With Daylight Savings Time taking an hour away, FC Cincinnati needed a no-pressure match to balance schedule congestion. They got it in a dominating performance against a team they’ve been able to handle.
FC Cincinnati (2-1-0, 6 pts) blanked Toronto FC (0-1-2, 1 pt) in a productive 2-0 victory at TQL Stadium Saturday night. Kévin Denkey scored his second MLS goal of the season, while Yuya Kubo opened his account late in the match to seal the win.
“I was really pleased with the individual performances and just the overall team performance,” head coach Pat Noonan mentioned after the match. “I thought we attacked in a good way despite not being able to find a goal early, and defensively, we were outstanding. So, very pleased for the group to have some guys step in, change the structure and perform really well. Everybody was up for it, and they deserved a win.”
Cincinnati came into their matchup with a three-match winless streak, drawing 1-1 against Tigres on Tuesday in CONCACAF Champions Cup competition. While the damage from the 4-1 loss at Philadelphia last weekend may have been still fresh, the squad arrived Saturday ready to continue their unbeaten stretch at home. Toronto FC had started the season with a draw but lost in their second road match against Orlando last week, 4-2.
Cincinnati rolled out a lineup with plenty of flexibility, using a four-man defense for the first time this season. Evander was on the bench after a bruise against Tigres, while Luca Orellano started his first match of the season. Obinna Nwobodo, Gilberto Flores, and DeAndre Yedlin also started on the bench, replaced by Corey Baird, Brian Atunga, and Alvas Powell. Dado Valenzuela made his first appearance of the season on the bench.
TFC started a lineup with a significant amount of rotation. Offseason loan pickup Ola Brynhildsen and former Arsenal player Zane Monlouis made their first starts for the Reds. Richie Laryea sat out due to injury, while designated player Lorenzo Insigne was left off the roster again.
First half
Toronto FC opted to play back quite a bit, pulling their pressure and allowing Cincinnati more of the possession (66/34). Surprisingly, the hot foot in the first twenty minutes was Powell, who made multiple moves into the box and almost found a header in the 20th minute, only for Sean Johnson to outstretch him for the pass.
Kubo had the first of his attempts nullified halfway into the first half. The Japanese forward followed a bounce off the post with a goal in the 39th minute. However, the play was blown dead due to a foul on the leadup.
The offense found more rhythm in the last minutes of the first half, but without a breakthrough. Baird had the Orange & Blue’s best attempt in the 39th minute, following an Orellano shot with a free attempt, only for his rebound to hit the frame.
FCC handled all of the shots on frame in the first half (3-0), but were still scoreless at halftime.
Second half
Toronto’s only attempt on frame came early in the second half. Right back Kosi Thompson got a solid look atop the box, but Roman Celentano handled the shot. It was the only save Celentano needed to make all night.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 73rd minute. Evander’s pass into the box in the 69th minute glanced off Tyrese Spicer’s arm. After an extended VAR look, the referee awarded a penalty kick. Denkey slotted the shot past Johnson on a stutter step, giving FCC the early 1-0 lead.
Despite having two of his goals disallowed—the second on an offside call—Kubo finally got his reward, receiving a pass from Evander behind the defense in the 88th minute and scoring past Johnson’s right. Kubo’s first of the season closed the game at 2-0.
Noonan was pleased with the performance by the rotated players. “You’re always trying to set a new standard or maintain a good standard and tonight looked like what should be a standard for our group. You mentioned the new players. I think guys stepped in and really took their minutes well tonight.”
The second clean sheet of the young MLS season puts FC Cincinnati at third in the East, while Toronto is still looking for their first win.
The trip to Monterrey in the next leg of the matchup against Tigres looms large, but players understand their need to recover and perform. “Any game in Mexico is going to be tough,” Miles Robinson mentioned after the match. “It’s going to be a tough environment, and the fans are going to be loud and hostile. But that’s the type of game this team is built for, with players that enjoy a big game and big moments. Hopefully, we stay focused and stick to our game plan.”
Cincinnati faces Tigres in the away leg on Tuesday, then travels to Charlotte for the next MLS match on Saturday. Toronto begins their home schedule on Saturday against Chicago.
Major League Soccer, Match #3
FC Cincinnati vs. Toronto FC
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Attendance: 23,088
Result: FC Cincinnati 2, Toronto FC 0
BOX SCORE
FC Cincinnati Starting XI (4-2-3-1):
Roman Celentano (GK); Alvas Powell, Miles Robinson (c), Teenage Hadebe (Gilberto Flores 60′), Lukas Engel (DeAndre Yedlin 60′); Brian Anunga, Pavel Bucha; Luca Orellano (Evander 60′), Yuya Kubo, Corey Baird (Obinna Nwobodo 84′); Kévin Denkey (Sergio Santos 74′).
Bench: Evan Louro, Stefan Chirila, Gerardo Valenzuela, Stiven Jimenez.
Toronto FC Starting XI (4-3-3):
Seasn Johnson (GK); Kosi Thompson, Zane Monlouis (Derrick Etienne 85′), Kevin Long, Nicksoen Gomis (Theo Corbeanu 74′); Jonathan Osorio (c), Debyi Flores (Alonso Coello 74′), Mattrew Longstaff; Ola Brynhildsen (Deandre Kerr 46′), Federico Bernardeschi, Tyrese Spicer (Lazar Stefanovic 74′).
Bench: Luka Gavran, Kobe Franklin, Markus Cimermancic, Reid Fisher.
Scoring summary:
CIN – Kévin Denkey 73′ (PK)
CIN – Yuya Kubo 88′ (Evander)
Discipline:
YC – Kosi Thompson 50′ (TOR, foul)
YC – Evander 66′ (CIN, foul)
YC – Alvas Powell 89’ (CIN, foul)
Next up:
Concacaf Champions Cup: vs. Tigres UANL, 10:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 11th, Estadio Universitario (San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico); FS2 or ViX (Spanish)
MLS Regular Season: at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 15th; Apple TV+
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