2025 Match Reports

Denkey’s bicycle gets FC Cincinnati past Sporting KC

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Photo: Jon Goldsberry

FC Cincinnati extended their win streak to five consecutive matches after dispatching the visiting Sporting Kansas City 2-1.

First Half

The action in the first half was rather tame. FCC enjoyed a large chunk of the possession for much of the half. Unfortunately, the action towards the goal did not complement the dominant performance. The orange and blue had only two shot attempts during the opening 40 minutes of play. Pat Noonan shared his thoughts on what was plaguing the FCC attack.

“Even before the final third, with their structure tonight, they were compact.” Noonan continued, “From front to back, there was 20, 30 yards max. And so, if that’s the case from front to back and if they’re narrow, we have to move the ball from left to right quicker. We have to think about how we play in from behind. At the end of the half, we create some of our best moments, but taking 40 minutes to recognize that is something we’ll address. And I know that’s unique to tonight, but we needed to stop forcing the ball through the middle. Even Evander comes over because he sees the game, he feels the game, he’s thinking about different spots to pop up. I thought Luca (Orellano) and Kévin (Denkey) could stay higher in the line to create some space for him or he could move into wide areas where their wingbacks move enough to try to just get our most creative player on the ball to make plays. In the final third, I think it’s a matter what guys see, but also taking too many touches, and that brings in more defenders and then the moment to play behind is gone. The moment to play to their teammates is gone. Hold onto the ball too long, overcomplicating the pass instead of making the simple one that might lead to our wingbacks, especially getting time and space on the ball so we could run hard in front of goal. All those little things can improve.”

Denkey’s Breakthrough

Sitting on just one on-goal attempt, FCC seemed destined to enter the locker room at the half with zero goals. But in the 43rd minute, Lukas Engel found himself in space at the top corner of the SKC box. Engel ripped a shot that required Sporting’s keeper John Pulskamp to make a diving save. The rebound from the save fell to the feet of Denkey. Denkey did not let the ball hit the ground as his first touch hammered home FCC’s opening goal.

Formation Change

In the 62nd minute, FCC went with a rotation in personnel. Obinna Nwobodo made his return to TQL Stadium after dealing with an injury that has kept him out for several matches. Oddly, forward Sergio Santos came onto the pitch replacing Matt Miazga. This change pushed Orellano back to the right-wingback position that he enjoyed so much success with in 2024. It also ensured that FCC played a much 3-4-3 tactic that saw the wingbacks playing wider and in a more advanced position. Certainly, this is a tactical change that will need to be observed moving forward.

 Other Worldly

In the 78th minute of the match Denkey scored what is arguably the best goal ever scored in the ten-year history of the club.

An earned corner leads to the ball being kicked back out to the touchline for Orellano. Orellano’s dribble created enough space to send in another cross back in front of the face of goal. Denkey had found a pocket within the SKC defensive line where he was able to get set for a bicycle kick. The timing and placement of the shot attempt was pitch perfect. The shot had enough angular trajectory and height to allude Pulskamp and find the back of the net.

TQL Stadium erupted with a shared exuberance of witnessing a once in a lifetime goal. Denkey collected his place as the 21st FCC player to score multiple goals in a single MLS match.

Clean Sheet Spoiled

Sporting KC was able to spoil the clean sheet on the match with a goal by Zorhan Bassong. SKC created some space within the 18-yard box and Bassong smashed a shot with the appropriate height to get past an outstretched Celentano.

Impressive Feats

The orange and blue have thrived on one goal advantages under Pat Noonan. FCC has 31 of these matches across all competitions since 2023.

FC Cincinnati is currently in first place in the Supporter Shield standings. That makes three consecutive years that the orange and blue have topped the table at some point in MLS season. This is the first time a club has achieved that since DC United in 1996-1998.

FCC have won five consecutive matches. This streak is the third longest in the club’s MLS history. (7- 2024, 6- 2023). The club also won every match in a single month for only the third time in club history. (September 2018, May 2023)

Goals

CIN – Kévin Denkey 43’, Kévin Denkey (Orellano) 78’

SKC – Zorhan Bassong (Thommy, Brody) 89’

Lineups

CIN: Roman Celentano, Lukas Engel (Bard Smith 85’), Nick Hagglund, Matt Miazga (C) (Sergio Santos 63’), Miles Robinson, DeAndre Yedlin, Tah Brian Anunga (Obinna Nwobodo 63’), Pavel Bucha, Luca Orellano (Alvas Powell 86’), Evander, Kévin Denkey (Corey Baird 90’+1)

Substitutes not used: Evan Louro, Gilberto Flores, Stefan Chirila, Gerardo Valenzuela

 

SKC: John Pulskamp, Logan Ndenbe, Robert Voloder, Jansen Miller, Khiry Shelton (Andrew Brody 86’), Dániel Sallói (C) (Erik Thommy 73’), Nemanja Radoja (Zorhan Bassong 66’), Jacob Bartlett, Manu García, Shapi Suleymanov (Stephen Afrifa 86’), Dejan Joveljić

Substitutes not used: Ryan Schewe, Ian James, Memo Rodriguez, Mason Toye, Tim Leibold

Discipline

CIN – Tah Brian Anunga (Yellow Card) 17’
SKC – Dejan Joveljić (Yellow Card) 66’
CIN – Kévin Denkey (Yellow Card) 79’

Next Match

MLS Regular Season: at New York City FC, Citi Field 3:00 p.m. May 4th; AppleTV+

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