FC Cincinnati, Orlando City play to scoreless draw

Updated: Oct 12, 2023, 03:20 pm

FC Cincinnati and host Orlando City SC played to a scoreless draw on Saturday in Florida.

While the game ended in a tie, Cincinnati controlled most of the match, including possessing the ball 56.5 percent of the time and outshooting the Lions 11-7.

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But Orlando goalie Pedro Gallese made four saves to record his second straight shutout to open the season. Cincinnati's Roman Celentano recorded just one save to earn his first clean sheet of the season.

Cincinnati completed a whopping 88.2 percent of its 575 passes overall, including 79.6 percent of its passes in the final third of the field, but couldn't get the final touch to get on the scoreboard.

Orlando completed 83.7 percent of its 435 passes, but had just one shot on target all game, despite getting four corner kicks.

Cincinnati squandered a great opportunity in the second minute when Luciano Acosta found Brenner streaking into the penalty box, but Brenner's shot sailed wide of the goal.

The Orange and Blue had another chance to grab an early lead in the 28th minute. Acosta successfully curled a free kick from just outside the penalty box around a five-man wall, only for it to be turned aside by a diving Gallese.

Cincinnati had three shots in the first half, but just two on goal. Orlando had four shots, but all of them missed the goal.

The Orange and Blue maintained possession for 57.3 percent of the first half, completing 86.5 percent of their 274 passes. The Lions completed 82.9 percent of their 199 passes.

Orlando has a short turnaround to prepare for Tuesday's CONCACAF Champions League game at Tigres UANL in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, before returning to MLS play at D.C. United on March 11.

Cincinnati hosts the Seattle Sounders on March 11.