Timbers become first win for FC Cincinnati

CINCINNATI — Allan Cruz and Mathieu Deplagne scored two minutes apart in the second half and FC Cincinnati won their first MLS game in a home debut, topping the 10-man Portland Timbers 3-0 on Sunday.

Kendall Waston scored FC Cincy’s first home goal in the MLS in the 15th minute by heading home Leonardo Bertone’s free kick in front of a sold-out crowd of 32,250 at Nippert Stadium, including MLS commissioner Don Garber.

Cruz scored on a back-heel shot in the 61st, settling a deflected shot and rolling it inside the far post. Two minutes later, Deplagne finished off a busy sequence in the box with a redirection.

MLS expansion teams are now 9-6-2 in their opening home matches.

FC Cincy goalkeeper Spencer Richey denied a point-blank shot by Dairon Asprilla at the back post on a corner kick. Portland defender Larrys Mabiala received yellow cards in first-half stoppage time and the 70th for the Timbers (0-2-1).

Cincinnati striker Fanendo Adi, who spent four-plus years in a star role with Portland before being traded in July, shared greetings with his old teammates in the lineup line before the game.

FC Cincy (1-1-1) got its first point last week, rallying in the closing minutes for a 1-1 draw against defending MLS Cup champion Atlanta United.

CINCINNATI 3, TIMBERS 0

Portland 0 0—0

FC Cincinnati 1 2—3

First half—1, FC Cincinnati, Waston, 1 (Bertone), 15th minute.

Second half—2, FC Cincinnati, Cruz, 1, 61st; 3, FC Cincinnati, Deplagne, 1 (Mattocks), 63rd.

Goalies—Portland, Jeff Attinella, Steve Clark; FC Cincinnati, Spencer Richey, Jimmy Hague.

Yellow Cards—FC Cincinnati, Waston, 47th; Bertone, 90th. Portland, Mabiala, 45th; Melano, 65th.

A—32,250.

Lineups

FC Cincinnati—Spencer Richey; Mathieu Deplagne, Nick Hagglund, Alvas Powell, Kendall Waston; Leonardo Bertone, Allan Cruz, Roland Lamah (Greg Garza, 81st), Kekuta Manneh (Emmanuel Ledesma, 85th), Victor Ulloa; Fanendo Adi (Darren Mattocks, 46th).

Portland—Jeff Attinella; Claude Dielna, Larrys Mabiala, Bill Tuiloma, Zarek Valentin, Jorge Villafana; Sebastian Blanco (David Guzman, 79th), Cristhian Paredes, Diego Valeri; Dairon Asprilla (Andy Polo, 67th), Lucas Melano (Jeremy Ebobisse, 67th).