Douděra and Hadebe Score First FC Cincinnati Goals in 2-1 Win Over D.C. United

Teenage Hadebe scored his first goal for FC Cincinnati in the 55th minute to give the Orange and Blue a 2-1 win over D.C. United on Wednesday night at TQL Stadium, a vital three points in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

David Douděra opened the scoring in the 14th minute with his first goal in MLS, finishing a bright start for the hosts in the rescheduled match. D.C. United answered before the break, when Kimito Nono leveled in the 38th minute off a feed from João Peglow, and the sides went to halftime tied 1-1.

Hadebe restored the lead ten minutes after the restart, converting off an assist from Evander. The center back's goal was his first for Cincinnati in three seasons with the club, and it held up as the winner.

A Short-Handed Back Line Holds On

Cincinnati did it with a reshuffled defense. Miles Robinson and Julian Malatini are both out injured for at least the next two weeks, leaving Hadebe, Nick Hagglund and Kyle Smith to anchor the back line. The group defended physically and saw out the closing stretch, with Roman Celentano making two saves.

The hosts created the better chances on the night, outshooting D.C. United 15-13 and putting six shots on target to the visitors' four, though D.C. held a slight edge in possession. D.C.'s goalkeeper finished with four saves to keep the margin at one.

The win snapped a two-game home losing skid for Cincinnati, which had fallen to New England and Columbus at TQL Stadium in the previous week, and moved the club to 39 points in the East. The two sides will not wait long to run it back: the rematch is set for Saturday night at Audi Field in the second half of the split doubleheader, after Wednesday's match was rescheduled from the original September 5 date that was postponed by heavy rain.