FC Cincinnati started the 2025 season with a solid defensive effort against New York Red Bulls, winning 1-0 in their home opener. After experiencing some first-half rust against New York, FCC shook off the cobwebs and capitalized on Kevin Denkey’s first MLS goal to start the season right.
“Happy that the guys could find a goal and see the game out, but in a lot of ways what you expect,” head coach Pat Noonan mentioned afterwards. “New York made it very difficult on us and the ability to move the ball quickly was challenged tonight for both teams with just the dry surface, which is unfortunate just because of the temperatures, not be able to wet the field. But that’s part of it. You have to deal with the elements, and I thought the guys adjusted in a good way.”
The Orange & Blue (1-0-0, 3 pts.) entered the main MLS season after a 4-1 win on the road against FC Motagua in Honduras that started their CONCACAF Champions Cup quest. In that game, Pavel Bucha’s brace pushed FCC to victory, while debutantes Evander and Denkey scored their first official goals for Cincinnati.
FCC came into the coldest match ever at TQL Stadium with a surprising list of injuries. Matt Miazga (leg), Nick Hagglund (ankle), and Alec Kann (hip) are still working towards full health after their season-ending injuries from last year. Meanwhile, Luca Orellano, Sergio Santos, and Dado Valenzuela were all shelved due to leg issues.
Despite their loss to the LA Galaxy in the 2024 MLS Cup final, the Red Bulls (0-0-1, 0 pts.) came into their debut match without any CCC participation. However, New York also had their laundry list of injury concerns. New U22 transfer Wictor Bogacz sat with a back issue, while multiple bench players were rested due to knee injuries.
First Half
Cincinnati dictated much of the possession in the first 20 minutes, while New York opted to wait for chances. The Orange & Blue’s first legitimate chance came in the 16th minute when Denkey’s shot atop the box clanked off the post, only for the offside flag to fly.
As play slowed during the next 20 minutes, the Red Bulls had their own chances clang off the woodwork. During a scrum in the Cincinnati box, forward Lewis Morgan attempted a shot while on his side in the 41st minute, only for the FCC defense to clog the goal. Emil Forsberg’s follow-up hit off the top of the goal, but play was flagged due to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting playing in an offside position.
The first half ended with Cincinnati’s best chance in extra time. Evander and DeAndre Yedlin played a give-and-go in the box, only for the final shot from Pavel Bucha to be blocked. The whistle at halftime kept the score blank.
Possession was primarily split between both teams, but New York enjoyed more of the attack with six shots to Cincinnati’s one. Neither team had an effort on goal that counted.
Second Half
The firm halftime reset gave the Orange & Blue solid opportunities. Both Yuya Kubo and DeAndre Yedlin had opportunities on the same pass from Lukas Engel in the 56th minute, only to be a step behind in their sliding efforts.
The deciding goal came from distance in the 70th minute. Yedlin played a long pass from midfield to the New York box, allowing Denkey to beat his defender. The new Togolese striker played the high bounce and popped a header past goalkeeper Carlos Coronel for the game’s first and only goal.
“It was that time and space, and we locked eyes,” Yedlin said about the goal after the match. “[Denkey] is obviously quick and good at getting behind. We took that opportunity, especially on the dry field, and it makes it tough on the defense. Fortunately, it was a goal, and we got the win.”
Noonan admitted he missed the lead-up to the goal but spoke well on Denkey’s play. “You can see there are moments where, even when [Kevin’s] up against a physical center back or he has a midfielder closing in on him or he’s getting doubled, he has great footwork to get out of that pressure. That’s the difference of a transition moment and us defending or us moving up into the attack.
“There’s a lot more out there for him, and that’s pretty scary because he’s got a couple goals in the last two games, and he’s done a lot of good things. He knows he can be better, and that’s a good thing.”
Much of the second half saw Cincinnati locking into a solid defensive mode, but the team almost put the game away completely minutes later. In the 78th minute, Denkey fed a streaking Engel in the box, but the Danish left back’s shot just missed the left post.
New York’s best effort to equalize came off a Choupo-Moting shot outside the box in the 82nd minute, only for Roman Celentano to easily handle the attempt. Celentano made three saves for his 29th clean sheet of his MLS career.
“It wasn’t the easiest condition out there,” Celentano mentioned after the match. “Cold and dry field, all of these excuses—we could have come out here flat-footed, but I think we had a great mindset coming in, thinking that we needed to battle for these balls and find a way to get a goal, and these guys did. I’m proud of the group, and I think we have a lot to prove this year.”
FC Cincinnati quickly turn their attention towards finishing the home leg for the CONCACAF Champions Cup matchup against FC Motagua this Wednesday. The Red Bulls head back to New Jersey for their home opener against Nashville SC on Saturday.
Match #1
FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Attendance: 22,747
Result: FC Cincinnati 1, New York Red Bulls 0
BOX SCORE
FC Cincinnati Starting XI (5-2-2-1):
Roman Celentano (GK); DeAndre Yedlin, Gilberto Flores (Alvas Powel 85′), Miles Robinson (c), Teenage Hadebe, Lukas Engel; Pavel Bucha (Stefan Chirila 90+5′), Obinna Nwobodo; Evander (Brian Anunga 72′); Yuya Kubo (Corey Baird 72′); Kevin Denkey.
Bench: Evan Louro, Bret Halsey, Noah Adnan, Stiven Jimenez.
New York Red Bulls Starting XI (4-4-2):
Carlos Coronel (GK); Noah Elie, Sean Nealis, Alexander Hack (Julain Hall 79′), Omar Valencia; Cameron Harper, Daniel Edelman (Wikelman Carmona 84′), Peter Stroud (Felipe Carballo 79′), Emil Forsberg (c); Eric Maxim Choup-Moting, Lewis Morgan.
Bench: Anthony Macucci, Dylan Nealis, Dennis Gjengaar, Tim Parker, Mohammed Sofo, Raheem Edwards.
Scoring Summary:
CIN – Kevin Denkey 70′ (Yedlin)
Discipline:
YC – Alexander Hack 59′ (RBNY, foul)
YC – Obinna Nwobodo 61’ (CIN, foul)
YC – Corey Baird 88′ (CIN, poor sportsmanship)
Next up:
vs. FC Motagua, 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 26th, TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, OH)
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