FC Cincinnati leaves Nashville with an away point, and they have a second-half free-kick goal from star wingback Luca Orellano to thank for that point.
The start of the match was a nightmare for FCC. Nashville star midfielder Hany Mukhtar started a counter-attack, crossing a ball into the middle of the box. Nashville defender Taylor Washington got a touch on it, allowing teammate and forward Sam Surridge to shoot it, putting it past FCC goalkeeper Roman Celetano for the opening goal in only the fourth minute.
FCC would equalize almost immediately after: Luca Orellano would pass to Yamil Asad, who left it for star midfielder Lucho Acosta. Acosta would shoot it from the top of the 18-yard box and it would hit the left post and go in to tie the game up.
After the two goals in five minutes, there was a period where both teams looked to have chances but couldn’t capitalize.
However, that would soon end in the 26th minute. Nashville had a corner kick and Surridge would get past a FCC defender and head the ball into the back of the net.
After an almost third goal by Nashville SC, FCC looked to have tied it up when Niko Gioacchini got what looked to be his first goal, but would be called offside and the goal was disallowed.
At the start of the second half, Nashville was dealt the same fate as FCC. Hany Mukhtar would score a goal that would have certainly ended the match. However, Nashville would be on the receiving end of an offside call, as Surridge impacted the play whilst being in an offside position.
Almost immediately after the call, Gioacchini was fouled at the top of the box. With the FCC fans wondering whether Acosta or Orellano was going to take the free kick, Orellano would be the one to step up and curl it perfectly into the top left corner to beat Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis to tie the game up.
The remainder of the match saw both teams try to get the game-winner, but neither of them would get it and both would leave the match with a point each.
FC Cincinnati would leave this game still in third in the Supporter Shield, only two points away from 2nd place side LA Galaxy and eight away from Inter Miami CF, who are in a comfortable first. Their next game will be on the 28th of September when LAFC head into the TQL Stadium
