FC Cincinnati’s 14-match unbeaten streak across all competitions was snapped Saturday night with a 3-0 loss against D.C. United at Audi Field.
The Orange and Blue (13-2-4, 43 points) remain atop the Supporters’ Shield standings despite the club’s second loss of 2023. The Black-and-Red improved to 7-8-5 (26 points) with the home win.
D.C. United jumped out to an early lead in the 10th minute of play as Pedro Santos scored his first goal of the season. An attacking move that started deep in United’s defensive third ended with a quick and composed finish from Santos from the left side of Cincinnati’s box.
The goal saw FC Cincinnati concede first in a game for just the second time this season (April 15 at St. Louis). Every other club in MLS have allowed the first goal at least five times in MLS play this season.
Derrick Williams doubled the lead for the hosts seven minutes later as the defender registered his first goal of the year. Cristian Dájome saw an initial shot from close range saved by Roman Celentano following a free kick situation, but the rebound rolled out to a waiting Williams near the top of the box who beat a recovering Celentano.
United’s third goal of the first half came in the 43rd minute as Dájome found the back of the net. Christian Benteke put his fellow strike partner into space with a headed flick and Dájome drove in on goal and fired in a low, powerful shot.
FC Cincinnati were shutout for just the second time this season, the first since the scoreless draw at Orlando City SC on March 4. Luciano Acosta’s four-game scoring streak came to an end, despite the captain setting a career-high seven shots against his former club.
FC Cincinnati return home Saturday, July 1 to host the New England Revolution at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK). The match will stream exclusively on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Fans can also listen to the match locally on ESPN 1530.
FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati at D.C. United
Date: June 24, 2023
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: Audi Field
Attendance: 18,864
Kickoff: 7:39 p.m. ET
Weather: 80 degrees, clear
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
DC: 3-0-3
CIN: 0-0-0
DC – Pedro Santos (Klich, Benteke) 10’, Derrick Williams 17’, Cristian Dájome 43’
CIN – None
GAME NOTES
• FC Cincinnati’s 10-game unbeaten streak in MLS play – the longest active streak in MLS entering Saturday – was snapped.
• FC Cincinnati allowed the first goal for just the second time this season (April 15 at St. Louis ) … every other club in MLS have conceded first in an MLS game at least five times this season.
• Saturday marked the first loss for FC Cincinnati under Pat Noonan on two days rest … previously the club was 7-0-2 when playing a game just three days following another game.
• Joey Akpunonu made his MLS regular season debut Saturday night as a second half substitute.
• Ian Murphy was issued the 13th red card for FC Cincinnati in MLS regular season play, the club’s second this season (Nick Hagglund, March 11 vs Seattle Sounders FC).
• Nick Hagglund started, making his first appearance since June 6 in the U.S. Open Cup vs Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, his first in regular season play since May 20 vs Columbus Crew.
• Sergio Santos entered as a second half substitute, making his first appearance since May 27 at Colorado Rapids.
• FC Cincinnati were shutout for just the second time this season (March 4, 0-0 at Orlando City SC).
• FC Cincinnati and their opponents were level on shots for the ninth time in FC Cincinnati’s MLS history.
LINEUPS
CIN: Roman Celentano, Álvaro Barreal (Joey Akpunonu 82’), Ian Murphy, Nick Hagglund, Alvas Powell (Ray Gaddis 58’), Santiago Arias (Bret Halsey 71’), Marco Angulo, Obinna Nwobodo, Luciano Acosta (C), Dominique Badji (Sergio Santos 71’), Arquimides Ordoñez (Malik Pinto 57’)
Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, London Aghedo, Stiven Jimenez, Gerardo Valenzuela
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
DC: Tyler Miller, Derrick Williams, Brendan Hines-Ike (Kristian Fletcher 86’), Pedro Santos, Andy Najar (Ruan 64’), Donovan Pines, Chris Durkin, Lewis O’Brien, Mateusz Klich, Cristian Dájome (Taxiarchis Fountas 71’), Christian Benteke (C)
Substitutes not used: Alex Bono, Russell Canouse, Erik Hurtado, Yamil Asad, Jacob Greene, Gaoussou Samake
Head Coach: Wayne Rooney
STATS SUMMARY: DC/CIN
Shots: 17 / 17
Shots on Goal: 7 / 2
Saves: 2 / 4
Corner Kicks: 2 / 8
Fouls: 13 / 11
Offside: 1 / 2
Possession: 43.6 / 56.4
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
DC – Andy Najar (Yellow Card) 64’
CIN – Ian Murphy (Yellow Card) 66’
CIN – Ian Murphy (Second Caution, Red Card) 79’
OFFICIALS
Referee: Sergii Boiko
Ast. Referees: Chris Elliott, Ricardo Ocampo
Fourth Official: Luis Arroyo
VAR: Geoff Gamble
AVAR: TJ Zablocki
