahead 3-2. However, Baribo again equalized for the Union just as the fourth official signaled for 10 minutes of added time, bringing the score to 3-3. In the final moments, Luciano Acosta scored a 100th-minute go-ahead goal, securing a thrilling 4-3 victory for FC Cincinnati.
After the match, Philadelphia head coach Jim Curtin expressed his disappointment, saying, “Whether you’re called upon to play 90 minutes or 1 minute to close the game out, you have to be ready to do your job, and we didn’t get that tonight, and we paid for it.”
With this victory, FC Cincinnati improved their record to 12-3-4, keeping pace with league-leading Inter Miami CF. Although Miami leads on points, Cincinnati has two games in hand and boasts the highest points per game in Major League Soccer at 2.17. The back-and-forth contest highlighted FC Cincinnati’s resilience and determination, setting the stage for an exciting remainder of the season as they continue their pursuit of the playoffs.
