FC Cincinnati concedes late, draws 1-1 at Vancouver Whitecaps | Replay

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – FC Cincinnati doesn’t make a habit of dropping points, so it’s always jarring when it does. Still, its draw with Vancouver Whitecaps made for a useful point even if the result disappointed in the immediate aftermath.

FC Cincinnati and Vancouver on Saturday played to a 1-1 draw at B.C. Place before a crowd of 16,086.

Luciano Acosta scored a showstopping, could-have-been match-winner in the 84^th minute but FC Cincinnati, in a rare moment of failing to close out a win, conceded a penalty kick that was converted by Ryan Gauld in the 89^th minute for Vancouver.

For Acosta, the goal was his eighth of 2023. In allowing the goal, FC Cincinnati let slip what would have been its ninth shutout of the season.

In the final match of 10 during a 35-day span, FC Cincinnati used the tie to move its record to 12-1-4 in Major League Soccer, which put FCC eight points ahead in the Supporters Shield race at the halfway point in the 2023 regular-season.

"When you're winning a game, and you concede the way we did which was a little naive," FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said afterward. "There can be frustration, certainly, but I think there was some pretty calm heads in there that understood that maybe we let one get away there. But what I tried to remind them as just what they were able to do over this period of time to put us in the position that we're in. So while it is disappointing, and it feels different, because it wasn't a win. Take a step back and just understand, you know, how many positives, you know, come out of the last three, four weeks. Again, as we go into this international break.”

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Vancouver hits back (89')

Matt Miazga conceded the penalty and Ryan Gauld, scoring for the fourth consecutive match, converted for 1-1.

Goal of the year? (84')

As good as Alvaro Barreal's goal in the Open Cup was on Tuesday, Luciano Acosta's lofted chip into the side-netting with Vancouver's goalkeeper out of position was unreal. It's 1-0 and FCC will look to steal this one outright.

Acosta coming on (67')

FC Cincinnati's bringing Luciano Acosta and Santiago Arias on, although Vancouver has made changes of its own including introducing Tristran Blackmon and Julian Gressel.

Searching for a lead (50')

Both clubs are looking for a way onto the scoreboard still. A patient spell of possession produce a Dominique Badji shot from distance that was fired straight at Yohei Takaoka.

Halftime

FC Cincinnati without Luciano Acosta looks like you'd expect, and like we've seen from this team in the past without him. But they've had their chances and could have a goal on the board. Vancouver might say the same thing. As it is, the sides are in a scoreless tie at the break.

Vazquez trying to restore order (12')

It felt like Vancouver was doing a good job playing in front of FC Cincinnati and forcing the visitors to knock it around the back line. Brian White nearly put the hosts in front in the 11th minute when he nodded a high-bouncing 50-50 ball over Roman Celentano, but the ball carried too far and he didn't get a chance for a proper shot.

At the other end of the field, Brandon Vazquez dribbled multiple players and nearly put FCC in front. It felt like a much-needed response to Vancouver's good start.

Underway north of the (U.S.) border (1')

A brutal stretch of frequent games end tonight for FC Cincinnati. They don't play again until June 17th and they don't want to go into that long(ish) break on a bad note. Let's see how it goes nearly 2,500 miles away from TQL Stadium.

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Pre-match coverage:

• FC Cincinnati starting XI: Roman Celentano (GK), Alvas Powell, Yerson Mosquera, Matt Miazga (captain), Alvaro Barreal, Ian Murphy, Obinna Nwobodo, Yuya Kubo, Junior Moreno, Dominique Badji, Brandon Vazquez.

• Cincinnati bench: Alec Kann (GK), Evan Louro (GK), Marco Angulo, Luciano Acosta, Santiago Arias, Malik Pinto, Ray Gaddis, Quimi Ordonez.

• Vancouver Whitecaps starting XI: Yohei Tokaoka (GK), Mathias Labrado, Ranko Veselinovic (captain), Luis Martins, Javalin Brown, Sebastian Berhalter, Andres Cubas, Ryan Raposo, Pedro Vite, Sergio Cordova, Brian White.

• Vancouver bench: Tristan Blackmon, Delber Calcedo, Karifa Yao, Julian Gressel, Ryan Gauld, Jean-Claude Ngando, Simon Becher, Russell Telbert, Isaac Boehmer.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati, Vancouver Whitecaps battle at B.C. Place | Live updates