Luciano Acosta‘s brace led host FC Cincinnati to a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night, but it was the home side’s third goal by Luca Orellano that stole the show.
Orellano picked up the ball in his own half of the field on the hour mark and launched a long-range strike over the head of Union keeper Oliver Semmle to put Cincinnati up 3-2.
After conceding a late goal to the Union to level the game at 3-3, Acosta finished an excellent individual effort in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time for the game-winner.
Kevin Kelsy also scored for FC Cincinnati (12-3-3, 39 points), who have won nine of 10 matches and are hot on the heels of MLS leaders Inter Miami.
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 its past four meetings with Cincinnati.
FC Cincinnati was 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 Semmie 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.
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Baribo tied it 3-3 in the first minute of second-half stoppage time after Orellano’s stunner, 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 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.