After the entire 2020 season was played in closed-door Nippert Stadium matches due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FC Cincinnati head coach Jaap Stam celebrated his first win with home supporters present.
"That's nice. The fans turn up every game and they're always positive," Stam said. "Very happy about that... That's how it needs to be. Especially in a game when you're taking a lead. Going toward the end of the game, you can feel the tension growing as well. They became a little bit louder and louder toward the end as well because they feel as well that, yeah, the win is gonna be there. That gives us a great feeling and it's great to see the fans involved like that."
FC Cincinnati seemed to be on the front foot in the early stages of the match but was held without a shot for about 30 minutes to begin the contest.
Once the match opened up, FCC opened the scoring in the 39th minute through Brenner.
Luciano Acosta lofted a cross to the back post and Brenner raised his leg high to poke the ball home for 1-0 and his sixth goal of the season.
The assist was Acosta's seventh of the year.
The match opened up again in the second half. Back and forth action was the norm, and FC Cincinnati took advantage when Medunjanin rifled his shot from the top of the penalty area.
The ball ricocheted off two Toronto players and completely changed the direction of the shot. Toronto goalkeeper Quentin Westberg was helpless to prevent the ball for crossing into his net for 2-0.
Defensively, FCC lived dangerously in the second half but goalkeeper Przemysław Tytoń was equal to the task.
Tytoń, who started in place of Kenneth Vermeer (COVID-19-related protocols), preserved the shutout with five saves.
The shutout was Tytoń 10th career clean sheet over three seasons at FC Cincinnati.
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Welcome to Cincinnati.com's live coverage of FC Cincinnati versus Toronto FC at TQL Stadium (8 p.m.). Refresh this page throughout the match for updates and analysis throughout the game, and follow Enquirer FC Cincinnati beat reporter Pat Brennan on Twitter (@PBrennanENQ) for further updates.
In-match updates: • FINAL: FC Cincinnati 2-0 Toronto FC.
• 58th minute – GOAL, FC Cincinnati (2-0): Haris Medunjanin's one-time shot from the top of the box changed direction twice on the way in and hit two Toronto players, but the shot crossed the line to double FCC's lead.
• 39th minute – GOAL, FC Cincinnati (1-0): Brenner Souza da Silva opened the scoring with his sixth tally of 2021. Brenner poked in Luciano Acosta's cross at the far post on the goal. The assist was Acosta's seventh of 2021.
• Match underway at about 8:08 p.m.
Pre-match updates: • FC Cincinnati starting XI (bench): Przemysław Tytoń (GK), Nick Hagglund, Geoff Cameron, Gustavo Vallecilla, Ronald Matarrita, Yuya Kubo, Haris Medunjanin, Luciano Acosta, Alvaro Barreal, Isaac Atanga, Brenner Souza da Silva (Zico Bailey, Edgar Castillo, Allan Cruz, Calvin Harris, Ben Lundt (GK), Kamohelo Mokotjo, Quimi Ordonez, Florian Valot, Brandon Vazquez).
• Ronald Matarrita returns to the starting left back position after just one training session in Cincinnati following his involvement with the Costa Rican men's national team FIFA World Cup qualifying.
• Chris Duvall, Kenneth Vermeer, Caleb Stanko are all out due to COVID-19-related health and safety protocols.
