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FC Cincinnati bounces back with 3-0 rout of NYCFC | Replay

pat brennan, cincinnati enquirer
·5 min read

FC Cincinnati needed a bounce-back result and it delivered against New York City FC.

FC Cincinnati on Wednesday took an early lead against NYCFC and went on to rout the visitors, 3-0, at TQL Stadium. The 12th sellout crowd (25,513) of 2023 saw FC Cincinnati do its best to distance itself from a hellish week of results.

Aaron Boupendza opened the scoring in the sixth minute, providing exactly the kind of start FCC needed after losing to Columbus Crew on Sunday and being upset midweek in the U.S. Open Cup by Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF.

The goal was Boupendza's second since joining FCC in this summer's secondary transfer window, and his first after being held without a score for six straight matches.

“We've seen these guys do this a number of times. When they're tested and challenged, I think they've stepped up enough times to expect this," FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said. "Now, against a New York City side that, despite the results, I still think is a strong team. To play the way we did and finish the game with a 3-0 score line, I think that speaks volumes to those players out on the field and the guys that maybe didn't get the minutes that are there to support their teammates... I think the goal was good for the psyche of the group, just to get momentum early on in the game and that early confidence."

That score held through halftime but Cincinnati would tack on more offense. Junior Moreno scored his fourth of 2023 in the 52nd t minute and, in a great moment of redemption, Nick Hagglund headed home for 3-0 just a few minutes later.

Hagglund on Wednesday missed a penalty kick in the shootout with Miami. His shot was saved in the decisive fifth round of penalties, leaving him to shoulder a disproportionate amount of blame for the club’s elimination even after he played well for 120 minutes.

"When you're around that guy (Hagglund) every day, you expect a performance and a strong response because he's not going to let Wednesday and one moment turn into a stretch where he's going to put his head down," Noonan said. "That's just not Nick. So, really pleased that he could contribute not only in how he defends the game and how he defends the box, but getting himself a goal off that set piece.”

Luciano Acosta assisted on the latter two goals, giving him 10 assists for the year and 22 total goal contributions.

Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano made four saves to preserve his 10th shutout of the year.

These performances and others helped put FCC back on track in the hunt for trophies in 2023.

The win improved FCC’s Major League Soccer-leading record to 16-3-5 (54 points). It also kept Cincinnati unbeaten at TQL Stadium in league play (12-0-1).

The 3-0 scoreline also allowed FCC to recover in the goal-differential statistic, which took a hit in the Aug. 20 3-0 loss to Columbus.

FC Cincinnati leads the race for the Supporters Shield over St. Louis CITY SC by 10 points. New England Revolution, Philadelphia Union and Orlando City SC are all 11 points back of of Cincinnati, although New England and Philadelphia have played one fewer match.

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Final: FC Cincinnati 3, NYCFC 0

That's win No. 16 in 2023 for FC Cincinnati. Now on 54 points (16-3-6), the club can feel good about itself even after a very emotionally-draining week.

Have a day, Nick Hagglund (59')

After playing well for 120 minutes in Wednesday's Open Cup semifinal, Nick Hagglund might have had the worst taste in his mouth of any FCC player afterward as he missed his penalty kick in the shootout with Inter Miami. Well, he bounced back with a headed goal to confirm Cincinnati's rout of NYCFC. It's 3-0.

Insurance for FC Cincinnati (52')

Junior Moreno made easy work of his finish from about 10 yards out after Luciano Acosta did the hard work to create a great scoring chance. The goal was Moreno's fourth of 2023. The assist was Acosta's ninth of the year, giving him 21 goal contributions.

Halftime: FC Cincinnati leading

FC Cincinnati is halfway to its first win since July 28. Aaron Boupendza scored early to wake TQL Stadium up, which helped a lot because there was definitely a hangover vibe around the stadium in the wake of Wednesday's Open Cup semifinal.

FC Cincinnati lead early (6')

Aaron Boupendza, after going scoreless in the six matches since his debut goal against Nashville SC July 15, nodded the ball home from close range after NYCFC goalkeeper Luis Barraza's save on a Bret Halsey attempt popped up fortuitously for "Boup." The goal is Boupendza's second of 2023, and that was exactly the kind of start Cincinnati needed after Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup semifinal.

Underway at TQL Stadium (1')

Referee Chris Penso's whistle gets the match started.

Starting lineups for FC Cincinnati, NYCFC

FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta (10) defends on Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) in the first half of a U.S. Open Cup semifinal match between Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.
FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta (10) defends on Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) in the first half of a U.S. Open Cup semifinal match between Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati bounces back with 3-0 rout of NYCFC | Replay