FC Cincinnati's back in the win column after 2-1 victory vs. Portland Timbers | Replay
Obstacles were plenty for FC Cincinnati ahead of its match with Portland Timbers. FCC's response to those challenges amounted to another victory.
Coming off the club's first loss of the season and a litany of personnel issues that spanned from injuries to international call-ups to a big-money, in-progress transfer move, FC Cincinnati still managed to defeated Portland Timbers, 2-1, Saturday at TQL Stadium.
The win pushed FCC to 6-1-2 and 20 points in the standings, which will keep it tied with New England Revolution, next weekend's opponent, atop the Eastern Conference standings.
Sergio Santos opened the scoring just before halftime and Brandon Vazquez doubled Cincinnati's lead in the 59th minute. The goals were their fourth and second of 2023, respectively. The Timbers' Dairon Asprilla halved Portland deficit two minutes after Vazquez's goal, which set things up for a nervy final 30 minutes. FCC still managed to hang on.
“I think it was a good response, but I wouldn't call it a statement. That's not the way I felt about it. And that's not a disrespect to our opponent," FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said of the match. "We knew it was going to be tough. They're coming off of a really big win for their group, and we were on the back end of a really poor result and outing. So, I do like the response to figure out quickly to win a game, how to win a game, but it didn't feel like the performance was a statement performance because there were still a lot of things that we struggled with.
"Turnovers in our defensive half. We had some really poor turnovers that they put us under a lot of pressure. And then from those moments, we didn't do a great job of getting pressure and wider areas, and they were getting some really good service in the box. We escaped a couple of those moments. But the part I think looked like the version of our group that we want to see is how we got out with space and transition. I thought we created some really good opportunities. I thought Sergio (Santos) and Brandon (Vazquez) in the first 60 minutes were really effective.
"Their ability to stretch the game and their runs in behind when Lucho (Luciano Acosta) was on the ball, so some great balls in behind. I was pleased with the improvements that we saw in that regard, and when Dom (Badji) came in, the game was a little bit different with the score line and so we couldn't create as many of those moments but nonetheless, our front three, four guys that were on the field created some really good moments for us.”
Cincinnati hangs on
It had been a long week for FC Cincinnati but what it had left in its collective tank was good enough to continue its TQL Stadium winning streak.
FC Cincinnati kept pace at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference with a 2-1 victory against Portland Timbers. The win allowed FCC to move to 6-1-2 (20 points) and was a big response to last week's 5-1 loss against St. Louis City SC.
Sergio Santos opened the scoring just before halftime and Brandon Vazquez doubled Cincinnati's lead in the 59th minute. The goals were their fourth and second of 2023, respectively. The Timbers' Dairon Asprilla halved Portland deficit two minutes after Vazquez's goal, which set things up for a nervy final 30 minutes. FCC still managed to hang on.
FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano made three saves in the game. FCC won't be happy with letting a shutout slip through their hands, which hasn't happened often this season, but the result means a great deal more than the final score.
A short-lived two-goal lead (61')
Portland's right back in this game. Dairon Asprilla knocked in the Timbers' first of the night to halve their deficit at 2-1.
Vazquez back on the scoresheet (59')
The sequence leading to Brandon Vazquez's second goal of the year wasn't easy on the eyes but Vazquez won't care. His shot from about six yards out took a small deflection on the way in and it could be all he needs to correct course in 2023 and rediscover his scoring tough.
First blood to FCC (34')
After some near-misses and half-chances, FC Cincinnati got the scoring started at TQL Stadium through Sergio Santos' diving header at the near post. The score was his fourth of 2023, making FCC's runaway team leader. This is the most Santos has scored since he netted six for Philadelphia Union in 2021.
Game time
We're underway as of 7:39 p.m. It's about 52F in Cincinnati West End neighborhood at kickoff and the temperature is expected to drop throughout the game.
A head coaching note
Portland head coach Giovanni Savarese will miss the match due to COVID-19. Carlos Llamosa will manage the Timbers against FC Cincinnati.
The starters
FC Cincinnati starting XI: Roman Celentano (GK), Nick Hagglund, Yerson Mosquera, Matt Miazga, Ray Gaddis, Alvaro Barreal, Obinna Nwobodo, Luciano Acosta (captain), Junior Moreno, Sergio Santos, Brandon Vazquez.
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Portland Timbers: Aljaz Ivacic, Justin Rasmussen, Zachery McGraw, Juan Mosquera, Larrys Mabiala, Evander, Diego Chara (captain), David Ayala, Dairon Asprilla, Franck Boli, Santiago Moreno.
Another sellout
FC Cincinnati announced this afternoon the game against Portland Timbers at TQL Stadium would be sold out. That marks FCC's fourth sellout in five home games so far this season.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Sergio Santos, Brandon Vazquez goals help FC Cincy to win | Replay
