Highlights from this week’s show.

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The post Episode 363 – FC Cincinnati downed by Vazquez, draw DC appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Let’s look at where your favorite FCC players ranked for this match.

Check out Cincinnati Soccer Talk’s post-match report HERE for more details.

RULES:

• Each player starts off with a six as a standard rating. Six signifies an “average performance” for the match.
• Players will receive additions or subtractions to their score based on individual moments and the overall team performance.
• We’ll look at multiple criteria and statistics from websites like FB Ref, Who Scored and FOTMOB.
• All statistics used are taken from fotmob.com.
• A player may receive a N/A if they are subbed on/off before any quantifiable statistics are available.

Formation: 3-5-2

Now, onto the ratings:

Manager – Pat Noonan – 5.5

Pat Noonan fielded a full-strength lineup for this match, showing that he is giving the competition priority. The only real choices he had to make were at the wingback position, where he elected to slot newcomer DeAndre Yedlin straight into the lineup and roll out Yuya Kubo once again. For my money, he got both of these choices correct. His gameplan was pretty straightforward, and I didn’t notice any tactical wrinkles.

The real problem I have with Noonan for this match is with his substitutions. Excruciatingly, he waited until the 76th minute to make any changes. By this time, his team was trailing by a goal and up a man due to Rodrigo Aguirre’s red card six minutes earlier. However, Noonan elected to make a like-for-like change, bringing Sergio Santos on for Corey Baird. In fact, Noonan didn’t attempt to capitalize on his man advantage until the 83rd minute when he brought on Dado Valenzuela for Obi Nwobodo… a change that I thought should have been made as soon as the red card was awarded. Finally, he brought on Bret Halsey in another like-for-like change in the dying moments of the match. The gaffer made three subs when five were allowed, and only one of them did anything to increase the offensive firepower on the pitch. One could question whether Pat Noonan was trying to win the game, or settling for the narrow defeat.

GK – Roman Celentano – 5.5

Any discussion of Roman Celentano’s match has to begin and end with Brandon Vazquez’s 24th-minute goal. It wasn’t particularly well-struck, and the goalkeeper got his hands on it but couldn’t keep it from creeping over the line. He slightly made amends in the 86th minute, when he made a save at full stretch to keep the visitors from taking a two-goal lead. In possession, Roman wasn’t asked to do a ton. Notably, he completed three of his four long passes, and though he looked shaky at times under pressure, he managed to play out of it without making any big mistakes.

RWB –  DeAndre Yedlin – 6.5

DeAndre Yedlin put in a workman-like, professional appearance for his first in the Orange and Blue. His ability to play in “soft coverage,” seeming to give the attacker space before exploding forward to close him down, was obvious from the jump. However, he wasn’t super involved on either side of the ball. He won two of his three ground duels while providing only two ball recoveries. Offensively, he managed only one cross. However, it was a nice one-touch volley across the face of the goal that created a dangerous moment. I think there are better things ahead for Yedlin as he settles into the team, but I’ll be surprised if he breaks past the “slightly above average” mark too often.

RCB – Miles Robinson – 7

Miles Robinson’s ability to pick passes is going to continue to be an asset for this team. He tied for the team lead with 13 passes into the final third. He also completed five of his seven long passes, including a fantastic line-splitting pass in the 21st minute that led to Pavel Bucha hitting the ground in the box and asking for a penalty (spoiler alert… it was a dive).

Defensively, Miles was sound but not spectacular. He only had one tackle and was also dribbled once. He was dominant in the air, winning three of four duels, but less so on the ground, winning only one of three.

CB – Matt Miazga – 6.5

Like Robinson, Matt Miazga had an up-and-down match. Offensively he was fantastic, completing five of six long passes and also dribbling two defenders to create passing lanes. Defensively, he won four of five ground duels and was not dribbled. However, Brandon Vazquez had Miazga’s number a bit more than the veteran would have liked. Miazga won only two of his six aerial duels. Finally, he failed to get touch-tight to Vazquez, allowing the former FCC frontman to swivel and shoot without pressure to score the only goal of the match.

LCB – Ian Murphy – 7

Ian Murphy started this match extremely slow offensively. He struggled to connect passes early and sent several straight out of bounds. However, he settled down and played really well after the opening half hour. In the end, he completed four of his eight long passes and was credited with a chance created.

Defensively, Murphy was fantastic outside of one moment. He was credited with two each of tackles and interceptions while also providing eight ball recoveries. His dueling percentage was also very good, as he won three of four ground and two of four aerial. However, the one moment that he didn’t get right was in the build-up to the only goal in the match, when he got drawn too far inside, leaving Maximiliano Meza far too open and able to easily pick his moment to cross.

LWB – Yuya Kubo – 7.5 (Man of the Match)

Maybe it’s ignoring a few bone-headed plays toward the end of the match. Maybe it’s playing favoritism since I’ve vocally supported the Japanese international this season. Or maybe Yuya Kubo is the man of the match by default because none of his other teammates were fantastic. Whatever the reason, the utility player gets the nod for me this week. Offensively, he was a constant menace to Los Rayados, completing seven passes into the final third and tying Lucho Acosta for the team lead with three chances created. He should have had an assist in the 15th minute when his fantastic pick out of Corey Baird sent the striker in on goal. He wasn’t perfect, though, as he left some chances on the table. Notably, he missed Lucho on a cutback in the 66th minute where he should have probably shot for himself.

Defensively, Kubo was dribbled once but otherwise put in a very solid performance. He led the team with three interceptions and didn’t have any glaring mistakes. It will be interesting to see whether Pat Noonan continues to roll with him at wingback when the team is back to full strength.

DCM – Pavel Bucha – 6.5

Pavel Bucha has yet to take control of a match and display the passing ability and offensive threat that has me so excited for him as a replacement for Junior Moreno. However, he has shown flashes, including in this match when he picked out Corey Baird in the box with a lovely chipped-through ball. He also completed 96 percent of his passes.

Bucha was very good positionally on the defensive side of the ball. He led the team with 10 ball recoveries and was very good at filling in for wingbacks on both sides as they bombed forward. However, he isn’t the defensive ball-winner that Obi is and managed to best only three of his six ground duels. Finally, I’ve graded him down a bit for his horrendous dive in the 21st minute, which I feel has no place in the game.

DCM – Obi Nwobodo – 7.5

If I’m being honest, Obi would be my man of the match if I wasn’t such a Kubo shill. Because he is incredibly solid, he could win the award any match where there isn’t a standout performer. In this match, he completed an impressive 98 percent of his passes and wasn’t dispossessed. He displayed great range, including in the 19th minute when he chased down the speedy Meza and dispossessed him with an inch-perfect tackle that stopped a transition.

Obi wasn’t perfect in this match, however, winning only three of six ground duels. His five ball recoveries were also below his average, and he was dribbled once.

CAM – Luciano Acosta – 5.5

Lucho Acosta was guilty of leaving a lot of chances on the table in this match. In the 51st minute, he missed an open Corey Baird on the back post. In the 54th minute, he left a pass into the box short for Baird, forcing the striker to dig a shot out from under his feet instead of hitting it in stride. Perhaps most notably, after a match where FCC looked dominant on set pieces, Lucho was not accurate with a single one of his 10 crosses. This included a corner that he put straight out of bounds in second-half stoppage time when everyone was forward to try to score the equalizer.

Lucho also didn’t have a vintage performance on the ball. He was only successful with one of his three dribbles. He also won only three of his 10 ground duels. All in all, any night that FCC fails to score is probably going to be seen as a night that Lucho Acosta didn’t perform.

ST – Aaron Boupendza – 5.5

What do we make of Aaron Boupendza’s night? Does he get a low score for his missed chances? In the 56th minute, he found himself unmarked in the box but dragged his shot wide. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, he had a wide-open header that could have tied the match at the death, but he failed to hit the target. He wasn’t able to hit the target with any of his four shots on the night. Or should Boupendza get credit for being in so many great positions and forcing Monterrey to scramble defensively? He completed all four of his dribbles and also had a fantastic cross-field pass that sent Lucho into the box in the 51st minute that should have led to a chance but for the captain’s wayward cross.

Despite his highs on the night, we also have to consider Boupendza’s struggles that didn’t include missing his shots. His passing in the opening quarter-hour of the match was woeful. He ended the night with the lowest passing percentage on the team (67 percent) and was dispossessed twice. Strikers often have lots of turnovers, and we can stomach them when they’re scoring. However, on a night when you miss two golden opportunities, you better be very good in other facets of the match if you want to be graded at average or above.

ST – Corey Baird – 6

Speaking of being graded at average or above… Corey Baird also missed some big chances. I mentioned his 15th minute chance from Kubo above. Baird was in on goal and couldn’t beat goalkeeper Esteban Andrada. He was able to finish from a similar position just two minutes later but had strayed just offside. The striker also had a few moments that could have been half-chances but for his tough letting him down. In the 44th minute, Bucha chipped him into the box, but he couldn’t settle the ball effectively. In first-half stoppage time, he brought down a lovely Lucho chip with his first touch, only for his second to let him down, causing him to give away the ball in the box when it looked certain that he would get a shot off.

However, unlike his strike partner, Baird still did enough to say that his performance was solid. In the 37th minute, he showed a bit of the combination play that we should see more of as the season goes on, linking Kubo and Acosta to give the Argentinian a shot to finish from a tight angle. He also should have had an assist when his brilliant touch in the 56th minute in transition allowed him to find Boupendza in the box for one of the Gabonese’s missed chances. He also put both of his shots on target and completed his only dribble attempt.

SUBS

Sergio Santos (76th minute) – 5

Sergio Santos was not involved enough in his 14-plus minutes. He only managed six touches in that time. To make matters worse, one of those touches was an open shot from six yards that he failed to score.

Gerardo Valenzuela (83rd minute) – N/A

Bret Halsey (88th minute) – N/A

Availability Notes: Luca Orellano (family matter), Marco Angulo (family matter), Alec Kann (hand)

DEFINITIONS:

• xG – Expected goals (or xG) measures the quality of a chance by calculating the likelihood that it will be scored from a particular position on the pitch during a particular phase of play
• xA – Expected assist (or xA) is directly related to the xG of a shot that the pass creates.
• Post-Shot xG (PSxG) – Post-Shot xG is calculated after the shot has been taken, once it is known that the shot is on-target, taking into account the quality of the shot.
• Progressive Pass – A pass that advances toward the opponent’s goal where the distance between the starting point and the next touch is:
  • at least 30 meters closer to the opponent’s goal if the starting and finishing points are within a team’s own half
  • at least 15 meters closer to the opponent’s goal if the starting and finishing points are in different halves
  • at least 10 meters closer to the opponent’s goal if the starting and finishing points are in the opponent’s half
• Progressive Carry – Carries that move the ball toward the opponent’s goal at least 5 yards or any carry into the penalty area. Excludes carries from the defending 40% of the pitch.
• Dribble – Moving past the opposing player while maintaining possession of the ball. When a player shields the ball or otherwise uses physical strength to maintain possession, this is not a dribble.
• Key Pass – A pass that immediately creates a clear goal scoring opportunity for a teammate. A key pass does not have to lead to a shot, and thus is different than a shot-creating action.
• Long Pass – Definition depends on the site being used. Typically, a pass that travels a distance greater than 30 yards.
• Mistouch – When a player fails when trying to gain control of the ball without a defender earning a tackle or a ground duel.
• Ground Duel – A challenge between two players to gain control of the ball, progress with the ball, or change its direction.
• Dispossessed – The times a player loses control of the ball after a tackle from an opponent, not including attempted dribbles.
• Recovery – Any action that ends the possession of the opponent without the ball going out of bounds. Recoveries are typically duels (44%) or interceptions (16%), but can happen without any specific action from the player doing the recovery (positioning himself correctly or simply collecting the ball).

The post Player Ratings: FC Cincinnati 0, C.F. Monterrey 1 appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

The Orange & Blue were burned by a familiar face in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup matchup against C.F. Monterrey. Brandon Vazquez returned to his Ohio stomping grounds and provided the spark that drove Rayados to a 1-0 victory at TQL Stadium.

Head Coach Pat Noonan played a solid Starting XI for this stage of the Champions Cup. Much of the Saturday lineup against Chicago started, the only replacement being newly-acquired DeAndre Yedlin for Alvas Powell in his first match for the Orange & Blue. Nick Hagglund made his return to the bench after months of injury rehabilitation, but Luca Orellano and Marco Angulo were still excused from the team for personal matters.

Monterrey rotated a few players on their Starting XI, but Vazquez remained in the lineup atop the 4-4-2 formation. His striker partner German Berterame started on the bench, as rumors of the Argentinian’s transfer to Portland Timbers still swirled.

The Rayados lineup needed a bit of a shake-up just minutes into the match. Captain Hector Moreno went down early with a leg injury and had to walk off in the 10th minute.

While Monterrey enjoyed a slight early advantage in possession, FCC had the first good looks at goal. Corey Baird stung goalkeeper Esteban Andrada’s palms with a close shot in the 15th minute. Two minutes later, Baird appeared to have scored his first goal for Cincinnati, only for an offside call to cancel the score.

In the 24th minute, Superman finally came out of his phone booth.

Vazquez took a pass from Maximiliano Meza atop the 18-yard box and fired past a sprawling Matt Miazga. Roman Celentano got a hand on the shot, only for the ball’s momentum to guide it into the net. Monterrey’s vital away goal lasted until halftime for a 1-0 lead.

Despite the deficit, Cincinnati had many more opportunities in the second half, outshooting Monterrey 12-7, but was unable to find the frame. Baird could not poke down a cross from Acosta in the 51st minute, while Aaron Boupendza aimed too far right to find a goal in the 57th minute.

The tide turned with a sudden red card to Monterrey in the 70th minute. Defender Rodrigo Aguirre appeared to shove Baird to the grass during setup for a corner kick, and VAR picked out the violent conduct. Aguirre’s send-off dropped Monterrey to 10 men for over 20 minutes.

As much as that benefitted the Orange & Blue, the rest of the game went dry. Sergio Santos had the biggest remaining chance in the 79th minute, but his close-range shot was deflected out by Andrada.

The Monterrey goalkeeper ended the evening with four saves.

Despite the loss, Noonan felt it still had merit.

“We played a really strong team, and I thought we played really well,” he said. “The obvious was the play in front of goal. We just missed on some really good chances. Credit to their keeper who made some saves, as well. That was the deciding factor in the result. But if we perform like that, I think we’ll be OK.”

Vazquez was humble, but still happy for the performance after the game.

“I feel happy that I was able to score, and it’s a similar feeling that I’ve had (here),” Vazquez said. “I’ve scored a lot of goals on this field, in this stadium. Doing it for another team feels a little weird, but at the end of the day we win, and I’m happy about that. I’ve got a lot of respect for (FC Cincinnati), for the fans here, for this city. It’s all love.”

Monterrey returns home with a 1-0 advantage in the draw. In order to advance to the next round, FC Cincinnati will have to score at least once in a difficult and unfamiliar territory.

The Orange & Blue have another quick turnaround, facing D.C. United on Sunday at TQL Stadium. C.F. Monterrey resumes their Liga MX Clausura season with a match on Sunday vs. Mazatlan. Both teams will meet again next Thursday at Estadio BBVA.

CONCACAF Champions Cup
Match #1, Round of 16 – FC Cincinnati vs. C.F. Monterrey
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Attendance: 21,175
Result: FC Cincinnati 0, C.F. Monterrey 1.

BOX SCORE

FC Cincinnati Starting XI (5-3-2):

Roman Celentano (GK); DeAndre Yedlin (Bret Halsey 88’), Miles Robinson, Matt Miazga, Ian Murphy, Yuya Kubo; Obinna Nwobodo (Gerardo Valenzuela 83’), Luciano Acosta (c), Pavel Bucha; Aaron Boupendza, Corey Baird (Sergio Santos 76’).

Bench: Evan Louro, Alvas Powell, Nick Hagglund, Kipp Keller, Malik Pinto, Quimi Ordoñez, London Aghedo, Isaiah Foster, Stiven Jimenez.

C.F. Monterrey Starting XI (4-4-2):

Esteban Andrada; Jesus Gallardo, Edson Gutierrez, Hector Moreno (c) (Sebastian Vegas 10’), Gerardo Arteaga; Jordi Cortizo (Rodrigo Aguirre 57’), Jorge Rodriguez, Sergio Canales (Luis Romo 72’), Maximiliano Meza; Erick Aguirre (John Medina 72’), Brandon Vazquez (German Berterame 58’).

Bench: Luis Cardenas, Cesar Ramos, Omar Givea, Jesus Corona, Jaziel Martinez, Alfonso Gonzalez, Victor Lopez.

Scoring Summary:
MTY – Brandon Vazquez 24’ (Meza)

Discipline:
YC – Obinna Nwobodo 26’ (CIN, foul)
YC – Corey Baird 45+3’ (CIN, foul)
YC – Jorge Rodriguez 55’ (MTY, foul)
YC – Sebastian Vegas 64’ (MTY, foul)
RC – Rodrigo Aguirre 70’ (MTY, violent conduct)

Next up:
vs. D.C. United, 3 p.m, Sunday, March 10th, TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, OH)

The post Superman Returns: FC Cincinnati falls 1-0 to Monterrey in Vazquez’s homecoming appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

In the initial draw, the club was conveniently placed near CF Monterrey, who advanced over Comunicaciones. Now, they must face each other in the Round of 16.

The two will play in a two-legged match, with the first leg being at home on March 7 and the second being away at Estadio BBVA on March 14.

It is a match on the highest stage in North America and one that will most certainly deliver.

THE OPPOSITION

Rayados, as they are commonly known, were busy in the winter window, signing Jorge Rodriguez, Tony Leone and Gerardo Arteaga. Their biggest signing, however, was Brandon Vazquez, our club-legend striker who departed after four seasons.

Their new additions, combined with the quality they already had, have made them very successful. They’re unbeaten through 10 matches in the Torneo Clausura, and with 22 points, are tied for the top of the table.

Rayados are led by first-year head coach Fernando Ortiz, who employs an offensive, dominating and versatile style of play. That has proved well for him and his side.

In this half of the season, they’ve dominated possession in 83 percent of their games, and have outshot their opponents 66 percent of the time. They’ve used a variety of formations, having played in a 4-4-2, 4-5-1, 4-2-3-1 and 3-5-2.

The dominance in play makes them a tough opponent, but their varied structure is even tougher to face.

THE ORANGE AND BLUE

The Knifey Lions started the season less knifey than usual, but a lot of that can be attributed to the early season and a lack of chemistry with the new starters.

The team got a 6-0 victory over Cavalier in CCC. Then, they played to a 0-0 stalemate against Toronto. On Saturday, they got back to winning ways with a 2-1 result over Chicago, and in that match, the seasonal issues looked fixed. 

That is a positive sign for the continental encounter on Thursday.

Noonan has stuck to the 3-4-1-2 this season, and even with the new additions, has consistently employed the sustainable, balanced style of play that propelled them to the top. 

In this early part of the season, they haven’t conceded any open play goals, have dominated possession in every match but the Chicago one and have outshot their opponents in every match.

Despite the seasonal issues they’ve faced, FCC is more than capable of being a tough opponent for Rayados.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Rayados have been brilliant this season, but the Orange & Blue haven’t yet been at that level. Still, though, a lot of that can be attributed to the early season.

Rayados possesses quality and that is obviously worrying. Their aforementioned style, with dominance of play and varied structure, will be hard for the club to face. It’s unpredictable and chaotic, which is in stark contrast to Noonan-Ball. 

Despite that, the club has found its familiar form and ison an upward trend.

We can expect a very competitive match, with both sides holding nothing back. Rayados will be off to their usual shenanigans and Cincinnati will be trying to maintain that familiar form.

Oh, and we’re going to see Brandon Vazquez’s homecoming, just two months after his move.

When: Thursday, March 7, 7 p.m. ET

Where: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

How to Watch: FS2

The post FCC hosts C.F. Monterrey (and Brandon Vazquez) in the CCC RO16 appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Highlights from this week’s show.

Talking Tactics is back for 2024! Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte talk about the 2024 preseason. What should we be taking from these results and lineups? How are new players integrated into the team? 

The guys also talk about what it is like to watch former players walk out the door, and much more!

Follow Coach

On Twitter @FCCincyTacTalk

On Threads @FCCincyTacTalk

On Instagram @FCCincyTacTalk

Support Talking Tactics and CST!

Want to help the Talking Tactics Podcast grow? Leave a rating and a review! Want to help support Cincinnati Soccer Talk? Become a supporter today!

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 show’s RSS feed is https://fcctactalk.libsyn.com/rss

The post Justin Hoyte Gets No Preseason appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

“Cincinnati holds a special place in my heart,” Vazquez said. “The best years of my career have been here, and I’ll cherish the memories I’ve had here forever. Having Cincinnati fans behind my back for the past four years have pushed me to be able to achieve what I have been able to do. Not only me, but the team, I know every single player feels the exact same way. This city is special, and I love it. Cincinnati, I have been so grateful for your support since day one. I just want to say thank you.”

Vazquez has been with FCC since the team traded for him in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft with Nashville SC. He has made 127 appearances for FCC in that time, only trailing Nick Hagglund for the most in club history.

“We’d like to thank Brandon for all his contributions to FC Cincinnati,” Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati general manager, said. “He was a centerpiece of the team that brought FC Cincinnati its first trophy, and he’ll forever be part of the fabric of this club. He’s an incredibly talented player and an even better person, and we look forward to his future success. We wish Brandon and his family all the best.”

ORIGINAL STORY: FC Cincinnati has reportedly finalized a move to sell forward Brandon Vazquez to CF Monterrey for a fee of up to $8.5 million, as reported by The Athletic’s Tom Bogert.

Vazquez joined FCC prior to the 2020 season in a trade with Nashville SC for $150,000 GAM. After being a rotational sub for his first two years with the club, Vazquez was able to earn a starting spot at the beginning of the 2022 season, where he led the team with 18 goals and eight assists, which included the game-winner in FC Cincinnati’s first MLS Playoff win against the New York Red Bulls.

This run of form allowed him to earn a call-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team, where he got his first Senior Cap in January 2023 and scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over the Serbian National Team. 

Since earning his first call-up, Vazquez has been called up to the USMNT several times, including for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup and has earned eight caps and scored four goals.

While his scoring output dropped in the 2023 MLS regular season (eight goals and four assists) he showed up in the matches that counted, including goals in each of the US Open Cup and MLS Cup Playoff semifinals and a Hat Trick against Chivas Guadalajara in the Leagues Cup.

All told, Vazquez scored 39 goals with 17 assists in all competitions for FCC

The post Brandon Vazquez completes move to CF Monterrey appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Highlights from this week’s show.

This week, Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte end 2023 on a high note. They give out end-of-season awards and answer listener questions like whether or not Pat Noonan will change formations for 2024.

The guys also play buy-or-sell, talk about which of Justin’s former professional friends will join the podcast, and much more!

Follow Coach

On Twitter @FCCincyTacTalk

On Threads @FCCincyTacTalk

On Instagram @FCCincyTacTalk

Support Talking Tactics and CST!

Want to help the Talking Tactics Podcast grow? Leave a rating and a review! Want to help support Cincinnati Soccer Talk? Become a supporter today!

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 show’s RSS feed is https://fcctactalk.libsyn.com/rss

The post 2023 Season Awards and Much More appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Let’s look at where your favorite FCC players ranked for this match. And, as a bonus, I decided to add a note on each player looking toward next season.

Check out Cincinnati Soccer Talk’s post-match report HERE for more details.

RULES:

• Each player starts off with a six as a standard rating. Six signifies an “average performance” for the match.
• Players will receive additions or subtractions to their score based on individual moments and the overall team performance.
• We’ll look at multiple criteria and statistics from websites like FB Ref, Who Scored and FOTMOB.
• All statistics used will be taken from fbref.com when possible.
• A player may receive a N/A if they are subbed on/off before any quantifiable statistics are available.

Expected Goals (xG): FC Cincinnati – 1, Columbus Crew – 2.7, per mlssoccer.com

Formation: 3-5-2

Now, onto the ratings:

Manager – Pat Noonan – 6

I really don’t want to pick on Pat Noonan here. His Coach of the Year honor was well-deserved, and he has this team well ahead of schedule in their development. Furthermore, his hands were tied by injuries and a suspension in this match, yet he nearly guided his team to a win. However, I have to do the ratings, and as such I would be remiss if I didn’t mention where I thought the gaffer could have done better. To start, he set his team up to get numbers behind the ball, frustrate the Crew and go forward when possible. This worked to good effect in the first half, even if FCC was a bit fortunate to be up by two heading into the break.

Then, in the second half, it looked like he may have over-emphasized the need to slow down and keep the ball to players like Brandon Vazquez, who cut the ball back with the chance for a 3v3 runout in the 60th minute. His team continued to give the ball away cheaply at times, and at others pull back and try to keep it even when it looked like they might have an advantage to go forward. Then, in my opinion, he was quick to pull players like Santiago Arias, removing him in the 65th minute though he had just burst forward to intercept a pass on the press moments before. He took off Aaron Boupendza in the 73rd minute even though the Gabonese looked the most likely FCC player to score. Even if this was the right play, it might have suited him better to add a player to the midfield rather than using Dom Badji as a like-for-like replacement. 

This loss was not Noonan’s fault. Could he have made a few different choices? Certainly. Would those choices have guaranteed, or even made a win more likely? Perhaps not. However, I think he’d be the first to admit that he’d have done things a bit differently if he had the chance. Two semi-final losses this season will have been a very good experience for a relatively new manager.

GK – Roman Celentano – 7

Roman Celentano didn’t have a poor match, but he also wasn’t a game-changer like his opposite number. When he was called into action, he mostly did what was expected. He did well to push a Cucho Hernandez shot well out of the box in the 37th minute when it was struck with real pace and could have caused some problems. He was also quickly off his line to gather a Cucho through ball before Alexandru Matan could run onto it in the 60th minute, and again to rob Christian Ramirez of a chance in the 75th. Roman was also more than adequate when asked to take part in possession. A lot has been made of his inability to accurately hit long balls. In the 58th minute, he failed to clear the edge of the box with a simple Arias back pass, gifting the ball back to Columbus in the attacking third. In stoppage time at the end of the match, he put a goal kick directly out of bounds. However, in all, he completed 14 of 24 long passes, which is well above league average for goalkeepers.

Celentano’s one big blemish in this match came on Columbus’s opening goal. When Julian Gressel crossed toward Ramirez, Roman threw himself toward the ball but got nowhere near it. This added to the confusion as the ball found its way through and struck Powell, while also leaving no doubt as to whether or not Powell’s touch would wind up in the back of the net. For the Crew’s other two strikes, there really isn’t anything the young shot-stopper could have done.

Roman continues to impress in moments, but doesn’t make enough “big-time” saves to be considered among the league’s elite shot-stoppers. However, he’s done nothing but improve so far, and I don’t expect that to stop next season.

RWB –  Santiago Arias – 7

Santi Arias looked up for this match and was a constant nuisance down the right side until he was removed in the second half. He passed at a 76 percent rate, had four progressive passes, and created a shot. However, he continued to show an inexplicable lack of quality in possession in this match, as he had all year. None of his three crosses found a target. Particularly, he wasted a gorgeous pass from Acosta down the line in the sixth minute of the match, having his cross blocked before hitting the ball out for a goal kick. It’s plays like these that leave me scratching my head and wondering what could have been.

However, defensively he was quite good all season, and this match was no different. He read a free-kick routine from the Crew like a book in the 42nd minute, clearing the danger easily and making the visitors look silly. He ended the match with three tackles, a block and three interceptions while also winning three of his five ground duels. While I don’t think he ever hit “former Athletico Madrid” defender form for the Orange and Blue this season, he has been more than serviceable as a right wingback in MLS. Going forward, if FCC brings him back and can provide a bit more balance to the attack down the right, he can be a key part of another championship-level team.

RCB – Alvas Powell – 6

Had the match ended at the 75th-minute mark, I would have said that Powell had a very good game. Though he got beat by Cucho in the 17th minute, allowing the Columbian to come inside and find Diego Rossi, who eventually cut it back to Cucho for an open shot, he kept his wits about him enough to block that shot off the line when it looked destined for the far corner of the goal. He ended the match with two tackles, four blocks,and an interception, and looked like a capable starter for the most part. Offensively, it looked like he may have created the game-winning goal when he strode forward and forced Schulte into a diving save in the 69th minute, the rebound of which was bundled over the line by Aaron Boupendza before it was called back for handling. 

However, soccer is played for 90 minutes… and this match was 120 minutes long. Though I don’t fault Powell for having the ball strike him and end up in the back of the net for the Crew’s first goal, he did lose Ramirez in the run-up. It almost looked like he was expecting the striker to be offside, even though he was well behind the ball. This left him chasing when the ball was struck allowing for the misfortune that credited him with an own goal. He also failed to track Ramirez on his delayed run to the top of the box leading to the Crew’s 85th-minute goal, then tried to close late, meaning he was too far away from the striker to affect his layoff but too close to prevent Diego Rossi from getting the next touch. He lost Cucho on a corner kick in the 101st minute, resulting in a diving header that nearly led to Amundsen bundling the ball into the back of the net. Then, in the 109th minute, he drifted under the ball allowing Ramirez to attempt an acrobatic volley that Celentano was able to keep out.

Powell is not a center-back. He has proven that he can play there in a pinch to good effect. However, the Eastern Conference Final against the best offensive team in the league looked like a bridge too far. I think Powell’s days as an MLS starter are over, but as a backup outside defender and emergency center back, he will be a key depth piece for this team in 2024.

CB – Yerson Mosquera – 7.5

I slagged a bit on Yerson Mosquera last match, even failing to acknowledge his game-winning goal in this column. I thought he was really good against the Crew on Saturday. He had three tackles and seven recoveries while winning both of his aerial duels. However, where I really thought he excelled was in his reading of the game. Against the Union, I thought he was too aggressive, and went looking to win challenges in midfield when he should have stayed home. Against the Crew, he was patient, took up good positions and looked to read where the play was headed (see image below). This played out with him leading the team with five blocks.

However, the youngster wasn’t Matt Miazga, and it showed. Particularly, he lost five of his nine ground duels. Finally, I thought he got caught in no-man’s land, unable to defend the cross that resulted in Powell’s own goal.  Mosquera has shown an ability to learn, adapt and grow in his short time in the United States. I think it would behoove him to continue to put in some time in MLS, learning the language and fine-tuning his game before returning to England, but I’m not sure his parent club (Wolves) would agree.

LCB – Ian Murphy – 8

I thought Ian Murphy was awesome in this match, putting a nice cherry on top of an inconsistent season of a sundae. His defensive angles were on all night, allowing him to easily defend several Crew crosses at the near post. He ended the match with four blocks and an interception. He also showed what an asset his closing speed could be on several occasions, tracking runners and intervening when they looked in on goal. In the first half, he made an excellent recovery run to block Cucho’s shot when he was in on goal in the right channel. He did so again in the 59th minute to stop an early Yaw Yeboah cross from finding Alexandru Matan in on goal.

I will also continue to bang the drum for Ian Murphy being the best passing central defender on this team. In this match, he had four progressive passes and led his compatriots with four passes into the final third. Other than a few errant passes late in the game when his targets were tiring, he didn’t put much of a foot wrong on the ball.

For Ian Murphy, the question remains whether he can become a full-time starter next season. If he plays like he did in the Eastern Conference Final, I have few doubts that he can. However, he needs to play this well more consistently.

LWB – Álvaro Barreal – 6.5

Álvaro Barreal had a roller coaster of a match, following brilliant moments with moments of real struggles. He led the team with five tackles but also got dribbled four times. He had two key passes and nine passes into the final third, but also only connected with only one of his four crosses. He had an outstanding opening 20 minutes but faltered and cramped up in the final 20 minutes of the match.

Early on, it was Barreal’s quick pressure that forced Mo Farsi into his mistake for FCC’s opening goal. He also made a key tackle on Matan in the center of the field then recovered and blocked a shot from the corner of the box on the same play in the 20th minute. Offensively, he cut onto his right in the 17th minute, forcing Patrick Schulte into a diving save. He had a poor turnover in the 23rd minute trying to play a one-touch long ball with his right foot when FCC had easy possession. Later, he got cooked by Farsi in the 29th minute, then made a dangerous challenge that drew shouts for a penalty. Then, in the 41st minute, he fell for the same move and brought the wingback down at the edge of the box for a dangerous free kick. However, it was also his lovely cut inside and outside-of-the-foot pass through to Vazquez that generated the set-piece that led to FCC’s second goal, on which he earned an assist.

Álvaro Barreal proved that he can be a top-notch chance-creator from the wingback position in MLS. However, his defensive frailties were badly exposed once Ian Murphy began starting full-time on his side. I think he’s good enough defensively to be a best-XI MLS defender so long as the defense behind him is solid enough to cover up for his occasional lunges at the ball or failure to track back. I think a European team that sees the chance to develop him might take the chance on buying him, but I struggle to see him making any real contributions in a top-five league next season.

DCM – Junior Moreno – 8 (Man-of-the-Match)

Nobody has been harder on Junior Moreno than me. At times this season, it has seemed like he couldn’t keep up with the game. However, in this match, without Obi and against the most potent offense in MLS, he was fantastic. Defensively, his one tackle and three blocks were solid, if unspectacular. However, he also led the team with five interceptions and contributed six ball recoveries. He seemed to cover ground tirelessly and was in a position to limit Crew attacks in wide areas on numerous occasions.

Offensively, he was his typical self. He rarely lost the ball, leading all starters by passing at a 90.2 percent rate. However, often this means he is passing backward and sideways, but in this match, he added five progressive passes and four passes into the final third.

My knock on Junior Moreno continues to be the fact that he is always solid, but rarely changes the game. I think he can be a solid rotation piece, coming in to lock down games defensively or help keep the ball and see matches out. That’s why he was an integral part of a Supporters’ Shield-winning season that saw FCC go 15-2-9 in games decided by one goal or fewer. However, I don’t think Moreno should be a full-time starter for a team that has its sights set on winning silverware in a knockout competition.

DCM – Yuya Kubo – 7.5

The play that epitomizes Yuya Kubo for me happened in the 38th minute, when he chased Cucho down from behind, dispossessed him then played a perfect long ball to release Brandon Vazquez down the right side. His defensive mobility and ability on the ball could make him a fantastic MLS midfielder. However, he is simply too inconsistent during matches, floating in and out of them and going long periods without making an impact.

Yuya Kubo had three shot-creating actions and completed 81 percent of his passes. However, his 37 touches were the least of any starter other than Aaron Boupendza, who played 14 fewer minutes. He also managed just two progressive passes. Yuya also led the team with seven tackles and won nine of his 15 ground duels. However, he wasn’t able to get a block or an interception, indicating that he was probably chasing the game a bit.

Overall, I thought Kubo had some impressive matches this season. I continue to wonder what he could do if he were allowed to play alongside Obi game in and game out. I’m not sure he has best XI midfielder in his future, but I think he could be top 10 at his position if he was given the time and trust. I’m in favor of bringing him back next season and giving him a bigger role.

CAM – Luciano Acosta – 7

The MLS MVP finished this match with a goal, while also leading his team with 0.4 xA. He created three shots and led the team with seven progressive passes. His set-piece goal might have been a bit fortunate, but he found the space to curl his shot through traffic and on target. In the first half, in particular, he played several nice through balls that could have led to chances if his teammates were a bit sharper on the night.

However, I’m not sure if it was because of his tiring legs, or maybe he was still carrying a knock, but he was dreadful down the stretch when FCC really needed him to step up. In the 61st minute, he turned the ball over, trying to dribble through three Crew defenders. In the 66th minute, he took a free kick in the middle of the field and tried to fit it into Vazquez, turning the ball over when his team was still up 2-0 and could have continued to kill the game off. He again turned the ball over on the dribble in the 72nd minute before hacking down Darlington Nagbe and earning a yellow card. Then, he lost the ball again, deep in the corner in the 82nd minute, with his team clinging to a slender one-goal lead. Lastly, in the 114th minute, playing on one leg, he tried to flick a ball up and backheel it up the touchline in his defensive third, turning the ball over and leading to the possession from which the Crew scored their game-winner. In the end, he led the team with 11 combined mistouches (seven) and dispossessions (four). He also led the team with duels lost (17) and had the worst duel percentage by far of any starter for either team (19 percent).

With Lucho Acosta, you take the good with the bad. Any player who creates by carving up defenders on the dribble is going to turn the ball over a lot. My question for 2024 is, if Lucho plays 500 fewer minutes will he be more consistent down the stretch, or will his influence diminish? His 2,605 league minutes is not an eye-popping number, but the way he wore down late in the season and failed to impress in the playoffs has me concerned.

ST – Aaron Boupendza – 5.5

Aarong Boupendza continues to be the best and worst player on the pitch. He has moments of brilliance, like in the 51st minute when he did well to cut onto his left foot inside the box, beating Malte Amundsen, and hitting a shot that drew an excellent save out of Patrick Schulte. The quickness with which he found Brandon Vazquez after Farsi’s turnover was key to the American’s opening goal. He also had several nice turns under pressure in transition, adding to the threat that FC Cincinnati can pose going forward. He contributed the most xG of any player by far at 0.7 and was successful with three of his four take-ons.

However, it is the moments of sheer audacity when it is warranted, and his utter lack of concentration in simple moments throughout the game that will continue to define him until he gets it straightened out. He tried an ill-advised 52-yard shot in transition in the 24th minute, during a moment of the match where FCC needed a spell of possession. After one of his gorgeous turns in transition in the 29th minute, he left Rudy Camacho in his dust only to under-hit the through pass to Acosta to give it right back to Columbus. In all, he had five mistouches and passed at the lowest rate of any player to play in the match for either team, at 58.8 percent. Finally, and most damningly, he had no fewer than three opportunities to put the game to rest by scoring a third goal, not even counting the excellent Schulte save mentioned above.  First, he skied a shot over the bar from the top of the box in the 59th minute after a promising transition started by Yuya Kubo. Then, he strayed needlessly offside in the 67th minute when Vazquez nutmegged Camacho sending him in on goal. Finally, even though he did well to react first to a rebound on an Alvas Powell shot in the 69th minute, he couldn’t finish his first strike and the rebound off of Schulte struck his arm before ending up in the back of the net.

Considering how hard it is for players to succeed in MLS right away, I consider his five goals in just over 600 minutes to be an excellent return. If you remember how frustrating it was to see Lucho try to play hero ball all the time his first season, I trust Pat Noonan to get through to Boupendza and get him playing within the game model. I am nothing but optimistic about the Gabonese’s future with the Orange and Blue, even though I am supremely frustrated by his performance in this match.

ST – Brandon Vazquez – 6

Discussion of Brandon Vazquez’s performance has to start with him putting the home side ahead in the 14th minute. Despite not having the cleanest of touches on Boupendza’s cross, he was able to stay with the ball and finish to the back post out of sheer determination. He also had some other nice offensive moments, including a great run in the second minute of first-half stoppage that forced Moreira to foul him and created the set-piece that allowed Lucho to score FCC’s second. His match could have looked very different but for two mistakes from his teammates. He could have gotten an assist on FCC’s game-sealing goal had Boupendza not strayed offside in the 67th minute. Finally, his excellent headed finish in the 79th minute could have restored FCC’s two-goal lead but for Sean Zawadski baiting Mosquera into pushing him before flinging himself wildly to the ground.

However, those chances didn’t come to count on the scoresheet, and the big American also had a few rough spells in this match. He wasn’t the cleanest passer, including when he missed Lucho with a return pass in transition in the 28th minute when the Captain was busting a gut to get forward and create a chance. He had five mistouches and was dispossessed five times. Finally, even though he led FCC with 11 duels won, he also was near the top in duels lost with 11.

Brandon Vazquez has made no bones about the fact that he hopes to not be back in the Orange and Blue again. It’s not that he doesn’t love FCC, but that he hopes to get a European move this winter. I think he has the size and speed to make some European teams salivate at his prospects. His touch and passing have greatly improved over the last few seasons, and at 25 years of age, there is hope that he can continue to make strides. I don’t think he has “starter on a Champion’s League team” in his future, but he could certainly make a solid go of being a key player for a mid to low-tier team in a top-five league.

SUBS

Ray Gaddis (65th minute) – 6

Ray Gaddis did what Ray Gaddis does for 56 minutes in this match. He didn’t make a tackle but was well-positioned and defensively sound enough to log three blocks and an interception without getting dribbled. He also took care of the ball, passing at a 78.3 percent rate while not having a mistouch or a dispossession. However, he also didn’t add any value to the attack, failing to log a progressive pass and having his lone cross blocked by the first defender.

You could do much worse than Ray Gaddis as a backup defender in MLS. However, his limited upside means he has to be used only in matches where other players will carry the offensive load or where FCC is already holding a lead. Because he is, by all accounts, a great locker room guy, I think Ray will be around for another season unless he chooses to hang up his cleats.

Dominique Badji (73rd minute) – 6

Dom Badji had an excellent appearance as a substitute but for one missed chance. His poor first touch on a give-and-go in the 106th minute squandered any chance of him getting a shot off when he looked in on goal (see image below). Outside of that, he completed all but one pass, battled for 50/50 balls and worked hard defensively. The problem with Badji continues to be that he just isn’t much of a value-add off the bench outside of his incredible work rate. 

Badji won only three of his seven duels (2/5 ground and 1/2 aerial). Despite him basically playing as a midfielder for 40+ minutes due to Lucho’s cramping, he failed to log a tackle. Finally, he was not able to log a shot or a shot-creating action.

Dom Badji is a good kind of player to have around a team. He works tirelessly, has good athleticism and, by all accounts, is a good teammate. However, he doesn’t add enough when he comes onto the field to be a game-changing sub. Similar to Gaddis, Badji needs to only be played in certain matches, which makes him a tough player to keep on this roster.

Obinna Nwobodo (85th minute) – 6

Obinna Nwobodo’s low score is not his fault. He looked like a driver trying to win a race with a flat tire. I have to believe that Noonan put him into the match expecting his team to be able to close the door on the Crew in regulation. Despite Obi’s clear injury limitation, he still managed to log a tackle and an interception. He passed at a capable 80 percent rate and added four ball recoveries. He wasn’t able to help the team by progressing the ball, but overall it looked like he played as well as we could expect.

I don’t need to say anything about Obi’s prospects for next season. He is inarguably one of FC Cincinnati’s most important players. The question that I have is, can he turn his excellent ball-winning and defensive play into more chances going forward? If he can develop the ability to dribble forward and create or hit dangerous passes in transition after winning the ball, he has the ability to be one of the few defensive midfielders in the conversation for league MVP.

Sergio Santos and Marco Angulo (106th minute) – N/A

I’m not grading Sergio Santos and Marco Angulo on their overall play. Instead, these substitutes receive an “N/A” for not making any kind of impact despite being substitutes in an overtime period when the rest of their team was severely gassed. The players had a combined 11 touches. Even though Angulo completed all five of his passes, neither of these players recorded a progressive action or a progressive reception. Both players looked to me like they were running around aimlessly like fans who won the chance to take the field for their teams in some kind of charity game.

Both of these players will be back on the roster in 2024 unless FCC finds a way to sell, trade, or buy one of them out. Angulo is young, new to America and highly-rated. I am hopeful that, with a full off-season of coaching and integration he will be able to contribute more next season.

I struggle to find a scenario in which Santos plays meaningful minutes in the Orange and Blue. He has speed and athleticism, but his injury record means that he never has time to shake off his rust or round into any sort of form.

Availability Notes: Matt Miazga (suspension); Nick Hagglund (injury)

DEFINITIONS:

• xG – Expected goals (or xG) measures the quality of a chance by calculating the likelihood that it will be scored from a particular position on the pitch during a particular phase of play
• xA – Expected assist (or xA) is directly related to the xG of a shot that the pass creates.
• Post-Shot xG (PSxG) – Post-Shot xG is calculated after the shot has been taken, once it is known that the shot is on-target, taking into account the quality of the shot.
• Progressive Pass – A pass that advances toward the opponent’s goal where the distance between the starting point and the next touch is:
  • at least 30 meters closer to the opponent’s goal if the starting and finishing points are within a team’s own half
  • at least 15 meters closer to the opponent’s goal if the starting and finishing points are in different halves
  • at least 10 meters closer to the opponent’s goal if the starting and finishing points are in the opponent’s half
• Progressive Carry – Carries that move the ball toward the opponent’s goal at least 5 yards or any carry into the penalty area. Excludes carries from the defending 40% of the pitch.
• Dribble – Moving past the opposing player while maintaining possession of the ball. When a player shields the ball or otherwise uses physical strength to maintain possession, this is not a dribble.
• Key Pass – A pass that immediately creates a clear goal scoring opportunity for a teammate. A key pass does not have to lead to a shot, and thus is different than a shot-creating action.
• Long Pass – Definition depends on the site being used. Typically, a pass that travels a distance greater than 30 yards.
• Mistouch – When a player fails when trying to gain control of the ball without a defender earning a tackle or a ground duel.
• Ground Duel – A challenge between two players to gain control of the ball, progress with the ball, or change its direction.
• Dispossessed – The times a player loses control of the ball after a tackle from an opponent, not including attempted dribbles.
• Recovery – Any action that ends the possession of the opponent without the ball going out of bounds. Recoveries are typically duels (44%) or interceptions (16%), but can happen without any specific action from the player doing the recovery (positioning himself correctly or simply collecting the ball).

The post Player Ratings: FC Cincinnati 2, Columbus Crew 3 appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Highlights from this week’s show.

This week, Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte talk about FC Cincinnati’s heartbreaking defeat in the Eastern Conference Final. Did a lack of depth kill the team? What changes did Pat Noonan get wrong that could have made the difference?

The guys also ask whether or not Matt Miazga will draw the ire of referees in 2024, what can be learned from a match like that, and much more!

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The post It’s the Hope that Kills You appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

In this case, it ended in heartbreak that may take some time to heal.

FC Cincinnati leaped out to an early 2-0 lead by halftime, only for Columbus Crew SC to flip “the most dangerous lead in football” on its head. A Christian Ramirez goal took down the Supporters’ Shield holders in extra time and the 3-2 victory will send Columbus to the MLS Cup finals.

The Orange & Blue came into the match after a hard-earned 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union in the conference semifinals, while the Crew upended Orlando City SC 2-0 in extra time. Both teams came in with a victory over the other this season and both knew a win over their in-state rivals would keep the MLS Cup Finals in Ohio.

FC Cincinnati played a lineup similar to the win over Philadelphia. Center back Matt Miazga served the first of this additional three-match suspension, forcing Alvas Powell into the back line again. Santiago Arias replaced Ray Gaddis in the right-back position. Obinna Nwobodo started on the bench in this game after completely missing the Philadelphia match.

Columbus came into the match with no changes to the Starting XI. Midseason transfer pick-up Julian Gressel started on the bench, but would later factor into the match.

Much of the initial play resembled the pattern from the first two seasonal matchups. Columbus possessed the ball at a 70/30 click, while Cincinnati opted to strike on the counter.

Scoring in the first half of the match may have felt familiar. In the 14th minute, Columbus midfielder Mo Farsi lost possession from a pressure by Aaron Boupendza. The Gabonese striker pounded a pass into the box for Brandon Vazquez, who threaded a left-footed shot past Patrick Schulte. Vazquez’s first goal of the playoffs made it 1-0.

While Columbus maintained possession in the first half, shots were controlled. The biggest threat came from a Cucho Hernandez one-timer in the 36th minute, only for Roman Celentano to punch the shot away. Celentano finished with five saves over the evening.

It also needs to be said how many times Alvas Powell saved FCC in the first half. That was headlined by a goal-line clearance in the early stages of the first half, as Celentano saved a shot and the ensuing scramble led to a shot that was sure to go in, except Powell saved it off the line with a header.

In the dying embers of the first half, FCC was gifted a free kick in the 45th minute with a foul on a streaking Vazquez. Alvaro Barreal slipped the first touch to Luciano Acosta, who laced a shot past all defenders and into the back of the net.

Acosta’s second goal of the playoffs made it 2-0 at the halftime whistle.

While Columbus was down early, they held much of the possession (66/34) and shot opportunities (11/5) in the first half.

FCC had its opportunities to ice things in the second half, but was unable to pad the lead. Its best opportunity came in the 52nd minute when Boupendza fired a shot to Schulte’s right, but the Columbus goalkeeper got a finger on it for a corner kick.

Boupendza would have more opportunities in the next twenty minutes, only for one goal to be called off for a handball and another to be called off for offside.

The Crew’s fortunes changed when head coach Wilfried Nancy opted to play Gressel for the first time in three matches. In the 75th minute, Gressel possessed on the right side and crossed to Christian Ramirez in the box. Celentano and Powell were both unable to handle the deflected shot, leading to an own goal by Powell, trimming the lead to 2-1.

The lead finally dissolved in the 86th minute. Diego Rossi and Ramirez fed Cucho in the box, only for the deflections to pop back to Rossi. His second goal of the playoffs tied the match at 2-2, going into added extra time.

The tide finally turned late in the second half of extra time. Substitute Kevin Molino sent a cross to Cucho in the box in the 115th minute. The Colombian striker popped a header to Ramirez in front of the net to bury the goal and FCC’s shot at the MLS Cup.

The final five minutes played out with FC Cincinnati unable to find a final shot. The Orange & Blue finish the season a step short of the MLS Cup final, while Columbus returns to the final for the fourth time in team existence and the first time since winning the MLS Cup in 2020.

The team was visibly crushed at the final whistle, but head coach Pat Noonan spoke glowingly of the season in general.

“Blame none of those players,” Noonan said. “They gave everything, and I’m proud of them for that. I’m disappointed for them, for everything they put into this season, to be able to position ourselves to play in the Cup final, and certainly with the score line. I’ll take a look at myself first and see how I learned from this and how we can get this right in the future.”

Noonan felt this team still has a winning mentality for the future.

“I don’t think a whole lot needs to change. We’ve shown improvements and progress in this particular year that were better than 2022,” he said. “I think the group—and hopefully a large majority are returning, and I think they will—understands now what it looks like to win and to expect to win and have the pressure to win, which is a good thing. It’s never easy to have consistency to do that in this league, but I think we have the group to do that.”

Acosta’s words were just as measured and hopeful.

“I’ll remember everything that we fought for this season,” Acosta said afterwards through a translator. “We were out there fighting. Every minute, up until the last minute, this team was out there fighting. The way they represented this team, this fanbase, we’re very proud.”

While Columbus hosts the MLS Cup against LAFC on December 9th, FC Cincinnati now decompresses for the next season. The team will participate in the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2024, but roster decisions and transfers will need to be considered in the months leading up to the international tournament.

MLS Cup Eastern Conference Finals – FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew SC
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Attendance: 25,513
Result: Columbus Crew SC 3, FC Cincinnati 2.

BOX SCORE

FC Cincinnati Starting XI (5-3-2):

Roman Celentano (GK); Santiago Arias (Ray Gaddis 65’), Alvas Powell, Yerson Mosquera, Ian Murphy, Alvaro Barreal; Yuya Kubo (Obinna Nwobodo 85’), Luciano Acosta (c), Junior Moreno (Marco Angulo 106’); Brandon Vazquez (Sergio Santos 106’), Aaron Boupendza (Dom Badji 73’).

Bench: Alec Kann, Malik Pinto, Bret Halsey, Gerardo Valenzuela.

Columbus Crew SC Starting XI (3-4-2-1):

Patrick Schulte (GK); Steven Moreira, Rudy Camacho (Yevgen Cheberko 91’), Malte Amundsen; Mohammed Farsi (Julian Gressel 65’), Darlington Nagbe (c), Aidan Morris (Christian Ramirez 65’), Yaw Yeboah (Sean Zawadzki 76’); Alexandru Matan (Kevin Molino 111’), Diego Rossi; Cucho Hernandez.

Bench: Evan Bush, Jacen Russell-Rowe, Max Arftsen, Jimmy Medranda.

Scoring Summary:

CIN – Brandon Vazques 14’ (Boupendza)
CIN – Luciano Acosta 45+3’ (Barreal)
CLB – Alvas Powell 75’ (own goal)
CLB – Diego Rossi 86’ (unassisted)
CLB – Christian Ramirez 115’ (Hernandez)

Discipline:
YC – Steven Moreira 45+2’ (CLB, foul)
YC – Luciano Acosta 73’ (CIN, foul)
YC – Dom Badji 82’ (CIN, foul)
YC – Brandon Vazquez 99’ (CIN, foul)
YC – Yerson Mosquera 111’ (CIN, foul)
YC – Julian Gressel 120+1’ (CLB, foul)

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