(Photo credit: Phil Didion/The Enquirer/USA TODAY NETWORK)
MLS leaders FC Cincinnati remained undefeated with a 3-1 win at home against underdog Nashville SC on Saturday night, with goals and assists from Luciano Acosta.
With the score at 2-1, referee Ramy Tochan awarded Nashville a penalty in stoppage time, but overruled the decision after a video review.
Santiago Arias and Aaron Bupenza also scored in Cincinnati (15-2-6, 51 points) and improved to 11-0-1 at TQL Stadium.
Walker Zimmerman scored for Nashville (11-8-5, 38 points), becoming the first team in franchise history to lose three games in a row. Taylor Washington was sent off in the 68th minute after receiving a second yellow card, Nashville finished with nine men for the second straight game, and Fafa Picault did the same two minutes later.
Cincinnati broke the 1-all tie in the 74th minute. Acosta controlled the ball just outside the top of the 18-yard box and sent a diagonal pass to Arias who cut into the net from the right. Arias had a one-touch shot that went just past sliding goalkeeper Joe Willis from the top of the six-yard box.
Bupenza, making his Cincinnati debut, scored in the 9th minute of stoppage time after a pass from Brandon Vazquez.
The game was delayed an hour at the start due to a thunderstorm in the Cincinnati area.
Acosta looked to give Cincinnati the lead in the eighth minute, but he stole the ball from Zimmermann near midfield, dribbled to the top of the 18-yard box and chipped past Willis, who rushed in, into the net. is. However, after video review, Acosta tripped Zimmermann and the goal was ruled out.
Nashville took the lead in the 31st minute. A cross from Randall Leal from the left was mishandled by Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano, who landed the ball in Zimmerman’s hands six yards short of the box. Zimmermann then drove a shot into the open net.
Cincinnati equalized in the 42nd minute with Acosta’s penalty after Nashville’s Alex Muir was called with a handball. Acosta drove into the bottom left corner of the net, but it was out of Willis’ reach.
–Field level media
https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/273900333/fc-cincinnati-top-nashville-sc-stay-unbeaten-at-home?utm_source=feeds.bignewsnetwork.com&utm_medium=referral FC Cincinnati leads Nashville SC, remains undefeated at home