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MLS FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati's Leagues Cup Chase Ends in Round of 32

August 4, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release


In a match with both clubs going the distance, FC Cincinnati fell in a final round blow in penalty kicks to Nashville SC on Friday night at TQL Stadium.

Scoring all five penalty kicks to FCC's four, Nashville SC advances to the Round of 16 in Leagues Cup despite a late comeback by The Orange and Blue to force PKs.

Matt Miazga was the lone FCC player to be denied on penalty kicks after being stopped by NSC goalkeeper Elliot Panicco, who was subbed on in the final minute of regulation to serve as a specialist in the shootout.

Vazquez earns the equalizer

Down 1-0 in the 85th minute, Brandon Vazquez earned the equalizer for The Orange and Blue, getting fouled in the box and converting the resulting penalty kick in the dying moments of the match.

On a seemingly innocuous play, Nashville SC's Jack Maher pushed Vazquez from behind while running for a cross. It appeared as though the cross was sailing high past Vazquez's head but the foul was absolute, earning FC Cincinnati a lifeline that the striker capitalized on.

The goal was Vazquez's fifth of the tournament.

Feeling out the competition

The first half of the knockout stage match saw few dangerous opportunities on net. Both teams spent the first 45 feeling out their opponent with momentum swings both ways, but neither could find the needed first goal of the match.

FC Cincinnati owned possession, winning the battle 60.2 to 39.8 by the time the halftime whistle rang, but it was Nashville SC who had the better opportunities, putting two shots on goal to FCC's zero.

Kann clears the danger

In a first half that featured little danger, FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Alec Kann answered the bell when called upon. The veteran goalkeeper made two key stops to thwart Nashville SC of finding the opening goal.

The first came off a shot from Fafà Picault, who found himself open in the box and blasted a shot that Kann was able to deflect away. The second came on a header from a corner kick that the FCC goalkeeper was able to nab out of the air despite being tangled up with multiple Nashville SC attackers.

Kann also made a third save of the half with ease after Nashville SC's Hany Mukhtar tried his luck from beyond the half field line, to which Kann easily ranged back and collected the lofting shot.

The visitors get the opener

After momentum had been building in the favor of The Orange and Blue, Nashville found their chance after a Shaq Moore breakout run earned the visitors a corner kick. The set piece from the corner resulted in the matches' first goal in the 64th minute, as Anibal Godoy knocked in the rebound after Mukhtar's cross was batted away but not cleared.

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