Prince Owusu’s second-half brace helped Montreal edge the visiting FC Cincinnati 3-1 on Saturday night.
Daniel Rios scored Montreal’s other goal (6-15-6, 24 points), to help snap a five-match losing streak and win for the first time since Aug. 19 against Columbus.
Keeper Sebastian Breza made four saves as Montreal won at home for the first time since May 19 and improved to 4-3-1 all-time at home against Cincinnati.
Tom Barlow responded for FC Cincinnati (8-9-9, 33 points), which failed to pick up points for just the third time in nine matches and dropped to 1-7-6 on the road this season.
Barlow leveled the score 1-1 in the 64th minute, tapping in a cross from Gerardo Valenzuela for his seventh of the season.
In the 70th minute, Owusu was awarded a penalty after being taken down in the area by keeper Roman Celentano.
On the ensuing penalty kick, Owusu put his left-footed strike into the back of the net for the go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute. Montreal has scored on six of seven penalty kicks this season.
Owusu added his second of the match three minutes later, corralling Rios’ pass and putting his strike far side past Celentano for his team-leading 15th of the season.
Despite Cincinnati controlling the first half, Montreal led 1-0 after the opening 45 minutes.
Cincinnati had an excellent chance to level the match at 1-1 in the 36th minute, but Evander put his strike over the bar from six yards out.
Rios gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute, putting a left-footed strike from near the penalty spot past a diving Celentano.
The two sides exchanged chances in the 16th minute.
Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund blocked Fabian Herbers’ right-footed shot from the right half-space outside the box.
Then, Barlow’s left-footed shot from outside the box was saved by diving Breza.
Montreal’s already depleted lineup took another hit in the 11th minute as defender Brayan Ceballos left the match due to injury and was replaced by Herbers.
Saturday was the second and final regular-season meeting between Cincinnati and Montreal. Cincinnati won the previous meeting 4-3 at home on March 22.
–Field Level Media
