Brenner nets hat trick in wild FC Cincinnati draw with NYCFC

Updated: May 17, 2023, 04:56 am

Brenner completed his first career MLS hat trick in the 70th minute to help host FC Cincinnati record a 4-4 draw against New York City FC on Wednesday.

Brenner, who scored in the 24th and 30th minute, also had two apparent goals overturned by video review.

He sent a brilliant backheel kick into the net in the first half, however that was denied after officials deemed the ball crossed the backline prior to the apparent goal. He also seemingly scored in the 89th minute, however officials deemed FC Cincinnati was offside prior to the tally.

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Luciano Acosta collected a goal and two assists for FC Cincinnati (7-7-3, 24 points), who are 0-6-1 in seven all-time matches against NYCFC.

NYCFC's Heber scored twice in first-half stoppage time and Talles Magno and Gabriel Pereira also tallied. Maxi Moralez rebounded after being denied on a penalty kick to notch three assists for NYCFC (8-4-4, 28 points), who are 0-1-1 following a 7-0-2 run.

NYCFC played without Valentin Castellanos (illness), Santiano Rodriguez (yellow card accumulation), Anton Tinnerholm (personal), Thiago Martins (high ankle sprain) and Keaton Parks (blood clot in leg). In addition, Maxime Chanot left Wednesday's match after injuring his left leg while sliding into the goal post.

FC Cincinnati jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Magno converted from in close in the 45th minute for his fourth goal of the season.

Heber halved the deficit with a left-footed shot two minutes later in stoppage time and later added his second of the match and fourth of the season after heading home Moralez's delivery at the back post.

Pereira put NYCFC in front in the 52nd minute after his left-footed shot sailed just inside the left post for his third goal of the season.

Brenner, however, forged a tie after his shot from outside the box beat Sean Johnson (five saves) for his fourth goal in his last two matches.

FC Cincinnati opened the scoring in the 15th minute following a turnover from Johnson. The ball was chipped ahead to Acosta, who sidestepped a defender before providing the proper finish for his sixth goal of the season.

Brenner converted a left-footed shot in the 24th minute and boosted FC Cincinnati's lead to 3-0 just six minutes later following a bicycle kick.