Chidozie Awaziem's sublime assist set the stage for FC Cincinnati's 2-1 victory over Minnesota United in their final regular season Western Conference match.
Awaziem on the backline was joined by Miles Robinson and Ian Murphy, forming a formidable defensive trio. The decisive goal, which opened the scoring for FC Cincinnati, was a culmination of earlier attempts. Awaziem twice nearly slipped through balls between Minnesota's defensive lines, but the pace was slightly off, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
On the third try, however, he and Kubo found the right rhythm. In the 34th minute, Awaziem's perfectly weighted pass allowed Kubo to score his 10th goal of the season.
As the match approached its conclusion, Minnesota United intensified their efforts to equalize, playing with desperation due to their precarious position in the Western Conference standings. However, FC Cincinnati's defensive core, including Robinson, Awaziem, Murphy, Nwobodo, and Bucha, stood firm. Their key contributions were instrumental in securing the victory.
With the win, FC Cincinnati improved their record to 17-8-4, accumulating 55 points. Additionally, they earned their 10th road victory of the season, becoming the fourth MLS club in the modern era to achieve this feat.
By Olaleye Oluwadamilola