CINCINNATI, OH – On Saturday, FC Cincinnati snaps a 12-game winless streak as they got the better of Toronto FC. TFC are the bottom-dwellers of MLS this year as they lose their fifth straight game. Their winless streak was also extended to eight games.
FC Cincinnati snaps 12-game winless streak at home
Three keys to the game
FC Cincinnati took advantage of most of their chances
Cincinnati was the better team on Saturday night. The shots on shots on goal on the game sheet did not reflect that. However, Cincinnati had the better scoring opportunities throughout the game.
39' #FCCincy's Luciano Acosta delivers a terrific cross to Brenner to score the opening goal of the game.#CINvTOR | 1-0 | #MLSpic.twitter.com/eJFN7pMTXy
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) September 12, 2021
The Brenner goal was fantastic. It all started from a terrific cross from Luciano Acosta. Then Brenner was able to make contact with the ball and put it into the back of the net. However, no one was really covering Brenner when the goal was scored. Yes, Chris Mavinga was there, but he did not really affect the shot of Brenner.
58' #FCCincy scores! Haris Medunjanin's shot was deflected and ended up in the back of the net!#CINvTOR | 2-0 | #MLSpic.twitter.com/c5R86X65Ak
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) September 12, 2021
This goal was unfortunate for TFC. Haris Medunjanin shot was deflected by Marky Delgado and Omar Gonzalez. In particular, the deflection by Gonzalez meant that Westberg had no chance of saving the shot. However, there were clear opportunities for Cincinnati to score because of Toronto’s bad defence.
Toronto FC’s defence needs to be better
The story of this season for TFC has been their defence. They cannot seem to prevent goals from going into the back of their own net. In addition to Cincinnati’s first goal, there are two examples of when Toronto’s defence switched off against Cincinnati.
- In the 44-minute, Isaac Atanga found Brenner unmarked near the box. It should have been a goal, but Brenner missed the target.
- Justin Morrow had a poor touch with the ball in the 52-minute. However, he made a great tackle just in the nick of time to prevent a sure Cincinnati goal by Isaac Atanga.
Toronto FC did not take advantage of their opportunities
They were not many clear-cut opportunities, but there were a few that could have changed the game. For example, TFC only had one shot on goal in the first half. Their biggest chance came in the 80-minute. Cincinnati goalkeeper Przemysław Tytoń was alert to the danger and prevented a sure goal. DeLeon did get a shot a bit afterwards, but Tytoń was there for the save. Tytoń was the best player in the second half.
33' | The Polish 🦅 keeping it on 🔒 so far! #CINvTOR | #FCCincy pic.twitter.com/NUwtaU9dsW
— S – FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) September 12, 2021
There was this chance by Tsubasa Endoh in the 33-minute. This was a good save by Tytoń. However, at the MLS level, it is expected that goalkeepers make saves like that.
TFC had three other opportunities to make the game interesting. In the 24-minute, shot from the centre of the box missed the target. The 89-minute shot from Chris Mavinga also should have troubled the goalkeeper It was at the centre of the box, but he missed the target.
FC Cincinnati snaps 12-game winless streak against Toronto FC
What a night! 🙌#FCCincy get their first win at @TQLStadium! pic.twitter.com/lGT0C7762D
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 12, 2021
FC Cincinnati was the better team on Saturday against TFC. They had the better scoring opportunities and were better defensively than TFC. This win also meant that Cincinnati got their first-ever home win at TQL Stadium.
Since 2014, when TFC started to spend a lot of money, this might be the worst year in their history. Yes, one can point out the 2018 and 2014 MLS seasons. However, in 2018 it was fatigue from the Concacaf Champions League and in 2014, they at least challenged for a playoff spot. They can salvage something though in the Canadian Championship. That must be their focus right now.
While for Cincinnati, even with this win, it has not been a successful season. However, at least they put some space between themselves and the Wooden Spoon. The favourites to get that dubious title is currently TFC and Austin FC.
TFC will next play on Tuesday against Inter Miami CF at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will take place at BMO Field. This is while Cincinnati will travel to Atlanta on Wednesday to face Atlanta United FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The game will take place at 7:00 p.m. ET. The TOR-MIA game will be televised nationally in Canada on TSN1 and TSN4. The game can also be watched on My33 and CW34. This is while the ATL-CIN game will be MLS Live on DAZN, Bally Sports Southeast, and Star64.
