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

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

Join us for our brand-new series Art of Soccer! Art of Soccer highlights unique individuals who are blending their love of the game with their creative outlets.  Cheyenne quit her full-time job in Washington DC to travel around in a 94 Toyota Hiace to experience soccer across North America.

Between Clean Sheets: Instagram | X | YouTube

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As much as it appears the sky is falling for FC Cincinnati, that comes from intense pressure and high expectations. The Orange & Blue’s next opponents, Atlanta United, are also under the microscope from a rough first month after a massive offseason. It doesn’t help that both squads are depleted from injury and international duties.

We talk with Jason from Soccer Down Here and his work at 92.9 The Game to read the temperature before Saturday’s match. Where do the Five Stripes stand after Miami gained an ounce of revenge last Sunday? How complete is Atlanta with so many players heading to World Cup qualifiers?

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 E7 Jersey Swap – Atlanta United – Jason Longshore from Soccer Down Here appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

It is expected that pro-rel would not begin until the inaugural season of USL D1. The system will only include its three professional leagues, and not the semi-professional USL League Two that only runs in the summer.

It remains to be seen what exactly the format would be. The Pro League Standards (PLS) that leagues are required to follow will be hard to balance with a system that includes so many clubs moving back and forth in just one offseason. It is likely that USL implements a slightly altered pro-rel system, such as giving franchises the ability to choose if they want to be promoted, etc.

Regardless, this is a huge change on the battlefront of what fans call “the soccer warz.” This tongue-in-cheek term is used to describe the competition between the many leagues in American soccer. There hasn’t been a D1 competitor for MLS since NASL launched in 2011; it folded in 2017, but not without a lawsuit that reached a verdict just a month ago. As for pro-rel, this is the first time that an American professional league has ever actually implemented it. NISA tried, and failed, early this decade.

What does this mean for the local soccer scene?

Pros

USL has millions of fans that attend its matches each season, and the number will only continue to grow. A decent swath of this is concentrated in the tri-state area, with professional clubs like Louisville City, Indy Eleven, Lexington SC, and the newly added USL1 club Fort Wayne FC.

Serious money is being invested into these clubs; all of them have or plan to contruct soccer-specific stadiums to, built competitive rosters, and brought in decent attendance numbers. In theory, pro-rel will give teams more of an incentive to keep spending competitively. If they don’t, it will be reflected in the table.

Aside from the authentic feeling that lower-league soccer has, there was very little that differentiated USL from MLS. From a sporting standpoint, pro-rel makes it a worthy competitor. If local fans become aware of how this format works, it may make USL more entertaining for them.

This could turn USL from little more than a feeder league for MLS with a niche following, to a competitor that draws in larger numbers—which could make the local soccer scene even more bustling.

Cons

There is also a flipside to USL becoming a worthy competitor—it could lose credibility for owners. The league relies on team owners to survive, and these stakeholders might now have to choose between joining MLS or folding if they aren’t rich enough. But why?

In terms of business, promotion and relegation does not suit how American sports work. Owners expect their investment to be returned with a profit. If pro-rel is implemented, they run the risk of losing money if they are relegated; meanwhile, a club that hopes to be promoted doesn’t feel worth the risk of high investment. MLS is a closed league because its owners want to protect their interests.

If USL becomes a worthy competitor, it could still be a con. It would be entirely possible that MLS begins to poach already-existing USL markets, possibly going after two key franchises that happen to be local: Louisville and Indy. There is already speculation that Indy could join as an expansion side, which would surely kill Indy Eleven. There was slight chatter that Louisville could be “promoted” to MLS, but it died down.

MLS choosing to directly combat the USL would be much worse for the latter. The former has already proven itself an attractive business model. It is a league with ever-growing infrastructure, many more fans, and glitz and glamour. For these reasons, USL clubs wouldn’t lose anything by moving to MLS.

In the words of Geoff Tebbetts, the soccer warz have gone nuclear.

The post USL implements pro-rel, but what does this mean locally? appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Charlotte FC last season

In 2024 Charlotte FC entered their season looking for stability and turned to ex-Premier League manager Dean Smith to lead their squad. He was able to be a steady hand in the midst of a roster flip from their inaugural season, leading them to a 14-11-9 record and finishing 5th in the East, their best finish as a club.

Charlotte was  confronted with the reality that their established Designated Players, Karol Swiderski, Kamil Jozwiak, and Enzo Copetti had been largely unsuccessful. By the time they kicked off their first game of 2025, the three players had been replaced with two new DPs, attacking wingers Liel Abada and Wilfred Zaha.

Understandably, the addition of ex-Crystal Palace winger Wilfred Zaha has garnered the most headlines, and he has received one Man of the Match performance of the games he has played in thus far. But the biggest addition may be their Spanish attacking midfielder Pep Biel.

Rising through the ranks of La Liga squads, Pep Biel was eventually transferred to FC Copenhagen, before making his way to Olympiacos. Unable to replicate his success at previous stops, he has been constantly loaned out by the Greek squad and became the main string puller for this Charlotte side when he first joined in the summer of 2024.

In his nine appearances last year, he amassed two goals and three assists. While these are not massive on-paper stats, he became the focal point for their counter attacking offense, often being the one to spring willing runners into the attacking half. With an upgrade in attacking winger talent, Charlotte may take the next step and become a legitimate contender in MLS in 2025.

How they measure so far

Despite these offseason upgrades, it is still evident Charlotte is working to integrate these pieces. They have won only one of their first three games and were ponderous and slow trying to break down Inter Miami, even though Miami was down a man for over 50 minutes in their game last week.

Getting out on the break is their preferred method of attacking, but the team will look to build their attacking cohesion, especially as FC Cincinnati has proven their vulnerabilities in a low block.

The two teams kick off at 7:30 PM on Saturday in Charlotte, with the winner taking the inside track to be declared the rightful heir to the Queen City title.

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