FC Cincinnati undoubtedly entered Thursday evening’s Champion’s Cup match versus Tigres UANL with a chip on their shoulder. After the Liga MX giants bounced the Orange and Blue from last year’s Cup, there was a feeling of unfinished business permeating the club. With recent league results in consideration as well, there seemed to be a lot riding on Thursday’s match.
FIRST HALF
The starting XI put forth by manager Pat Noonan was noticeably missing Evander, and his replacement #10, Dado Valenzuela. In an interesting alignment, the midfield consisted of Pavel Bucha, Samuel Gidi, and Obinna Nwobodo. Bryan Ramirez and Ender Echenique served as complimentary wingbacks.
The match lacked the stagnant start that has plagued FCC as of late. Merely six minutes into the match, Echenique pounced on a lackadaisical pass by Tigres keeper Nahuel Guzman, summarily driving a cross to a well positioned Kévin Denkey who made no error in slotting his shot into the bottom right corner.
This aggressiveness on defense leading to offense was an element of the game that Noonan highlighted afterwards, “I think our transition play in the attack was threatening… and I think that stemmed from some good defensive organization and pressure.”
Tigres wouldn’t threaten in their attack until the final five minutes of the first half, when they cobbled together two dangerous chances. The first came in the 40th minute, when only Roman Celentano’s stellar shot stopping prevented Juan Brunetta from leveling the scoreline. Only three minutes later, a failed clearance allowed Vladimir Loroña some space to fire off a shot from a tight angle which fortunately clanged off the post.
SECOND HALF
Neither side made any changes coming out of intermission, and FCC wasted little time in their pursuit for a second score. Just three minutes into the second half, Pavel Bucha nearly scored a screamer courtesy of a Teenage Hadebe service—alas his shot went just high.
Much to the jubilation of the recently goal-deprived crowd, FCC’s second goal of the night came just five minutes later. After regaining possession deep in the Tigres half, Ender made a stellar run forward, he played to Denkey who subsequently played a frame perfect through ball to Tom Barlow. With only Guzman in his way, Barlow neatly put the ball into the bottom left corner.
Evander once again made a substitution appearance, coming on alongside Brian Anunga in the 62nd minute for Tom Barlow and Obinna Nwobodo respectively. While his role was limited, he did look more like the Evander the fans are used to seeing.
With the difficulty of next week’s return leg in mind, the Orange and Blue didn’t cease in their pursuit of another goal. That breakthrough would finally come in the 83rd minute when newly subbed on Dado Valenzuela (who came on in the 78th minute alongside Alvas Powell for Sami Gidi and Ender Echenique), found Denkey making a run and laid a pretty pass through the Tigres backline for the star #9’s second goal of the evening.
POSTGAME
Following the match Noonan highlighted the importance of tonight’s bounce-back performance while remaining focused on the greater task at hand, “I think the response was positive, because we just beat a very good team. And we know that very good team is going to be motivated and ready to turn things around with the second leg.”
FCC will return to MLS league play this Sunday at 2:30 PM when they travel to take on New England at Gillette Stadium. The return leg of their tie with Tigres will take place next Thursday, March 19th, at Estadio Universitario.
MATCH RECAP
Date: March 12, 2026
Competition: Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16, First Leg
Venue: TQL Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio
Attendance: 9,257
Kickoff: 8:08 p.m. ET
Weather: 44 degrees, cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-FT
CIN: 1-2-3
TIG: 0-0-0
CIN – Kévin Denkey (Echenique) 6’, Tom Barlow (Denkey) 53’, Kévin Denkey (Valenzuela) 83’
TIG – None
LINEUPS
CIN: Roman Celentano, Bryan Ramirez, Teenage Hadebe, Miles Robinson (C), Gilberto Flores, Ender Echenique (Alvas Powell 78’), Samuel Gidi (Gerardo Valenzuela 78’), Obinna Nwobodo (Tah Brian Anunga 63’), Pavel Bucha, Tom Barlow (Evander 63’), Kévin Denkey (Ayoub Jabbari 88’)
Substitutes not used: Evan Louro, Fabian Mrozek, Nick Hagglund, Kenji Mboma Dem, Matt Miazga, Kyle Smith, Stiven Jimenez
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
TIG: Nahuel Guzman, Jesus Garza (Osvaldo Rodriguez 78’), Jesús Angulo (Ozziel Herrera 59’), Joaquim Henrique, Vladimir Loroña, Cesar Araujo, Angel Correa, Romulo Zanre (Juan Purata 21’), Juan Brunetta (C), Diego Lainez (Juan Vigon 78’), Rodrigo Aguirre (Andre-Pierre Gignac 78’)
Substitutes not used: Juan Carrera, Felipe Rodriguez, Edgar Lopez, Marcelo Flores, Henrique Simeone, Diego Sánchez, Rafael Guerrero
Head Coach: Guido Pizarro
STATS SUMMARY: CIN/TIG
Shots: 12 / 11
Shots on Goal: 4 / 1
Saves: 1 / 1
Corner Kicks: 2 / 5
Fouls: 11 / 12
Offside: 3 / 1
Possession: 42.6 / 57.4
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – Tom Barlow (Yellow Card) 26’
CIN – Obinna Nwobodo (Yellow Card) 29’
TIG – Jesus Garza (Yellow Card) 50’
CIN – Pavel Bucha (Yellow Card) 90’
CIN – Tah Brian Anunga (Yellow Card) 90’+2
OFFICIALS
Referee: Steven Madrigal
Ast. Referees: Jeriel Valverde, Luis Granados
Fourth Official: Bryan Lopez
VAR: Yasith Monge
AVAR: Benjamin Pineda
NEXT MATCH
MLS Regular Season: vs. New England Revolution, Sunday, March 15 at 2:30pm, Apple TV
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