Coming into the match FC Cincinnati had yet to lose at TQL Stadium in their 2025 campaign. But after 90 minutes Saturday against DC United, FCC were dealt a 2-1 defeat.
Rough start
It didn’t take long for the action to begin. In the opening minute of the match, a poorly weighted pass from Miles Robinson was intercepted in the midfield and the Black-and-Red were off on the counter. After a reshuffle, Conner Antley drove the ball to the endline. There Teenage Hadebe inadvertently clipped his heel earning Antley a free kick at the edge of the 18-yard box. David Schnegg stepped over the ball and elected to play it short to Gabriel Pirani who was unmarked at the penalty arc. Pirani’s shot had plenty of pace and was rising to the far post. Nothing Roman Celentano could do but watch the ball splash into the back of the net. DC United had stunned the sold out TQL Stadium in the second minute of the match.
Lethal combination
Envander and Denkey celebrating FCC’s lone goal. (Photo: Megan Lee)
After settling into match a bit, FCC was able to start picking and prodding at the DCU defensive third. In the 15th minute, Evander found himself a bit of space the top of the 18-yard box. Evander’s hesitation move and quick change of pace evaded the close out and saw him dangerously close to the DCU goal. He wisely laid the ball off to Kévin Denkey whose left foot was free to take a crack at goal.
Denkey’s near post shot screamed past a diving Luis Barraza. FCC had their response goal making a 1-1 score-line in just the first quarter hour mark.
Short-lived momentum
As the infamous Bailey ‘Sha la la’ chants began to die out from the Denkey goal, DCU were able to win a corner from a deflected Pirani shot from distance. Aaron Herrera elected to play the ball short to Pirani while Pavel Bucha attempted to close out but slipped onto the pitch. Pirani sent in a volley across the face of goal that remarkably cleared all the tracking FCC defenders. Consequently Antley was able to get on the end of it for a tap in goal. Without doubt, FCC’s momentum had been snuffed.
A bit of controversy
Matti Peltola getting to the ball before the contact. (Photo: Megan Lee)
A contentious sequence of events came in the 38th minute of the match. DeAndre Yedlin floated up the right channel before laying the ball off to Gerardo ‘Dado’ Valenzuela. Given the space, Dado exploded with pace dribbling the ball into the box. During the play several players from both squads hit the deck. Ultimately, DCU came away with possession and played the ball out so that medical attention could be provided. During that stoppage of play the VAR staff performed a check. According to the Professional Referee Organization (PRO), in a ‘Pool Report’ inquiry, here is what they ultimately determined in that check:
The submitted question:
In the 38th minute, two FC Cincinnati players (22 and 91) went down in the box. Was VAR checking a physical contact play by No. 4 on D.C. United and/or a handball by No. 3 on D.C. United?
The response to the submitted question:
Yes, VAR checked both of the challenges that occurred, first with #4, then second with #3, both of DC United. Neither of these contacts was clear error in the non-award of a penalty kick. For clarity, it is clear from the VAR’s check to see that no handball offense was possible.
The submitted question:
Why did the contact between No. 4 on D.C. United and FC Cincinnati’s No. 22 and No. 91 not rise to the level of a foul?
The response to the submitted question:
The contact between #4 of D.C. United and #91 from FC Cincinnati was a fair challenge with the defender playing the ball first before normal playing contact followed. Therefore it did not rise to the level of a foul.
The submitted question:
Why did the contact between No. 3 on D.C. United’s hand and the ball not constitute a violation?
The response to the submitted question:
Using the South End Zone camera, the VAR was able to see that there was no contact with the ball and the hand of #3 from D.C. United.
Opportunity to level the match
At the halftime break FCC made a host of substitutions. Included in that was Kei Kamara who in the 57th minute had probably FCC’s best chance in the second half to bring the match level. A corner kick service from Evander was driven into the center of the box. Kamara was able to cut off his defender and meet the ball at the peak of his jump. Although Kamara made clean contact with his header, the ball didn’t have enough downward trajectory to slip under the crossbar.
Downed Captain
Miazga after contact earlier in the match. (Photo: Rob Moore)
The injury bug has reared its ugly head several times this season for FCC. This match would continue that trend. Starting centerback and captian Matt Miazga went down in the 63rd minute after a defensive play. Miazga was shielding off Hosel Kijima from the ball when Kijima kicked out, striking Miazga’s right leg. Miazga immediately went to the ground grimacing but was able to continue to push through.
However in the 65th minute Miazga once again dropped to the ground with the pain still visible and had to be subbed off. Pat Noonan commented post match that he struggled putting weight on that foot but didn’t know what the diagnosis was at that time.
Tough stretch
The final whistle of the match sounded and the Orange and Blue fell 2-1. After the match Noonan shared his thoughts where FCC will aim to focus it’s attention after a tough stretch of results.
“Obviously, this week will have us go into it with frustration, I’m sure, but hopefully it’s a chance to reset and think about how we come back and add value to each individual to what they can do to help us come out of the break in a good way, and then just focus on progress. That was a lot of the conversation this week is not worrying about what’s a couple months down the road. We just try to get better now, and there are things that we know we can improve on and try to look at it in a way where we’re honest and move forward where we know there’s a lot to improve on.”
Major League Soccer, Match #16
FC Cincinnati vs. DC United
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Attendance: 24,524
Result: FC Cincinnati 1, DC United 2
BOX SCORE
FC Cincinnati Starting XI (3-4-2-1):
CIN: Roman Celentano, Lukas Engel, Teenage Hadebe (Luca Orellano 46’), Matt Miazga (C) (Brad Smith 68’), Miles Robinson, DeAndre Yedlin, Tah Brian Anunga (Obinna Nwobodo 46’), Pavel Bucha, Evander, Gerardo Valenzuela (Kei Kamara 46’), Kévin Denkey (Sergio Santos 83’)
Substitutes not used: Evan Louro, Alvas Powell, Gilberto Flores, Corey Baird
DC United Starting XI (3-4-2-1):
DC: Luis Barraza, Lucas Bartlett, Kye Rowles (C), Aaron Herrera, David Schnegg, Boris Enow (Rida Zouhir 83’), Boris Enow, Matti Peltola (Brandon Servania 60’), Conner Antley, João Peglow (Hosei Kijima 46’), Jacob Murrell (Dominique Badji 60’), Gabriel Pirani (Jared Stroud 60’)
Substitutes not used: Jordan Farr, Randall Leal, Derek Dodson, Jordan Farr, Kristian Fletcher
Scoring summary:
CIN – Kévin Denkey (Evander) 15’
DC – Gabriel Pirani (Schnegg) 2’, Conner Antley (Pirani, Herrera) 19’
Discipline:
Matti Peltola – DC – (Yellow Card) 44’
Matt Miazga – CIN – (Yellow Card) 45’+4
Jacob Murrell – DC – (Yellow Card) 45’+4
Brandon Servania – DC – (Yellow Card) 69’
Dominique Badji – DC – (Yellow Card) 90’+4
Rida Zouhir – DC – (Yellow Card) 90’+5
Next up:
MLS Regular Season: at New England Revolution, 7:30 pm, Saturday June 14th; Apple TV+
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