Traveling to the world-famous Estadio BBVA is typically a bucket list trip for any soccer enthusiast. But this trip for FC Cincinnati is probably one they would like to forget. The Orange and Blue fell to their CONCACAF Champions Cup foe C.F. Monterrey 2-1 Thursday night and 3-1 on aggregate.
The storyline coming into the night was the noticeable absence of DP midfielder Obinna Nwobodo due to a contusion suffered in the weekend match versus D.C. United. Nwobodo is the do-it-all all defensive-minded midfielder who often puts out fires before they begin for FCC. Facing a goal deficit, FCC needed to be offensive-minded. Veteran Yuya Kubo is a great asset to have in Nwobodo’s place.
The match started off with a nervy moment by Brandon Vazquez, who scored the lone goal in the first leg, got free and just missed wide on a header in the eighth minute. FCC had a spout of chances capped off by a great look from Corey Baird. Baird’s 12th-minute header went just wide of frame, however. Luciano Acosta had another great look from just outside of the box but the knuckler was saved by a diving Esteban Andrada at the far post.
The breakthrough came in the 41st minute when a high press by Kubo failed to win possession and saw a heavy overload on the right side of the pitch by Monterrey. The ball eventually found its way into a congested box and the feet of Luis Romo who backheeled it past Miles Robinson and Roman Celentano. FCC went into the half down 1-0, 2-0 on aggregate.
FCC came out right away on the attack with an Acosta run into the box that found him slipping in and striking a low shot into the net in the 47th minute. Game on from FCC as the team tied up the second leg.
Still needing a goal to take the advantage on aggregate, FCC’s high line cost them dearly in the 67th minute. A run behind the FCC defense by Romo saw a two-on-two break. With no choice but to collapse on the ball, Romo found Vazquez wide open in front of the net for an easy tap-in goal for the 3-1 advantage on aggregate.
Aaron Boupendza nearly had the goal of the year when Acosta found him on a cross in the 76th minute. Boupendza chested the ball, setting up a beautiful bicycle kick that just dinged off the near post. That was the last great opportunity for FCC. A mixture of 80th-minute subs and heavy possession by Monterrey saw out the match.
FC Cincinnati’s inaugural appearance in the Concacaf Champions Cup ended in the Round of 16. The Orange and Blue were a bit unfortunate to have run into the top team in the tournament so early, but they have no doubt gained value in the short run.
Goals:
CF Monterrey: Romo 41′, Vazquez 67′
FC Cincinnati: Acosta 47′
Lineups:
CIN: Roman Celentano, Luca Orellano (Malik Pinto 79’), Ian Murphy (Kipp Keller 79’), Matt Miazga, Miles Robinson, DeAndre Yedlin (Alvas Powell 85’), Pavel Bucha, Yuya Kubo, Luciano Acosta (C), Corey Baird (Sergio Santos 66’), Aaron Boupendza (Gerardo Valenzuela 85’)
Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Evan Louro, Arquimides Ordoñez, Nick Hagglund, Bret Halsey, Isaiah Foster, London Aghedo, Stiven Jimenez
MTY: Esteban Andrada, Stefan Medina, Victor Guzman (Edson Gutierrez 82’), Hector Moreno (C), Gerardo Arteaga, Jorge Rodriguez, Luis Romo, Jesus Gallardo (Jordi Cortizo 79’), Sergio Canales, Maximiliano Meza (Jesus Corona 83’), Brandon Vazquez (German Berterame 83’)
Substitutes not used: Luis Cardenas, Cesar Ramos, Sebastian Vegas, Omar Govea, Jaziel Martinez, Erick Aguirre, Alfonso Gonzalez
Next Match:
MLS Regular Season: at New England Revolution – Sunday, March 17th – 2 p.m. EST – AppleTV+
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