In normal circumstances, most Major League Soccer clubs would settle for a draw against defending MLS Cup champion New York City FC.
Of the many words you might use to describe FC Cincinnati's 4-4 draw with NYCFC, "normal" probably isn't one, however.
FC Cincinnati used the third goal of a Brenner Souza da Silva hat-trick – the first hat-trick in the club's MLS history – to rescue a point against NYCFC Wednesday before a TQL Stadium crowd of 21,258.
Brenner's third goal made it 4-4, and cancelled out a narrow 4-3 lead, which capped four unanswered New York goals after Cincinnati opened the match with a 3-0 lead of its own.
Brenner nearly added a fourth in the 90th minute, too, but the goal was called back on video review for offside
Luciano Acosta opened the scoring for Cincinnati, and Brenner scored the next three for the hosts.
Along the way, Talles Magno and two goals from Héber saw NYCFC pull even. All three goals were scored in the 44th minute or later.
Gabriel Pereira put NYCFC in front in the 52nd minute but Brenner's third goal arrived in the 70th minute. That was the final goal of the night.
The Enquirer will update this report.
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Welcome to Cincinnati.com's live coverage of FC Cincinnati (6-7-2) versus Orlando City SC (7-5-4) at TQL Stadium (7:30 p.m.). Refresh this page throughout the match for live updates and analysis, and follow Enquirer reporters Pat Brennan (@PBrennanENQ) and Sara Tidwell (@saramtidwell) on Twitter for further updates.
In-match updates:
• 90th minute – Video review: What would have been Brenner's fourth goal of the night was called off following video review. It was deemed to be offisde.
• 70th minute – GOAL, FC Cincinnati (4-4): Brenner Souza da Silva cracked a left-footed score from the top of NYCFC's penalty area to mark the first hat-trick in the club's MLS history.
• 52nd minute – GOAL, New York City FC (3-4): Gabriel Pereira.
• HALF: FC Cincinnati 3, NYCFC 3.
• 45th-plus minute – GOAL, New York City FC (3-3): Héber's sixth career goal against Cincinnati brought NYCFC level after trailing by three in the 30th minute.
• 45th-plus minute – GOAL, New York City FC (3-2): Héber scored his fifth career goal for NYCFC against FC Cincinnati to pull the visitors within one.
• 44th minute – GOAL, New York City FC (3-1): Talles Magno.
• 34th minute – Penalty kick: The penalty kick by NYCFC's Maxi Moralez is saved by FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano.
• 29th minute – GOAL, FC Cincinnati (3-0): Brenner Souza da Silva.
• 24th minute – GOAL, FC Cincinnati (2-0): Brenner Souza da Silva. Moments after Luciano Acosta and Brenner combined a goal that was ruled to have gone out of bounds in the buildup, Acosta fed Brenner again, and BRenn
• 15th minute – GOAL, FC Cincinnati (1-0): Luciano Acosta dribbled around NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson and tapped the ball home for a 1-0 lead. The goal was Acosta's sixth of the year.
• Game underway at about 7:38 p.m.
Pre-match updates:
• FC Cincinnati starting XI: Roman Celentano (GK), Alvaro Barreal, Tyler Blackett, Geoff Cameron, Nick Hagglund, Ray Gaddis, Haris Medunjanin, Obi Nwobodo, Alvaro Luciano Acosta (captain), Brenner Souza da Silva, Brandon Vazquez.
• FC Cincinnati bench: Isaac Atanga, Zico Bailey, Allan Cruz, Yuya Kubo, Nick Markanich, Ian Murphy, Harrison Robledo, Alec Kann (GK).
• OUT for FC Cincinnati: Ronald Matarrita (surgery rehab), Junior Moreno (leg), Dominique Badji (leg).
New York City FC starting XI: Sean Johnson (GK, captain), Maxime Chanot, Alexander Callens, Alfredo Morales, Malte Amundsen, Tayvon Gray, Nicolas Acevedo, Maxi Moralez, Gabriel Pereira, Heber, Talles Magno.
NYCFC bench: Chris Gloster, Thiago, Luis Barraza, Andre Jassan, Kevin O'Toole, Gedian Zelalem, Cody Mizell, Vuk Latinovich, Justin Haak.