FC Cincinnati was shellacked in its season opener and will look for a swift turnaround when it hosts D.C. United on Saturday evening.
Cincinnati (0-1-0, 0 points) fell 5-0 to Austin FC last weekend in the largest margin of defeat for a season opener in MLS history.
“Certainly disappointing,” Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan told reporters. “We lost the key moments throughout the game and I think the scoreline is indicative of that.”
The fourth-year franchise had a league-low 20 points last season when it went 4-22-8. Allowing goals in the second and 14th minutes Saturday started the downfall against second-year franchise Austin.
“We didn’t get the result,” Cincinnati midfielder/forward Yuya Kubo said. “Next game is the home opener. I think we should play well and we have to win the next game.”
D.C. United has never lost to Cincinnati, winning three times and playing to a draw on three other occasions.
D.C. United (1-0-0, 3 points) was sharp in its opening match, beating expansion Charlotte FC 3-0.
Newcomer Michael Estrada was superb in his MLS debut with two goals. The 25-year-old member of Ecuador’s national team was acquired on loan from Toluca of Liga MX last month.
Estrada, a forward, scored his first goal on a penalty kick and added his second just before halftime. Ola Kamara scored a goal in the second half.
“For him to get the two goals, it’s great,” defender Brad Smith said of Estrada. “And then you’ve got Ola coming in as well. That’s massive for us to have both those guys available.”
D.C. United coach Hernan Losada saw the victory as a bit of a mixed performance.
“It’s fantastic, but I am not blind,” Losada said. “I know we need to improve on a few things. The guys know. It’s always a lot better and you are in a more comfortable situation when you need to fix things after a 3-0 win than after losing. The idea is to keep on growing.”
D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid made five saves for his 79th career MLS shutout.
–Field Level Media
