CF Montreal star Prince Owusu scored twice from the 72nd minute on, handing FC Cincinnati a deflating 3-1 defeat Sept. 26 at Stade Saputo in Montreal.

Montreal, last place in the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference coming in, snapped a five-match losing streak and sent Cincinnati out of playoff position.

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Montreal had only three outfield players available off the bench due to absences from the current FIFA international window, a card suspension and injuries. The home team had to make one substitution in the 11th minute due to injury, when center back Brayan Ceballos had to exit. They didn’t make their second until the 87th minute when former Cincinnati player Frankie Amaya subbed in. The other nine players logged all 90 minutes.

With the short bench, it was Owusu, a 6-foot-3 forward and Montreal’s leading scorer, making great individual plays to notch his 14th and 15th goals of the season and lift the Canadian side to the win. He had scored twice at TQL Stadium in March, in a 4-3 Cincinnati win.

Cincinnati drops to 8-9-9 for 33 points. Montreal is 6-15-6 for 24 points. Cincy dropped to a tie for ninth place in the East with New York City, which drew 2-2 at Atlanta Saturday. NYCFC has the tiebreaker with Cincinnati, putting the Orange and Blue out of a playoff position.

Cincinnati dropped to 1-7-6 on the road in MLS play, and hasn’t won as the visiting team since May 2 at Chicago. Cincy is also winless in six games overall, three losses and three draws, since beating New York City at home Aug. 19. Cincinnati is only 1-3-4 since a last-minute loss to Atlas in the Leagues Cup group stage.

Cincinnati finished with 16 shots, five on goals, and Montreal had 15 and four. Montreal had 2.5 expected goals to 2.3 for Cincy. While the stats were even, and Cincinnati missed several close chances at the goal during the game, head coach Pat Noonan said his team didn’t play with the same sense of urgency that the home team did.

“Really strange that we didn’t have the energy and urgency that we needed,” he said. “We had a great week of training, but it didn’t translate to the field at all. We looked like a team that didn’t understand the moment. The energy and intensity hasn’t been an issue, but tonight it was.”

FC Cincinnati lost focus late in the game

With the game tied 1-1, disaster struck quickly for Cincinnati as Owusu took advantage of Cincy sloppiness and made two great plays to score in a three-minute span.

Cincinnati keeper Roman Celentano turned it over to give Owusu his first goal. Celentano controlled the ball and had it at his feet to kick it away while Owusu ran at him from the side. Celentano didn’t seem to see him right away and lost control of the ball. Owusu ran to it and Celentano tripped him, picking up a yellow card and sending Owuso to the penalty spot, where he converted.

Minutes later, Owusu made a tough play to control the ball in the middle of the goal box with three Cincy players near him, and he fired a shot past Celentano.

Cincinnati has now conceded a penalty kick in four straight games, with the opposition converting five of them in that span.

“We don’t make the big plays and we don’t make the simple plays,” Noonan said. “The mistakes we make are inexcusable in a lot of ways. Lack of concentration that turns into chaos and us conceding. Penalties, pretty controllable moments. We make too many mistakes that we can’t overcome.”

Montreal is still in last place in the Eastern Conference, but has had a boost of energy after beating Western Conference leader Vancouver in the semifinals of the Canadian Championship last week, giving them a chance at a trophy.

When asked if he thinks his team overlooked Montreal, Noonan said no, but he was stunned at his team’s lack of urgency.

“We’re not good enough to overlook anybody,” he said. “It’s confusing to not have more energy to play the game. Some guys looked tired, some looked uncertain on the field.”

The first two goals in Montreal

Montreal scored first in the 27th. Daniel Ríos volleyed in the ball after cross deflected off the head of Teenage Hadebe. Ríos scored his fifth goal of the season.

Both teams had eight shots in the first half. Cincy had three on target to one for the home team. Both teams had an expected-goal mark of 1.1.

Tom Barlow tied it for Cincinnati in the 64th minute. He tapped in a great cross from Dado Valenzuela for his seventh goal in the MLS season. Valenzuela picked up his seventh assist, and Evander was given a secondary assist when he started the play with a pass to Valenzuela, Evander’s 12th helper in MLS play.

FC Cincinnati lineup notes

Center back Teenage Hadebe made his first MLS start since April 22 against New York City and fourth of the season. Nick Hagglund started in the middle of the back line, with Samuel Gidi to his right.

David Doudera made his MLS debut for Cincinnati in the 58th minute, replacing Ayoub Jabbari. He played the right wingback spot. Noonan praised his energy and urgency on the pitch.

Newly acquired center back Julian Malatini made the trip to Montreal and was in the available lineup, less than 48 hours after he arrived in Cincinnati. He did not enter the game. Stefan Chirila was also on the bench, as was center back Felix Samson, who was on short-term loan from FC Cincinnati 2.  

What’s next for FC Cincinnati?

Cincinnati has a week off during the international window and plays at Atlanta United Oct. 10.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Two late goals by Prince Owusu send FC Cincinnati to another road loss

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