The Philadelphia Union sure like playing the Ohio Major League Soccer teams.

One week after rolling the Columbus Crew 3-0, the Union went into Nippert Stadium and dominated FC Cincinnati 2-0 in front of 25,867 rain-soaked fans. 

Both teams entered on a roll, with FCC collecting seven points in its last three games, while the Union had recovered from dropping their first two matches to gain four points in their last two contests.

A week after rolling the New England Revolution with four players making their first MLS starts, the Orange-and-Blue entered the contest again without some key pieces as Fanendo Adi (ankle), Kendall Waston (calf), and Emmanuel Ledesma (hamstring) were unable to play. 

The game was played in monsoon-like conditions with Philadelphia controlling the midfield while keeping FCC pinned back on their own half for much of the game. 

The Union dominated the first half, outshooting the home team 7-1 while racking up nine corners but were fortunate to be tied 0-0 at half after FCC had a goal called back for offsides. 

In the 27th minute Greg Garza placed a perfect through ball to Roland Lamah and the left wing cooly slid it by Union goalie Andre Blake to send the hometown fans into hysterics. The flag was up, however, with Lamah just inches off.

The Union controlled the rest of the half and didn’t slow down after the break, finally scoring in the 47th minute.

Marco Fabian won a ball, sending it to David Accam down the right side. Fabian made a great run to the 18, received the ball back from Accam before nailing a left-footer FCC goalie Spencer Richey had no chance on.

In the 51st minute, Blake came up big for Philadelphia, stonewalling Lamah on a point blank look.

It was Accam who put the dagger in the Orange-and-Blue in the 58th minute. Accam picked up a loose ball in the box, deftly beat two FCC defenders, and slid it by a charging Richey into the right side netting for a 2-0 advantage.

FCC coach Alan Koch conceded after his team was outplayed. 

“Yeah, 100 percent, we just didn’t have it tonight and there is no excuse for it,” said Koch, via FCC game notes. “Yeah, it’s cold. Yeah, it’s wet. Yeah, it’s miserable. But it’s the same elements for Philly tonight, too. It’s one of those nights, and you’re going to have moments like that in long seasons.”

FCC struggled to maintain possession all night with Philadelphia keeping the ball 56 percent of the game, amassing 15 shots to the Orange-and-Blue’s five total. 

Darren Mattocks picked up his first FCC start, up top with Kekuta Manneh, but the Union did a great job holding the duo in check.

Garza, team captain for the game, and Forrest Lasso, picked up their second straight starts along the back four with Nick Hagglund and Mathieu Deplagne. 

Frankie Amaya, the first overall pick in the 2019 draft, made his MLS debut in the 76th minute, coming on in relief for Allan Cruz. The 18-year-old completed 16 of 19 passes in his limited time.

Cruz was starting in place of Kenny Saief, who had provided a much needed spark for FCC and did again when he entered the game for Manneh in the 60th minute. 

Richey was solid in goal for FCC, continuing his stellar play in relief of Przemyslaw Tyton, but saw his minutes without allowing a goal end at 321 when Fabian scored. 

Koch admitted the weather was tough to play in but didn’t impact the final result.

“The guys were frozen,” Koch said via FCC media notes. “But the weather is the same for both teams. It doesn’t impact the result. Philly just came out there ready to play, and they deserved the three points tonight.”

The Union improved to 2-2-1 and moved ahead of the Orange-and-Blue, who dropped to 2-2-1, via goal differential the the MLS Eastern Conference standings. 

The two teams will play again in 31 days in Philadelphia.

FCC will host Sporting Kansas City next Sunday at 4 PM ET at Nippert Stadium.