FC Cincinnati still searching for fifth win after 5-1 loss at Inter Miami CF

Frustrations continue to be compounded for FC Cincinnati in the dying embers of the 2021 season.

FCC has three more chances for a win after a lopsided, 5-1 loss to Inter Miami CF Saturday at DRVPNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 

Brandon Vazquez's run of strong form continued after his 21st-minute goal cancelled out Federico Higuain's sixth-minute opener. The goal was Vazquez's second in as many outings and his third for FCC this season. 

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FC Cincinnati held even with Miami at 1-1 into the second half, but then Gonzalo Higuan's restored the hosts' lead at 2-1 in the 51st minute. 

Miami then scored in the 69th, 74th and 85th minute to mark a capitulation that undid two-thirds' worth of a decent show.

Indiana Vassilev, Lewis Morgan and Julián Carranza added their tallies in the 69th, 74th and 85th minutes, respectively, to wrap the match.

The loss saw FC Cincinnati drop to 4-19-8 in 2021 on a night when the club played without Brenner Souza da Silva (rest), Geoff Cameron (yellow card accumulation) and Nick Hagglund (wrist surgery). 

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"There's a lot of parts that we were hoping we could maintain as long as possible and they finally found a weakness. Like you said, the wheels just fell off," Cincinnati interim head coach Tyronne Marshall said. "Again, the effort that the guys gave before that was fantastic. I keep saying this over and over. It's like beating a dead horse. The boys are working but we're just working with what we have. And everyone's stepping up, trying to contribute, and unfortunately it wasn't good enough tonight. You look at their faces and you see the disappointment. They were so close. Again, it's just been that narrative: So close but not close enough. Again, we keep our heads up."

With a front office transition well underway and the club simply looking for a measure of respectability for supporters before it closes out another disappointing campaign in MLS, respectable showings have been increasingly difficult to come by.

Cincinnati is 0-6-0 since Jaap Stam was fired as head coach, and 1-9-0 in its last 10 games. 

FC Cincinnati is also 1-13-5 since a devastating, midseason loss to CF Montreal on July 17. The 5-4 defeat was one in which Cincinnati took nothing from the contest despite having two separate two-goal leads.

Cincinnati entered that game on a 3-5-3 record and with an unbeaten run intact, and the club took a dramatic, sharp dive after losing at Montreal.

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FC Cincinnati closes out the season with matches Wednesday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 7 against Nashville SC, at Philadelphia Union and home to Atlanta United, respectively.

All three teams will be looking to enhance their playoff position and clinch postseason berths in the coming week.

At the close of action around the league on Saturday, Philadelphia had beaten Nashville, 1-0, to move into a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference. 

Atlanta United was still grasping the seventh and final playoff spot in the East with four matches still to be played.

Marshall indicated his approach to evaluating players in the team for next season over the final stretch of matches won't change.

"For me, it's trying to put together the best possible group that's going to give us the opportunity to get a result," Marshall said. "Moving forward, that's a discussion with (general manager) Chris Albright, to discuss whether, you know, we're starting to give some guys more opportunities... But, again, I want to make sure that we're fielding the best team possible to (get) us a result because I think this group needs some positive result. You know, all the things they've been doing behind the scenes that guys on the outside, you guys don't see it really as much, I think they need that reward."