Ilsinho, Alejandro Bedoya, and Jack Elliott scored second-half goals to lead the Philadelphia Union to a 3-0 win over FC Cincinnati on Wednesday night at Subaru Park.
Both teams contributed to an exciting but goalless first half. Przemyslaw Tyton met his tests for FC Cincinnati, most dramatically on attempts by Brenden Aaronson and Anthony Fontana. On the other side of the field, Joe Gyau troubled Union goalkeeper Andre Blake on several occasions. That included a stoppage-time blast that sent Blake skyward to stop the shot.
Ilsinho changed the complexion of the game with an immediate energy infusion in the 53rd minute, and six minutes later opened the scoring by banging a shot off FCC defender Maikel van der Werff and into the goal. In the 74th minute, the Union doubled the lead, with Aaronson finding Bedoya with a cross-the-box pass that the Union captain volleyed superbly into the net. Then, in the 80th minute, Jamiro Monteiro sent in a free kick that Elliott headed home to round out the rout.
Goals
- 59' – PHI – Ilsinho | WATCH
- 73' – PHI – Alejandro Bedoya | WATCH
- 80' – PHI – Jack Elliott | WATCH
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: The win allows the Union to keep pace with the other top teams in the East, and makes it five wins (and six results) in the team's last seven matches. FC Cincinnati, meanwhile, continue their season of futility This is now FCC's third straight loss and fourth match without a win.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Ilsinho's goal was the breakthrough moment that the Union had been building toward without the Brazilian, and was finally able to get there with him. And, as it turns out, that goal was all the scoring they'd need.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: It should be clear from the narrative you've just read. He didn't play the whole match, but Ilsinho was a difference-maker once again.
Next Up
- PHI: Sunday, October 11 vs. Montreal Impact (7:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+, TVA Sports in Canada)
- CIN: Sunday, October 11 vs. Toronto FC (7:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+, TSN in Canada)
