O&M made their debut in the competition and, trailing 2-0 at half-time, had fought valiantly to stay level until Jabbari, coming on as a substitute, scored in the 86e minute and again two minutes of extra time at Estadio Cibao FC in Santiago.
Cincinnati controlled the ball from the start and finished with 68% possession during the match. They will wonder why they didn’t score more when 11 of their 17 shots were on target.
It was a busy night for Omry Bello in the O&M goal, including giving away a penalty after a foul in the penalty area on Jabbari. He then made up for it by saving the Jabbari penalty.
Celentano had a comfortable evening when Cincinnati scored. None of O&M’s nine shots were on target.
Cincinnati started strongly and had a goal lead at 12′, with Tom Barlow hitting a left-footed shot into the box past Bello;
Nineteen minutes later and after a period of pressure, Cincinnati was two behind Kevin Denkey, who assisted on the first goal and shot with his own right foot. Bello didn’t stand a chance.
With the score 2-0 at halftime and a series of missed opportunities, it seemed to be a pretty grim second half for O&M.
It looked like they had saved face with a rearguard action and Bello’s athleticism in goal until Jabbari scored from the right side of the penalty area.
The second on 90’+2′ saw him control the ball in the area before sending a right-footed shot past Bello.
It was a tough way to end a tough night for O&M, but it could easily have been worse. They now have to regroup for next week.
None of these parties had met before. They now meet for the second leg next Wednesday at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, with Cincinnati’s red-hot favorites to advance to the Round of 16.
O&M 0 FC Cincinnati 4
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