With the switch to a new calendar next year, FC Cincinnati friendlies could bring more opportunities to test preseason development against higher-caliber squads. Last night’s friendly against one of England’s oldest football teams might be a step in the right direction, at least for the remainer of the 2026 season.
FC Cincinnati hosted EFL Championship squad Burnley FC in a toasty summer matchup at TQL Stadium Friday night. While the teams exchanged goals in the first half, the Orange & Blue rode goals by Ayoub Jabbari and a returning Kristian Fletcher to win the friendly 3-1.
Head coach Pat Noonan was happy to see both teams treating the friendly as constructive team-building. “Under the circumstances, I thought there were a lot of good actions, some good goals, a variety of play, and being able to play direct with some good interchange, especially with that group of the last 30. It was a good exercise for everybody. I know (Burnley) are just starting up, so this is their first 45 minutes; and they’re not used to conditions like this. Pleased with the overall performance.”
Both teams are coming off a lengthy World Cup hiatus in which revamping would become essential. FC Cincinnati are midtable in the Eastern Conference after 15 matches, seventh overall. While the offense has shown life in Pat Noonan’s fifth season, the defense has needed confidence—only Orlando has allowed more goals at this point.
FC Cincinnati had much of their team back into matchday shape, save for Bryan Ramirez. The Ecuadorian wingback picked up a knock in training recently, justifying rest for him until a specialist can provide more feedback.
Miles Robinson was not expected to be back with the team until after an imposed break after performing for the United States men’s national team. Matt Miazga had been scheduled to participate, but he was unable to join due to personal matters.
The FC Cincinnati starting lineup was surprisingly heavy with first-team starters for a friendly. Evander held the early captain’s band with Kevin Denkey and Kenji Mboma Dem up top. The biggest surprise was Ender Echenique taking the left wingback slot in Ramirez’s place, while Samuel Gidi, Nick Hagglund, and Andrei Chirila started in the defending line.
Burnley are coming into a new season having suffered a relegation setback and a similar defensive struggle. The Lancashire County squad has over 100 years of competitive history, but have been hovering between the first and second tiers in England. The defense has also been problematic for Burnley, as they gave up the most goals in the Premier Leage last season.
Newly-appointed manager Nicky Hayen joined Burnley for this trip, fresh off a half-season of work at Belgium unit KRC Genk. Previously, Hayen had been head coach at Club Brugge and has coached against FCC striker Kevin Denkey, who scored against Club Brugge in April of 2024.
With the team still undergoing possible transfers and transformations, Burnley started a lineup with five starters from their Decision Day 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wolves. Last season’s lead scorer Zian Flemming was not with the team, as rumors of his transfer have been swirling.
First half
FC Cincinnati started primarily on the front foot, getting good looks on offense, but the combination of Hagglund, Chirila, and Gidi on the back line was brittle. Burnley took advantage of some deep turnovers, only for their efforts to sail high into The Bailey.
Cincinnati found the breakthrough first in the 16th minute. Evander threaded a pass to a streaking Denkey in the box. After weaving to the side, the Togolese striker chipped goalkeeper Max Weiß to open his account at 1-0.
One of the polarizing features of the World Cup has been the ambivalence toward the mid-half hydration breaks. While some in the audience booed during the pause, it punctuated how much it can disrupt momentum.
In the 30th minute, Burnley cycled the remnants of a free kick to get added pressure in the box. Mike Tresor found midfielder Jos Laurent for a free tap-in past Roman Celentano to knot the score.
Of course, much of the friendly could only be judged visually, both teams enjoying a majority of possession before and after the imposed hydration break. Cincinnati exhibited good control and penetration in the first 25 minutes, but overall Burnley recalibrated and attacked cleanly through the press in the first half.
Photo: Scott Huck
Second half
While Cincinnati made only one switch at halftime, replacing their goalkeeper, Burnley brought in much of their academy players in a full-scale replacement. Much of the momentum came from Cincinnati weathering the humidity better than Burnley’s squad, who were not primed for the weather.
While Burnley’s Olawasuen Adewumi and Kian McMahon-Brown got looks early in the second half, Cincinnati’s own squad rotation in the 60th minute reset their momentum.
The second half provided some glimpses at the work rate for players returning to full form. Teenage Hadebe and Kristian Fletcher played significant roles in the second half, while Felix Samson, on loan from CF Montreal, played his first minutes with the first team.
FCC officially recaptured the lead in the 74th minute through Jabbari’s noggin. Alvas Powell provided a smooth cross into the box that the Moroccan forward powered into the net for a 2-1 lead.
The debut of Fletcher was a very welcome sight in the second half. The winger looked spry in almost a #10 role, working well with Jabbari and Tom Barlow atop the formation. His curved shot from distance in the 83rd minute provided some promise that would soon become reward.
A foul to Jabbari in the box in the 94th minute gave Fletcher his strike at the penalty spot. He cleanly slotted it past Weiß to make the final 3-1 score.
“(Kristian’s) worked really hard,” Noonan praised after the match. “He comes in every day with a smile. It’s infectious, and it’s really nice to see where he’s at and that he was able to contribute tonight. Credit to Tom (Barlow) for giving him that moment because Tom was the penalty taker on the night, and I think he realizes this kid is going through a really long rehab process. See if he can get that goal and that feeling.”
Fletcher was quite happy to get back to competition, but also glad the World Cup gave him extra time for recovery. “You couldn’t even plan that for my recovery,” he beamed after the match. “The fact we had no games for that time period just gave me an extra two months to really get back to myself and do what I did tonight.
“We understand what we want to do and the things we work on and how we can implement them in the game. We just saw the opportunities. A look here and there, but we got the job done.”
While Cincinnati still has some time to train and hold a closed-door friendly with Honduran unit CD Olimpia, Burnley drives up I-71 to hold another friendly with Columbus Crew on Sunday.
“Pre-Season” Friendly
FC Cincinnati vs. Burnley FC
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Result: FC Cincinnati 3, Burnley FC 1.
BOX SCORE
FC Cincinnati Starting XI (First Half)
(5-3-2): Roman Celentano (GK) (Evan Louro 60′); Pavel Bucha, Andrei Chirila, Nick Hagglund, Samuel Gidi, Ender Echenique; Gerardo Valenzuela, Evander (C), Obinna Nwobodo; Kévin Denkey, Kenji Mboma Dem.
FC Cincinnati Starting XI (60′)
(5-2-3): Evan Louro (GK – C), Alvas Powell, Kyle Smith, Felix Samson, Teenage Hadebe, Ayoub Lajhar; Stiven Jimenez, Brian Anunga; Tom Barlow, Ayoub Jabbari, Kristian Fletcher.
Burnley FC Starting XI (First Half)
(4-3-3): Max Weiß (GK); Connor Roberts, Kyle Walker (C), Bashir Humphreys, Lucas Pires; Josh Laurent, Florentino, Mike Tresor; Luca Koleosho, Andreas Hountondji, Jayden Banel.
Burnley FC Starting XI (Second Half)
(4-3-3): Max Weiß (GK); Oliver Sonne, Joe Worrall, Murray Campbell, Oli Pimlott; Brandon Pouani (Michael Mellon 87′), Ellis Clark, Vernon Masara, George Brierley; Olawasuen Adewumi, Kian McMahon-Brown
Scoring summary:
CIN – Kévin Denkey 16’ (Evander)
BUR – Josh Laurent 29’ (Mike Tresor)
CIN – Ayoub Jabbari 74’ (Alvas Powell)
CIN – Kristian Fletcher 90+4’ (PK)
Discipline:
YC – Lucas Pires 45’ (BUR, foul)
Next Match:
Closed-Door Friendly: vs. CD Olimpia, Wednesday, July 15th.
MLS Regular Season: vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, 7:30 pm, Wednesday, July 22nd; Apple+.
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