FC Cincinnati vs. Montreal 2:1

April 13, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release

FC Cincinnati braved the cold and rain but couldn't get the result against Montreal as a late push for an equalizer fell short and FC Cincinnati lost 2-1 to the Canadian side.

CF Montreal pushed the issue in the first half of the game, winning a large share of dangerous chances and winning 56.4 percent possession, outscoring the orange and blue 8-2.

The opening goal didn't come until the last minute of the half, though, when Josef Martinez converted from the penalty spot to give the home side a 1-0 lead. Moments later, the referee blows the whistle for halftime and FCC heads to the locker room for the first time in 2024.

The pressure continued in the second half, but FCC held firm and grabbed the equalizer through a beautiful combination play by Luciano Acosta and Yuya Kubo, when the captain made a pass through Montreal's defensive line and Kubo made a well-timed run. collected it and beat the keeper to score his third goal of the season on 58 minutes.

The goal was the club's 250th in all competitions and Kubo's seventh in MLS. With his third goal of the year, Kubo also tied his MLS record since his first season with the club in 2020, winning eight games (seven starts).

Shortly after the equaliser, CFM took the lead in stoppage time in the 62nd minute, Ariel Lassiter knocking home a shot from Martinez, leaving FCC scrambling for a goal after finding one moments earlier.

But the equalizer did not come, Corey Baird (substitute) scored the second goal but was quickly ruled offside, leaving FCC on the wrong side of the score line.

Alec Cann made his first-team debut in 2024, replacing the injured Roman Celentano and leading The Orange and Blue in net. Cann, 33, underwent hand surgery at the end of the 2023 season, which kept him out of full pre-season training, but made his presence felt by working as much as possible with the guards. The veteran guard underwent a full training session in March and began his rehab with FC Cincinnati 2 in the MLS NEXT Pro to help regain some of the sharpness he missed during his rehab. Cann made some invaluable saves in the first half and repeatedly beat the threat by coming off his line to collect loose balls.

The loss drops the FCC to 3-2-3, but they remain in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

FC Cincinnati continues their two-game stand next weekend with a trip to Georgia to host Atlanta United FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The back-to-back road games are part of a big stretch in which FCC will play four of five games away from home before returning home with the Colorado Rapids on April 27 for another two-game stand.

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