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Nashville SC knocks out FC Cincinnati in Leagues Cup soccer in penalty-kick shootout

pat brennan, nashville tennessean
·3 min read

There was a finality and permanence about FC Cincinnati's elimination from Leagues Cup that the club was unaccustomed to.

After playing to a 1-1 draw through 90 minutes, Nashville SC advanced from Friday's Leagues Cup round of 32 match at TQL Stadium by defeating FC Cincinnati in a penalty-kick shootout before an announced crowd of 19,911.

Nashville goalkeeper Elliot Panicco was substituted into the match in the closing seconds to replace starter Joe Willis. The move by Nashville coach Gary Smith proved wise in the shootout as Panicco saved a spot-kick by center back Matt Miazga, the only Cincinnati player who failed to convert.

Nashville converted all five of its kicks. Dax McCarty punched home the winning shot in the fifth round of the shootout.

Nashville advances to the round of 16 and will host Club América, the storied Mexican club, at 7 p.m. Tuesday at GEODIS Park.

The elimination for FC Cincinnati put a cap on what had previously seemed to be endless ambition to fill its trophy cabinet in 2023. On Friday morning, every possible trophy and honor an American soccer team could possibly earn was still available to the club.

Nashville — a club of measurable ambition in its own right — had taken one of FC Cincinnati's possible glories off the table entirely before the day was out.

How the match played out: Nashville 'didn't come to play'

The shootout was preceded by an eventful second half and a listless first half. Anibal Godoy’s tap-in opener for Nashville finally cracked the match open in the 64th minute. The goal followed a first half of few meaningful chances between the two sides.

FC Cincinnati's attack shifted into gear after Godoy's score. After 83 minutes of unsuccessfully probing a stiff Nashville defense, Brandon Vazquez was hauled down in the penalty area. Referee Nima Saghafi awarded a penalty kick, and Vazquez stepped up to convert it.

Cincinnati failed to get a foothold offensively for long stretches prior to Godoy's goal, though. FCC captain Luciano Acosta said Nashville "didn't come to play" — a swipe in soccer circles that is usually interpreted to suggest a cynical in-game strategy.

"They defended the whole 90 minutes," Acosta said. "We tried attacks but a lot of our opportunities came from set pieces. When they got their goal, we tried some more and tied it up but they defended well. Frustrated."

FC Cincinnati finished the game with more than 66% of the possession and 13 shots, but just four on-target shots.

Penalty-kick shootout results

(results by round, Cincinnati shooting first)

  • First round: Luciano Acosta scores; Hany Mukhtar scores. Tied at 1-1.

  • Second round: Brandon Vazquez scores; Fafa Picault scores. Tied at 2-2.

  • Third round: Matt Miazga's shot is saved by Elliott Panicco; Anibal Godoy scores. Nashville leads, 3-2.

  • Fourth round: Yuya Kubo scores; Walker Zimmerman scores. Nashville leads, 4-3.

  • Fifth round: Alvaro Barreal scores; Dax McCarty scores. Nashville advances to the Round of 16 (5-4 win in PK shootout).

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Starting lineups for Nashville SC, FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati forward Aaron Boupendza (9) rises for a header in the first half of a Leagues Cup match, Thursday, July 27, 2023, at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.
FC Cincinnati forward Aaron Boupendza (9) rises for a header in the first half of a Leagues Cup match, Thursday, July 27, 2023, at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Nashville SC knocks out FC Cincinnati in Leagues Cup soccer on penalty kicks