CINCINNATI (Interstat) — FC Cincinnati beat DC United 2-1 on Wednesday, using a second-half goal from Teenage Hadebe to reclaim the lead after Kimito Nono had pulled the visitors level. FC Cincinnati improved to 2-2 in the competition and 2-2 across all competitions, while DC United fell to 1-3 in the competition and 1-4 overall. The home side struck first, absorbed an equalizer and then found the winning response after the break, securing a result that extended the visitors’ difficult start to the season and gave FC Cincinnati a second win in its last four matches in the competition.

Hadebe delivered the most important performance of the match, playing 90 minutes and scoring the decisive goal in the 55th minute. David Doudera was next among the key contributors, scoring in the 14th minute during a 69-minute shift before he was substituted. Kimito Nono played 90 minutes for DC United, scored in the 38th minute and received a yellow card in the 54th minute. Evander played 90 minutes for FC Cincinnati and recorded an assist, while Peglow played 90 minutes for DC United and also provided an assist. Those performances shaped a match that turned on the home side’s ability to answer Nono’s equalizer.

FC Cincinnati opened the scoring when Doudera finished in the 14th minute, with Evander helping set up the chance. DC United responded through Nono in the 38th minute, and Nono’s booking came before the break. The decisive stretch arrived in the 55th minute, when Hadebe scored to restore FC Cincinnati’s advantage. The match became more physical as it wore on, producing a series of late cards. Hagglund N. was booked for FC Cincinnati in the 87th minute, Baribo T. of DC United received a yellow card in the 88th, and Jabbari A. of FC Cincinnati was booked in the 90th minute plus five.

FC Cincinnati made a halftime substitution with Malacia T. entering. DC United’s Hopkins J. followed in the 67th minute, and Doudera came off for FC Cincinnati in the 69th. Servania B. and Hefti S. entered for DC United in the 79th, while Barlow T. and Denkey K. came on for FC Cincinnati in the 80th. Rowles K. entered for DC United in the 90th, and Evander was substituted for FC Cincinnati in the 90th. The substitutions helped both sides adjust late, but FC Cincinnati protected the one-goal margin through the closing minutes and kept DC United from finding a second equalizer.

The result continued a difficult stretch for DC United, which had lost 4-1 at Orlando City, beaten the New York Red Bulls 2-1 at home, lost 4-0 at Inter Miami and fallen 1-0 at home to SC Paderborn 07 in previous matches this season. DC United’s previous results included a win over the New York Red Bulls, but the club had also conceded four goals in losses to Orlando City and Inter Miami. FC Cincinnati had lost 2-0 at home to Columbus Crew and 3-2 at home to New England Revolution before a 3-1 road win at Atlanta United earlier in the campaign. The teams are scheduled to meet again in their next fixture, with DC United set to host FC Cincinnati in the return match.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of FC Cincinnati 2, DC United 1. Interstat’s ELO system had given FC Cincinnati an 89.9 percent probability to win. FC Cincinnati had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.25. The projection and the ELO percentage both favored FC Cincinnati before kickoff, and the spread was set at -1.25. The total score of 3 went over the over/under line of 3.5.