Luciano Acosta’s brace led host FC Cincinnati to a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night.
Acosta finished an excellent individual effort in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time for the game-winner.
Kevin Kelsy and Luca Orellano also scored for FC Cincinnati (12-3-3, 39 points), who have won nine of 10 matches.
Tai Baribo scored twice, and Jesus Bueno added the other for Philadelphia (4-6-8, 20 points), which has just one win in 12 matches (1-6-5). The Union have dropped three of their past four meetings with Cincinnati.
FC Cincinnati were awarded a penalty in the 47th minute after Union defender Jake Elliott took down Yuya Kubo in the area.
On the ensuing penalty kick, Acosta beat a diving Oliver Semmle with a right-footed strike, giving Cincinnati a 2-1 lead.
Philadelphia tied it 2-2 in the 55th minute when Bueno tapped in Kai Wagner’s corner kick for his first of the season.
FC Cincinnati took a 3-2 lead in the 60th minute as Orellano beat Semmle with a chip shot from midfield.
Baribo tied it 3-3 in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, putting in a right-footed strike from the middle of the area for his second of the game.
Kelsy opened the scoring in the 29th minute, heading in an Acosta through ball past Semmle for his fourth goal of the season. The assist is Acosta’s team-leading 14th of the season.
Then, in the 40th minute, Acosta had an excellent chance to double FC Cincinnati’s lead with some fancy footwork in the area, but Elliott blocked his strike.
Baribo responded for Philadelphia in the 43rd minute, putting in his right-footed strike off a Mikael Uhre header for his first of the season.
Wednesday was the first of two meetings between the clubs this season. The two sides conclude the season series on Oct. 19 in Philadelphia.
–Field Level Media
