With Gregg Berhalter’s return to the MLS ranks as head coach, the Chicago Fire have returned to the front page. However, that just means a team FC Cincinnati beat in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup is now helmed by the coach of a team FC Cincinnati beat in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup. It’s an interesting bit of information.

However, Chicago has also fortified their roster with bigger offensive weapons. Could a certain midfielder from Manchester City follow soon after? Can the defense solidify and turn draws into wins? How should we analyze the clean sheet against Messi and Miami last weekend?

We ask Alex from the CHGO Fire Podcast to join us and give us pointers from his substack. (Smartly, no Malört was consumed in this episode.)

Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The post S10 E11 Jersey Swap – Chicago Fire – Alex Campbell from CHGO Fire Podcast appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

“We are saddened to hear of the tragic passing of former FC Cincinnati forward Aaron Boupendza earlier today at his home in China,” a statement from the club said. “Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and teammates. He was a loved member of the FC Cincinnati family, and we offer our condolences to all who knew him. Rest in Peace, Aaron.”

It was reported that his cause of death was an 11-story fall from his apartment residence. Authorities in China are treating the case with suspicion and will continue to investigate it further.

Aaron Boupendza was a DP striker for FC Cincinnati. After joining in 2023, his six goals and four assists helped the team earn the Supporters’ Shield and a place in the Eastern Conference Final. While it did not work out in 2024, the FCC faithful will always remember the memories that were made.

He scored a late winner against Nashville on his debut, did a backflip celebration after netting against Charlotte, scored the goal that secured the Supporters’ Shield in Toronto and the one that sent the Round One Best-of-3 Series against the Red Bulls to extra time. He made a backheel goal against Philadelphia in preseason, and a stunner against Cavalier FC in the CCC that made it on SportsCenter.

Upon departing Cincinnati, Boupendza spent a few months at Rapid București in the Romanian Liga I with five goals in 11 matches. He then signed with Zhejiang FC in the Chinese Super League, where he had four goals and two assists in six matches.

He was known for his an upbeat demeanor and was often seen smiling. On the pitch, he had flair, speed, and was entertaining to watch. He was given the nickname “Boup,” and whenever he scored the Bailey would belt out “Boup there it is!” Few have lit up TQL like he did.

The post Aaron Boupendza, former FC Cincinnati striker, passes away at 28 appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

The cherry blossoms are gone at the nation’s capital, but hardly forgotten. The memories of D.C. United’s bad loss to San Jose also have not faded from the District. However, FC Cincinnati fans can attest to the fact that bad losses could be followed by great wins.

The two teams clash at Audi Field this weekend, so we invited José Umaña and Mario Amaya (no relation to Frankie) from The Bad Hombres FC Podcast to talk about how head coach Troy Lesesne is directing traffic. Yes, Christian Benteke is a force to be reckoned, but who else should the Orange & Blue watch for? Have the Black & Red resolved their defensive woes from last season?

Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The post S10 E10 Jersey Swap – D.C. United – José & Mario from The Bad Hombres FC Podcast appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

FC Cincinnati (4-1-2, 13 pts.) kept the New England Revolution (1-1-4, 4 pts.) off the score sheet in a 1-0 victory at TQL Stadium Saturday night. Despite missing some key names, FCC maintained a solid defense throughout the evening and capitalized off a Sergio Santos goal for the win. The victory keeps Cincinnati undefeated at home this season.

“One of our best wins, if I’m being honest,” Pat Noonan admitted after the match. “Just the circumstances and some bodies that we’re obviously missing from last week—it challenged us. We’re obviously stretched thin, but [it] clearly didn’t affect the group because they were ready to play and got the clean sheet, created some good looks, had good discipline, good composure, and, deserved to win the game. I’m really, really proud of the performance tonight.”

Cincinnati paid a small price for their win at Nashville SC the past weekend, being unable to dress multiple players for this waterlogged match. Obinna Nwobodo was listed as officially out due to leg issues, while Teenage Hadebe is still working on green card issues. Evander (knee), Yuya Kubo (leg), and Miles Robinson (leg) were listed as questionable, but did not make the roster. New arrival Brad Smith started his first match for the Orange & Blue.

Surprisingly, center back Matt Miazga returned to the bench after missing 10 months due to a knee ligament injury last June. While he did not enter the match, Noonan noted that he was available for emergency play. “[Matt] had a really good week and passed some hurdles that had him feeling comfortable where tonight if we needed him maybe for five to ten minutes, we felt we could do that.”

While the Revolution were working on getting their full power back, they started a team almost unchanged from Saturday’s win over the New York Red Bulls. The only change was Brayan Ceballos starting for the injured Wyatt Omsburg. Forwards Leo Campana (hamstring) and Tomás Chancalay (knee) were not ready to return from injury.

First half

Through the first 45 minutes, New England had juicier opportunities. Twice, in the 24th and 31st minutes, goalkeeper Roman Celentano had the good fortune of solid pipework. Shots by Brayan Ceballos and Ignatius Ganago found the post, the second counting as a save by Celentano.

With a good portion of their midfield unavailable, Cincinnati played much of their game through the edges. The weather made crosses difficult, but a lot of early play passed through DeAndre Yedlin and Smith.

The best opportunities came from a dual pair of attempts late in the half. Denkey’s spin in the box in the 41st minute and Orellano’s long attempt in the 44th minute both resulted in shots that shirted far of the left post.

While FCC enjoyed a majority of the possession (56%/44%), both teams were evenly matched going into halftime at 0-0.

Second half

In the second half, the Orange & Blue started to stitch together plays and enjoy more quality with their quantity. Cincinnati peppered goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic with six shots on goal in the second half, while the Revolution mustered only three on goal the entire 90 minutes.

The lone goal came on cooperative pressure around the net. In the 65th minute, Corey Baird forced a hard save to Ivacic’s left. Pavel Bucha gathered the rebound and connected with Santos in the six-yard box for a tap-in goal. The Brazilian striker’s first of the year gave Cincinnati the lead they would not relinquish.

While the Revolution had some opportunities in the second half, the back line played strong. Nick Hagglund played the full 90 minutes for the first time this season, and Gilberto Flores led the team with seven clearances and three tackles. Lukas Engel also filled at left center back again, playing 85 minutes in a different role.

“At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about—getting results,” Engel said after the match. “It wasn’t the prettiest game to watch from the outside, but we got three points, and that was the most important thing.”

Noonan praised the teamwork that picked up all three points. “These types of wins for your group go a long way because you get contributions from guys that maybe hadn’t had the opportunity before, and they’re on the field experiencing a win when that final whistle blows. So, that’s important for certain individuals, but then you can hear Matt (Miazga) and Sergio and guys that are now off the field at the end of the game and how they recognize the importance of a win like we saw tonight.”

The win pushes Cincinnati to fifth place, while New England slides down to 13th.

Cincinnati hits the road for their next two matches, facing D.C. United next Saturday. The Revolution travel to Georgia for a Saturday matinee against Atlanta United.

Major League Soccer, Match #7

FC Cincinnati vs. New England Revolution
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Attendance: 22,912
Result: FC Cincinnati 1, New England Revolution 0

BOX SCORE

FC Cincinnati Starting XI (5-2-2-1):

Roman Celentano (GK); DeAndre Yedlin (c), Gilberto Flores, Nick Hagglund, Lukas Engel (Gerardo Valenzuela 85′), Brad Smith (Sergio Santos 58′, Stefan Chirila 84′); Pavel Bucha, Tah Brian Anunga; Luca Orellano, Corey Baird (Alvas Powell 78′); Kevin Denkey.

Bench: Evan Louro, Matt Miazga, Stiven Jimenez.

New England Revolution Starting XI (4-2-3-1):

Aljaz Ivacic (GK); Ilay Feingold, Brayan Ceballos, Mamadou Fofana, Peyton Miller; Matt Polster, Alhassan Yusuf; Luca Langoni (Luis Diaz 73′), Carles Gil (c), Ignatius Ganago; Maxi Urruti (Jackson Yueill 55′).

Bench: Alex Bono, Tanner Beason, Keegan Hughes, Brandon Bye, Jack Panayotou, Will Sands, Noel Buck.

Scoring summary:

CIN – Sergio Santos 65′ (Bucha)

Discipline:

YC – Kevin Denkey 14′ (CIN, poor sportsmanship)
YC – Luca Orellano 39′ (CIN, foul)
YC – Matt Polster 52’ (NE, poor sportsmanship)
YC – Peyton Miller 83′ (NE, foul)

Next up:

MLS Regular Season: at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m., Saturday April 12th; Apple TV+

The post All Hands On Deck: FC Cincinnati ride full-team effort for 1-0 win over New England appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

FC Cincinnati

Fresh off a thrilling 2-1 victory over Nashville SC, FC Cincinnati (3-2-1, 10 points) is riding high. Kévin Denkey, the hero of that match with a stoppage-time penalty, has been clutch this season, leading MLS with three game-winning goals.

Evander has been another standout, tallying four goals and an assist so far. His playmaking ability will be crucial in breaking down New England’s defense, especially with the possibility of facing a weakened backline due to injuries.

New England Revolution

The Revolution (1-3-1, 4 points) secured their first win of the season last weekend, edging out the New York Red Bulls 2-1. Carles Gil was instrumental, netting both goals, including a dramatic penalty in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

Historically, New England has been a thorn in Cincinnati’s side, boasting an unbeaten 4-0-1 record at TQL Stadium. However, with FC Cincinnati’s current form, tonight presents a golden opportunity to rewrite that narrative.

Key Matchup

Stopping Evander will be paramount for New England. His vision and precision passing can dismantle defenses, and with Denkey’s finishing prowess, the Revolution’s backline will have their hands full. On the flip side, FC Cincinnati must keep tabs on Gil, whose recent form suggests he’s a constant threat.

Prediction

Given FC Cincinnati’s momentum and home advantage, they have a solid chance to secure a victory. However, New England’s recent resurgence and historical dominance at TQL Stadium can’t be overlooked. Expect a closely contested match with both teams finding the net.

How to Watch

TV/Streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Radio: ESPN 1530 (English), La Mega 101.5 FM (Spanish)

In-Person: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

For those heading to the match, gates open at 6 p.m. ET.

The post FC Cincinnati vs. New England Revolution: Match Preview appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Both FC Cincinnati and New England Revolution rode a set piece and a late penalty kick to capture 2-1 victories last week. Both teams needed wins to flip momentum in their seasons. However, while the Orange & Blue used a scalpel to refine their roster in the offseason, the Revs opted for a machete. Head coach Caleb Porter has almost flipped the full squad, but results have been scant to start the season.

We asked Thomas from Revolution Recap about the changes in the offseason and the confidence the fans may have in Porter’s system. When does the panic button come into play, especially with some key parts still missing? While we’re at it, how hot in the Northeast this season in the lower leagues?

Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The post S10 E9 Jersey Swap – New England Revolution – Thomas Pinzone from Revolution Recap appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

On a perfect night for playing soccer in a beautiful stadium, with expectations sky high for the home team, FCC came from behind to win a thrilling but chaotic match. They continuously pressed high, forcing Nashville at times to rush their plays which resulted in FCC creating opportunities. At the same times, the Nashville Boys in Gold showed why they had won three straight games, creating opportunities either on fast breakaways or building up from their backline.

The Orange and Blue came into the game still without a full-strength squad. Nick Hagglund and Miles Robinson were being re-integrated into the team, the first because of his continuing recovery from last year’s season ending injury, the second due to coming back from illness. Yuya Kubo was unavailable due to an injury picked up in the previous game. Kévin Denkey was on the bench due to the 180 minutes he played with Togo and international travel.. And Matt Miazga is still not in match fitness form.

Nashville had their full complement of players, with their goalkeeper, backline, and front line already having played 5 straight games together with little rotation in their midfield. They scored eight goals and conceded only one in their previous three games. Their head coach, B.J. Callaghan, has instilled a more aggressive attacking style that was already producing results.

First Half

Both teams came out of the gate pressing and attacking. They showed a sense of urgency on the pitch that created early opportunities. For FCC, in the first minute of the game, Evander lofted a cross into the box for Orellano who, though in an uncomfortable position, managed a shot that Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis easily stopped. On the other side of the pitch, Nashville had a clear opportunity when Ahmed Qasem crossed towards Hany Mukhtar who, with a wide-open net, shot just past the post.

The Orange and Blue were being aggressive in anticipating plays, closing down lanes, and creating opportunities on the wings as well as through the center. More numbers were seen inside the box as Noonan had instructed them during training sessions: “We didn’t have enough guys either willing to run in front of goal, sacrificing themselves for opening up their teammates, and so we covered that in the lead up to the game. I think that got better, but it’s not about doing [it] in a reckless way. We have to be calculated in the timing, the positions and what’s needed to help us create.”

But it was Nashville who struck first in minute 39. On a cross inside the box by Danish midfielder Edvard Sandvik Tagseth, Nick Hagglund attempted to clear the ball but it landed at the feet of Josh Bauer who didn’t hesitate as he shot on target. Roman Celentano managed to touch the ball, but the pace was too strong as it went into the upper left-hand corner of the net and Nashville opened the scoring for the night.

The feeling among some FCC fans in the stands was that the floodgates were about to open given Nashville’s strong performances in their last three games. FCC was not feeling that way as they kept pushing forward. Their efforts were rewarded when Evander was fouled outside the box on a progressive pass from Lukas Engel. Evander kicked the ball with pace and great positioning as it went into the upper right-hand corner of Joe Willis’ net in minute 43. The score was tied as the teams went into the dressing room a few minutes later.

Second Half

The second half saw Kévin Denkey come in and Nick Hagglund come out. This shifted FCC’s tactical lineup from a three center back  and two wing back  formation to a 2-2  formation in the backline. Noonan was sending a signal that he was going for the win.

But once again, it was Nashville who seemed to get an upper hand when in minute 47, Denkey seemed to pull down Nashville’s center back Walker Zimmerman inside FCC’s box for a penalty kick. Hany Mukhtar was selected to execute the PK. As he kicked the ball, Roman went to his left, guessing the direction correctly  and then lifted his right hand to push the ball over the crossbar. A fantastic save that drove the travelling FCC fans wild in the stands! But Roman was not done. In the ensuing corner kick because of this save, Roman came out and punched the ball out of the box. Nashville recovered, crossed the ball into the box and as their players surged towards it, Roman made two consecutive stops at point blank range from Nashville’s Alex Muyl and Sam Surridge.

The rest of the half settled into a back-and-forth movement between the two nets. Both teams made multiple changes, some forced due to injury, and others to gain tactical advantage. The game seemed destined to end in a tie when in the 88^th minute on a forward cross from Evander to Corey Baird, Walker Zimmerman was called for handball in the box. Dénkey took the kick with his now well-known stutter step and buried it in the lower right-hand corner of Willis’ net to give FCC the lead 2-1 with minutes left in the game.

Nashville still had two opportunities where they could have tied the score with long crosses into the box with open players that FCC was not marking.

As Pat Noonan said at the beginning of this post match conference, “Certainly, I’m pleased  for the group. That was a little bit of a wild one, too chaotic for my liking in how the game looked, and a lot of moving parts with our personnel. But that shows, I think, what this group is potentially capable of with coming off the field with a win. That was a challenging game. Credit to B.J. [Callaghan], to Nashville, they were strong tonight. If not for Roman [Celentano] and Evander, this is a different result. I think those two won us the game tonight. And while certainly everybody else put in a good shift, it was, I think, those two performances that allow us to feel the way we did.”

A hard-fought game with two sides that showed their quality during the 90 minutes, and with Roman Celentano being the Man of the Match!

SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-FT

NSH: 1-0-1

CIN: 1-1-2

NSH – Josh Bauer 39’

CIN – Evander 34’, Kévin Denkey 90’+1 (PK)

CIN: Roman Celentano, DeAndre Yedlin (Alvas Powell 80’) Gilberto Flores, Miles Robinson (C) (Corey Baird 79’), Nick Hagglund (Kévin Denkey 46’), Lukas Engel, Obinna Nwobodo (Tah Brian Anunga 59’), Pavel Bucha, Evander, Sergio Santos (Brad Smith 70’), Luca Orellano

Substitutes not used: Evan Louro, Gerardo Valenzuela, Stiven Jimenez

Head Coach: Pat Noonan

NSH: Joe Willis, Daniel Lovitz (Teal Bunbury 90’+2), Jack Maher, Walker Zimmerman (C), Josh Bauer (Andy Najar 67’), Patrick Yazbek (Gaston Brugman 81’), Alex Muyl (Jacob Shaffelburg 67’), Edvard Tagseth, Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge, Ahmed Qasem (Jonathan Perez 81’)

Substitutes not used: Brian Schwake, Jeisson Palacios, Matthew Corcoran, Taylor Washington

Head Coach: B.J. Callaghan

STATS SUMMARY: NSH/CIN

Shots: 15 / 18

Shots on Goal: 8 / 6

Saves: 4 / 7

Corner Kicks: 4 / 5

Fouls: 16 / 8

Offside: 0 / 2

Possession: 48.5 / 51.5

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

NSH – Edvard Tagseth (Yellow Card) 90’+2

OFFICIALS 

Referee: Drew Fischer

Ast. Referees: Brian Poeschel, Justin Howard

Fourth Official: Benjamin Meyer
VAR: Shawn Tehini

AVAR: Logan Brown

NEXT MATCH

MLS Regular Season: vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. EDT April 5^th, TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH; AppleTV+

The post The Orange and Blue hit the right notes in Music City appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

The road does not get easier for FCC (2-1-2) this Saturday. The team travels to the Music City for a showdown against Nashville SC (3-1-1), a squad who have rebounded from a disappointing 2024 campaign with a strong start this season. Whether you want to call it a “rivalry” or not, there has been no shortage of intensity in these matchups over the past few seasons. Throw in the fact that there’s some palpable mutual disdain between the two fanbases, and there will likely be a little extra electricity in the crowd at GEODIS Park.

All of this to say, if FC Cincinnati wants a win to end their woes on the road, they’ll have to survive an absolute battle to earn it.

TIDE TURNING FOR THE ORANGE AND BLUE?

It hasn’t been an easy start to the season for FC Cincinnati for a variety of reasons, but there’s a hint of optimism heading into Saturday’s matchup. The second half of last week’s 2-2 draw against Atlanta United was arguably the most polished the team has looked this season. A strong attack, sparked by a “takeover” performance from Evander, finally reminded us of the dominant offense FCC fans have come to expect in recent years. And while a couple of key mistakes on the back end resulted in dropped points, there were still signs of the team finally finding some chemistry.

That chemistry should also be bolstered with a more consistent lineup. Injuries, international call-ups, and a packed early-season schedule have forced Pat Noonan to roll out five vastly different starting XIs in each of FCC’s first five MLS matches this season. As reported by Laurel Pfahler this week, however, Noonan expects more consistency moving forward. This week, the lineup will get a boost from Kévin Denkey’s return from international duty, Miles Robinson’s return from illness, and Gilberto Flores’ return from suspension. While it seems FCC could be without Teenage Hadebe and Yuya Kubo this week, there are still enough pieces to roll out a somewhat normal XI against Nashville.

RED HOT IN MUSIC CITY

On the other side, it’s been a completely different situation for Nashville SC, who have been able to roll out virtually the same back line and forward combo in each of their five games this season. BJ Callaghan’s squad has ridden that chemistry to three consecutive wins, all by a margin of two goals or more. That includes an impressive 3-1 win on the road against current league leaders Philadelphia Union, making Nashville SC the only team to defeat the Zolos this season.

Nashville’s strength, as it’s always been, is their stinginess. Led by captain Walker Zimmerman and rising star Jack Maher, Nashville has conceded the third-fewest shots among Eastern Conference teams this season, and their three goals allowed are tied for second-fewest across the entire MLS. Up front, Nashville’s scoring has come by committee, with seven different players finding the scoresheet this season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Last Saturday gave FC Cincinnati fans a glimpse of what Evander can do. We saw him “come off of the leash” a bit and become more involved in the play in different areas of the field while being unafraid to push and create chances via dribbling rather than  progressive passing. This led to his first brace in an FCC kit and several other quality chances. It will be interesting to see if Evander’s more aggressive style can open more chances for Denkey and Luca Orellano up front.

For Nashville, keep an eye on Edvard Tagseth. The Norwegian international has been a firecracker for his new team this season, excelling at controlling the pace of play in the midfield. He’s careful with the ball but also isn’t afraid to thread the needle and spring one of his attacking teammates down the pitch for a quality opportunity.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Communication and chemistry continue to be the biggest X factor in these early season matches. FC Cincinnati’s overall play has been solid this season; it’s just been those one or two breakdowns in key moments that have been their undoing.

Ideally, those are the kind of mishaps that go away with more practice and more lineup consistency, both of which should be happening shortly. Whether there is improvement by this Saturday remains to be seen.

Nashville’s not the flashiest team, but they’re incredibly disciplined and capable of pouncing on opponent’s mistakes. If Cincinnati can limit those and keep communication sharp, they have a squad that can win tough games like these on the road. If we see the type of miscommunications we saw in the previous road games against Charlotte, Tigres, and Philadelphia, it could be a long night.

The post FC Cincinnati looks to end road woes against surging Nashville SC squad appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

It should be labeled a “derby” by all definitions. The distance between the Music City and Queen City remains quite drivable. However, the average FC Cincinnati fan and average Nashville SC fan probably wouldn’t admit that the other is a rival. There’s still no solid point of contention between both squads.

The trend in both squads to start the season may indicate a much closer rivalry in 2025. While the Orange & Blue have started lukewarm, the “Boys in Gold” to the south are on a hot streak. Before Saturday’s matchup, we talk with Tim from the Club & Country podcast to see just how well new head coach B.J. Callaghan is cooking with his retooled roster.

Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The post S10 E8 Jersey Swap – Nashville SC – Tim Sullivan from Club & Country appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

PREMATCH STORYLINES

The story coming into the match was all about the  the lineups. For FC Cincinnati starting striker Kévin Denkey and center back Teenage Hadabe were out on international duty. Captain Miles Robinson was out due to sickness and Gilberto Flores served a one-match suspension due to two yellow cards received against Charlotte FC. For Atlanta United, several key players in their defense were out either on international duty or due to injury. Most notably Designated Player Migual Almirón.

FAST START

Perhaps the two best opportunities of the first half came in the first seven minutes. Alexy Miranchuk collected the ball from Lukas Engel as he struggled with the ball between his legs. Miranchuk ripped a screaming blast from outside of the box. Roman Celentano was fortunate to have the ball strike the crossbar as it sailed over him.

In the seventh minute Evander struck a free kick attempt from just on the corner of the 18-yard box. Nick Hagglund got free under the cross and was able to put a head on the ball. But Brad Guzan was able to get a left paw on it—enough to redirect it from harm’s way.

ATLANTA STRIKE FIRST

The five stripes would be the ones to come out of the halftime break with answers to the stalemate. In the 50th minute a quick resumption of play from a throw-in saw Saba Lobjanidze running free to the touchline. Saba slightly paused his run and found Emmanuel Latte Lath in the middle of the box. Latte Lath shot on the first touch and slot it in the net past an outstretched Celentano.

FCC FLURRY

An earned freekick from the top of the box in the 70th minute saw FCC’s top man Evander standing over the ball. Evander struck the ball with pace, and it took a deflection off an Atlanta defender in the box. The deflection was enough to freeze Guzan, and the ball landed comfortably into the net.

Moments later in the 75th minute Obinna Nwobodo jumped an Atlanta throw-in to start the break. Pavel Bucha picked up the ball and drove it straight into the box. Bucha laid it off to Evander and the Brazilian showed his skilled right foot for a great goal.

The two goals for Evander were his first in front of the TQL Stadium faithful and his first brace in an orange and blue uniform.

POWELL’S BLUNDER

The match felt like it was destined to end in a 2-1 win for FCC but poor fate in the 88th minute would spoil the three points. Saba drove the ball up FCC’s left flank and delivered a low cross across the face of goal. Alvas Powell raced back to make the play but unfortunately for him his outstretched leg only directed the ball squarely into the goal.

Goals

CIN – Evander 70’, Evander (Bucha) 75’ 

ATL – Emmanuel Latte Lath (Lobjanidze) 50’, Alvas Powell (OG) 88’

LINEUPS

CIN: Roman Celentano, Lukas Engel, Nick Hagglund (Corey Baird 46’), Alvas Powell, Yuya Kubo (Tah Brian Anunga 81’), Obinna Nwobodo (Gerardo Valenzuela 90’), Pavel Bucha, DeAndre Yedlin (C), Evander, Luca Orellano, Sergio Santos (Brad Smith 61’)

Substitutes not used: Evan Louro, Noah Adnan, Kenji Mboma Dem, Stiven Jimenez

ATL: Brad Guzan (C), Pedro Amador, Derrick Williams, Matthew Edwards (Mateusz Klich 80’), Brooks Lennon, Tristan Muyumba (Cayman Togashi 41’), Will Reilly, Alexey Miranchuk, Xande Silva (Ronald Hernandez 71’), Emmanuel Latte Lath, Saba Lobjanidze

Substitutes not used: Jayden Hibbert, Josh Cohen, Ashton Gordon, Cooper Sanchez, Nyk Sessock, Rodrigo Neri

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

CIN – Lukas Engel (Yellow Card) 9’

CIN – Yuya Kubo (Yellow Card) 28’

ATL – Will Reilly (Yellow Card) 28’

CIN – DeAndre Yedlin (Yellow Card) 59’

ATL – Matthew Edwards (Yellow Card) 69’

ATL – Emmanuel Latte Lath (Yellow Card) 90’+1

Next Match:

MLS Regular Season: vs. Nashville SC, 8:30 p.m. EDT March 29th, Geodis Park Nashville TN; AppleTV+

The post FC Cincinnati splits points at home with Atlanta United appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.