The Match Availability report for FC Cincinnati boasted more appearances for the Orange and Blue than the team on the field Saturday night. With six key contributors to the lineup listed as “out” ahead of the match, there were a combined 668 career games played for FC Cincinnati watching the match from the stands.
The Starting XI that those six veterans — along with everyone else at TQL Stadium — watched had a combined 533 games played for FC Cincinnati.
And yet, FC Cincinnati continued to do what they’ve done for the last month or so. They faced tough odds and showed their character in the most dire of times. However, unlike the last three matches, in which all FC Cincinnati could do with that energy was earn a draw, the Orange and Blue dominated early and earned their first win since March 22, taking down Red Bull New York 2-0 and sending an electric crowd home happy.
“Great night for the guys, for the group…and credit to Red Bull for pushing the game and causing us a lot of problems. So I'm pleased with the guys and how they solved a lot of those problems, and we're able to keep a clean sheet,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan said of the victory after the match. “A nice reward for these guys and for the progress that they're making.
“And to be able to do it at home, in front of our fans, was important, certainly.”
“We were playing at home in front of our fans…what was most important for us was the three points. We needed that, and we needed to do it in front of our fans,” FCC midfielder Evander, who also wore the captains armband for the second game in a row, added postgame. “All the guys were good tonight and they all helped us a lot to win.”
In front of a sold-out TQL Stadium crowd, FC Cincinnati found the confidence they had lacked early in games and got out to a quick start. After weeks of late offensive surges and slow starts, FCC came out of the gates flying and controlled the game effectively from the first kick.
Through the first 30 minutes of the match, FC Cincinnati outpossessed Red Bull at a 66 percent clip. They logged eleven shots to Red Bulls' four, and completely dictated the pace of play the entire time. So while it took 40 minutes to get on the scoreboard, it was long before that that the hometown crowd found its voice and responded to the performance they saw.
“I say to guys all the time, bring life to them,” Noonan said of the energy of the crowd and FC Cincinnati’s play. “Because if there's no energy, if there's no conviction in our play, then it's hard to bring that out. Even when the performances aren't up to standard, the crowd's always impactful.”
“That was apparent in the first 45,” Noonan continued of the crowd. “And then, when you needed them, when the game turned and you have to defend, they were there as well.”
“The fans are behind us at all times, and it’s been especially important with us struggling at the beginning of the season,” midfielder Gerardo “Dado” Valenzuela said postgame. “We always need the fans, and they're the most important, but you could really feel them tonight…you see Kévin (Denkey) and Evander hyping up the fans and they responded in a really amazing way.”
The performance on the field, which was attacking, dynamic, exciting and, frankly, excellent, created a compounding effect with the atmosphere and volume inside TQL Stadium. As FCC continued to attack, the crowd got louder. With a louder crowd, the confidence on display from the players grew, and their performance got stronger. This prompted the crowd to get louder for longer. Rinse and repeat.
It was most notable in places early in the half that weren’t even scoring opportunities. There were moments when the FC Cincinnati defensive backline, in combination with the midfield, would work their way out of a Red Bull press deep in their own zone, and the crowd would rise and energize the team as they went forward. A knowing recognition, and one noted by FCC players and coaches.
“There's also a couple plays in the first half where we have a really good sequence or two of playing out of pressure and finding a switch of play. You could feel the energy of the crowd recognizing those moments where it's not just about a goal or a yellow card, it's good actions, good play, good ideas,” Noonan said of the crowd contributions. “That’s impactful.”
By the time FC Cincinnati found its scoring moment, the building was ready to blow its roof off. And when the Orange and Blue doubled their lead right before halftime, the pop of the 25,513 could likely be heard back in Harrison, New Jersey…and likely beyond.
“You could definitely feel them tonight, the fans were awesome and are awesome,” FC Cincinnati defender Andrei Chirila said. “They give us so much energy, and they helped us gain momentum.”
“You can see, even though we scored at the 40th minute, throughout the first half, it was even the nice plays that we would do just to get out of the back or or switch it from one side to the other and the crowd would be behind us and love that football,” Valenzuela added. “They got behind it, and they liked it just as much (as a goal), so when we get that goal, that's just even more exciting.
“It was a very nice performance with the team and an amazing performance with the fans.”
It was Kévin Denkey who got FC Cincinnati on the board first, tapping in the first of two goals to secure a brace for the second time this week. His pair of finishes made him just the fourth player in club history to have multiple goals scored in consecutive games, and tied the club record with his 11th game-winning goal in MLS play.
Denkey first tapped in a centering pass from Pavel Bucha, who was serving as wingback for this match, who himself was delivered a brilliant long pass from Gerardo “Dado” Valenzuela in the FC Cincinnati end.
The second from FCC’s leading scorer, who scored his sixth goal in MLS and 10th across all competitions on Saturday night, was earned from the penalty spot. Denkey finished off the opportunity created by Evander, who, through a bit of dribbling magic, drew a nearly carbon copy foul in the box as the one he had earned earlier in the week against NYCFC.
Evander took that penalty effort, but this time, it was all Denkey’s to cash – and he left no doubt.
With Denkey scoring his second, FCC took the 2-0 lead to halftime and never looked back.
The game changed after the break. Red Bull New York came out and pressed more on offense, and the fatigue from a double-match week began to set in, giving the visitors opportunities on offense to change the game; opportunities that simply weren’t there in the first half. But by the time the full-time whistle rang out, FC Cincinnati was still comfortably in the lead by two and took all three points home with them.
So while yes, it was an amazing night at TQL Stadium, and no matter what, it was impressive and important to get the win. When looking at the bigger picture, FC Cincinnati’s Head Coach pointed toward where the team still needs to grow, even with the players they had and the six veteran contributors who were unavailable.
“Tale of two halves,” Noonan said postgame in his opening statement to the gathered media. “In the first half, we were excellent with the ball, with ideas, with goals and chance creation.”
“It was nice to be on that side of it… playing with the lead,” Noonan continued. “But now you see the conversation of playing with the lead, and I think that was the part that we struggled with in the second half. Just being able to break pressure. We couldn't find enough moments to get out in transition or maintain possession and have it look like it did in the first half.
“We didn’t solve it…but for me, and I say composure a lot, (but) understanding how to plan the pressure…. I think the first 45 [minutes] we saw a lot of it, and now it's trying to get that for 90 minutes, which is tough.”
FC Cincinnati improved its record to 3-4-3 and 3-1-1 at home in MLS action. They are undefeated in their last four games and have taken points from five of their last six. While this is just one game, and one with unique circumstances around it, it’s hard not to see where there is momentum building and an FCC squad that has been busy fighting its own nightmares, is starting to wake up and take that fight to the rest of Major League Soccer.
After completing a three-match week with two games on the road, FC Cincinnati now have a full week off before their next fixture. The Orange and Blue head to The Windy City for another rematch, taking on Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field to close out the season series just two weeks after seeing them for the first time at TQL Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8:30p.m. ET.
