A win by any measure and any means against Philadelphia Union is a good win.
FC Cincinnati will have to continually remind itself of that fact following Saturday's 1-0 victory against the Union. The match wasn't the best version of FCC we've seen in 2023, and they didn't play a full-strength Union side, which is burdened in the midst of its CONCACAF Champions League run.
But FCC still did what was required to send a very good Union team packing before a sellout crowd of 25,513.
Luciano Acosta provided the offense on a 69th-minute penalty kick and the team defending resulted in a fifth shutout through seven matches.
FC Cincinnati improved to 5-0-2 and remains undefeated atop the Eastern Conference on 17 points.
Still undefeated
It wasn't pretty (again) from FC Cincinnati but it did enough to survive a rotated and probably tired Union team in a 1-0 win at TQL Stadium. Cincinnati moved to 5-0-2, 17 points in the standings and will remain atop the east for another week.
Positives? Luciano Acosta has his first goal of 2023 and Cincinnati rewarded another 25,000-plus crowd with a win as the club improved to 4-0-0 at TQL Stadium.
Cincy leads but what the.... (69')
A wild sequence that ended with Brenner Souza da Silva appearing to score a deflected goal for Cincinnati's opening goal was called back by referee Ted Unkel. Evidently, he had whistled for a penalty kick for FCC prior to Brenner's goal, so Luciano Acosta stepped up to the spot and scored his first of 2023 to put the hosts in front.
Cincy growing into the game
It took the better part of an hour, but FC Cincinnati finally started to ratchet up the attacking pressure with some strong moves and centering feeds from the right wing. Unfortunately, Philly's bringing on the big guns for the final half-hour as Alejandro Bedoya, Daniel Gazdag, and Mikael Uhre came on.
Pat Noonan countered by taking Marco Angulo off in favor of Malik Pinto.
A half to forget
FC Cincinnati had 75% of the ball in the first half and about four times as many passes compared to Philadelphia, and yet the visiting Union had the best chance of opening 45 minutes. In a half that was reminiscent of aspects of last week's first half against Inter Miami CF, FCC just didn't create much. Cincinnati has no shots on goal.
Close chance to Philly (12')
Marco Angulo is apt to turn the ball over and he did so in an area of the field that directly led to a scoring chance for the Union. Angulo was muscled off the ball as FCC tried to play out of the back but the ball ended up on the feet of Chris Donovan, who pushed a shot just wide of Roman Celentano's righthand post in the south end of TQL Stadium.
Game time
Center referee Ted Unkel's whistle gets us underway at 7:39 p.m.
Tonight's starters
FC Cincinnati makes one change to its starting lineup from last weekend's 1-0 win against Inter Miami CF, introducing Santiago Arias at right back in favor of Ray Gaddis. After not training all week, FCC's Obinna Nwobodo isn't dressed for the match.
Philadelphia is in the midst of a very busy stretch of schedule, having playing in MLS last Saturday, CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday and another Champions League match coming midweek next week. Consequently, the Union have some noticeable turnover in their starting lineup.
FC Cincinnati starting XI: Roman Celentano (GK), Alvaro Barreal, Yerson Mosquera, Matt Miazga, Nick Hagglund, Santiago Arias, Marco Angulo, Junior Moreno, Luciano Acosta (captain), Brenner Souza da Silva, Brandon Vazquez.
Union starting XI: Andre Blake (GK + captain), Matt Real, Nathan Harriel, Jack Elliott, Jakob Glesnes, Olivier Mbaizo, Leon Flach, Jose Martinez, Jesús Bueno, Quinn Sullivan, Chris Donovan.
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Hours before kickoff
FC Cincinnati announced the high-profile showdown on matchday seven with Philadelphia Union was sold out, and that the stadium would reach a capacity of 25,513. This will mark FCC's third sold-out match of 2023. The club is yet to post attendance below 25,000 through four matches - a strong sign that the club's early-season success is resonating in the region.
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