Charlotte FC cool off East-leading FC Cincinnati

Ashley Westwood set up three goals and Iuri Tavares and Liel Abada scored two minutes apart in the first half to fuel visiting Charlotte FC to a 3-1 victory over FC Cincinnati on Saturday.

Kerwin Vargas also tallied and Kristijan Kahlina made six saves for Charlotte (10-8-5, 35 points), who snapped a two-match losing streak. Kahlina denied reigning MLS MVP Luciano Acosta on a penalty kick early in the second half and thwarted a late bid from point-blank range by Sergio Santos.

Acosta scored in first-half stoppage time for Cincinnati and Luca Orellano appeared to level the contest early in the second half before the goal was negated by an offside call.

Roman Celentano turned aside four shots for Eastern Conference-leading FC Cincinnati (15-5-3, 48 points), who saw their three-match winning streak come to a halt.

Westwood lofted a cross that Tavares banked off Celentano and into the net at the left post to open the scoring in the 20th minute. The goal was the second of the season for Tavares, who was elevated into the starting lineup in place of leading scorer Patrick Agyemang (red card in last match).

Abada doubled the advantage just two minutes later after sending Westwood's through ball past Celentano for his fourth goal of the season.

Acosta halved the deficit just before intermission after providing the proper finish from a wide angle. The goal was Acosta's team-leading 11th of the season and second in as many matches.

Vargas restored Charlotte's two-goal advantage in the 66th minute after heading home a cross from Westwood. Vargas' goal was his fifth of the season and third in his last six matches.

Cincinnati's Yuya Kubo attempted to respond four minutes later, however his shot hit the left post. Teammate Miles Robinson was issued a red card two minutes later for hauling down Vargas from behind.