Five different players score in 6-1 rout of Inter Miami
Damon Gumbert
The battle for the lead in the Supporter’s Shield race seemed more like a massacre when all was said and done Saturday night.
FC Cincinnati dominated against Inter Miami, who looked out-paced by the speed of Cincinnati’s front line, on their way to claiming the top spot in the Eastern Conference and the Supporter’s Shield standings.
Many fans didn’t know what to expect when The FC announced their lineup, announcing a new 5-2-2-1 formation, but others saw the potential.
It was clear from the onset that Luca Orellano would be a problem for Miami’s defense. In the 6’ Lucho Acosta found a streaking Orellano who slipped past all the Miami defenders but was just a bit off the mark on his shot. FCC would continue to put pressure on Miami, with Yuya Kubo scoring a goal off an Orellano assist in the 10’.
This seemed to light a fire under Miami, who took multiple shots at a very game Roman Celentano following the restart. FC Cincinnati’s set-piece woes continued though, when Julian Gressel found a wide-open Serhiy Kryvtsov, who had shaken off Alvas Powell, for a header into the net.
The Orange and Blue settled into a rhythm, controlling possession and the pace of the game as Miami looked undermanned and overworked. In 10 minutes as the half came to a close, FCC would net three goals from three different players and up their lead to 4-1. The first came from reigning MLS MVP Acosta, who dribbled multiple Miami defenders out of their cleats on his way to scorching a shot past Drake Callendar for his 10th goal of the season. A few short moments later, Acosta would send a corner kick to Pavel Bucha, who sent the ball flying past Miami’s defense and into the goal, a true blink and you’ll miss it moment. Just before the end of the half Yamil Asad would get in on the scoring. Asad, off a pass from Acosta, would dribble in the box and outclass several defenders on his way to sending a shot into the net from a ridiculous angle.
Things would get a little chippy following the break, with Ben Cremaschi and Obinna Nwobodo getting yellow cards within the first 10 minutes of the second half. Due to his yellow card accumulation, Obi will miss next week’s game against Charlotte FC. Pat Noonan would make his first substitution of the match shortly after, bringing in Sergio Santos for Alvas Powell. DeAndre Yedlin moved to centerback and Yuya Kubo moved to right wingback.
That didn’t stop Kubo from getting back in on the scoring party though. Kubo would find a pass from Orellano, who tightrope walked on the out-of-bounds line, and knock a shot off a defender and into the back of the goal to put FC Cincinnati up 5-1 in the 57’.
Miami did not react well to their precarious position on the night, accumulating four yellow cards in three minutes, two of which went to Sergio Busquets, ending his evening in Cincinnati with fans chanting “Na, na, na, na, na/ hey hey hey/ goodbye.”
Changes for both teams came after the send-off, with Pat Noonan bringing in Dado Valenzuela and Brett Halsey for Luca Orellano and Yuya Kubo respectively. Six minutes later Dado would score the first MLS goal of his young career off a pass from Asad, putting The FC up 6-1 and securing the win.
Kevin Kelsy and Kipp Keller would come into the game for Asad and Bucha respectively, finishing out Noonan’s five substitutions. Though the scoring would end, the celebrating would not. Not only would FC Cincinnati pass Miami for the top of the table in the Supporter’s Shield race, but their fifth and sixth goals of the night moved them in front of Miami in goal differential. They trail LAFC, Real Salt Lake, and the dreaded Columbus Crew for tops in that department.
Something to watch for in upcoming matches: Kevin Kelsy, Luca Orellano, and Yuya Kubo were on this week’s disciplinary watch list with Nwobodo for yellow card accumulations. If any receive one more, they will be suspended for the following game. If the math is correct, all three will have one fall-off after the Charlotte game.
Acosta is setting himself up to be the front runner for MVP again this season. The reigning MVP has 27 goal contributions this season (10 goals and 17 assists), putting him one behind Cristian Arango’s league leading 28 (17 goals and 11 assists), and only four short of his 2023 mark of 31 goal contributions. With 12 games remaining, Acosta will likely crush his personal best in contributions for a season.
FC Cincinnati returns to the Fortress when they take on Charlotte FC in the Queen City Derby (trademark pending) on July 13 at 7:30 p.m. As always, tickets are available and you can watch the game on AppleTV+ with MLS Season Pass or at any of the FC Cincinnati Pub Partners.
