FULL TIME! FC CINCINNATI WIN 2-0!
That goal is actually the final action of the game as the ref blows his whistle for Full Time and ends things with an FC Cincinnati 2-0 victory.
Stef Chrilia and Dado Valenzuela are the scorers on this youth filled display of a day. Nick Hagglund and Andrei Chirila also deseve note, going the full 90.
That will conclude this live blog for the day, but don't fret, we will be back tomorrow afternoon for the preseason finale as FC Cincinnati take on Orlando City SC.
For me, the lawn chair, my sun hat, the bird up in the lights and all of us on the ground in Clearwater, Florida. Thank you for reading along. I've been Carter Chapley, and I'll see you tomorrow!
90' STEF CHIRILA MAKES IT TWO! 2-0
Finally the right play comes off as Stefan Chirila taps home a pass from Ayoub Lahjar to make it 2-0! They had a few of those moments but this one gets the finishing touch as he get's around the keeper and taps home his first of the preseason.
85'
The youth is on full display here now and they're doing some really good things. Not exactly finishing those good things but some really good actions.
The group of Stef Chirila, Dado, Ademar Chavez and Jack Mize are terrorizing the Brooklyn back line but each time someone takes an extra touch here or pass there that thwarts their moment.
You can hear Nick Hagglund, who has worn the captains armband all game, encouraging them and pushing them forward.
81'
Good look on a free kick coming here as Ayoub Lajhar wins a foul from stright on but about 10 steps outside the box.
The free kick is blasted into the wall and the ref calls the play down soon after as I think it caught the face of a Brooklyn player. He's up after a moment and shakes it off, but jeeze, that probably didn't feel great. Glad to see he's ok.
75'
Looks like as part of the earlier subs, former FC Cincinnati 2 player Pete Mangione has come on for Brooklyn FC. He played 56 games for FCC 2 the last two seasons. Good to see him again.
Another set of subs now though for FC Cincinnati. Anunga, Nwobodo and Powell all come out. Ademar Chavez, Jack Mize (FC Cincinnati 2/ FC Cincinnati Acadmey) and Gio Marioni (FC Cincinnati 2) come on.
68' PENALTY! DADO CONVERTS! 1-0
Dado Valenuela coverts the penalty he won! What a sequence for him! He makes it 1-0 from the spot!
Dado opens the play by dribbling through two defenders near midfield, megging both with a pass that springs Alvas Powell up the wing. Powells runs onto it but Dado comes racing along him into the box and Powell finds him with a pass of his own. A big shoulder check from the defender has the ref pointing to the spot where Dado then steps up an buries the shot.
That's his first goal of preseason.
EDIT: You know what, on reflection I'm not sure he megged both. One for sure but I'm not confident on the second so I will say just one...still, really good stuff.
62'
A round of subs for both sides come in the 60'. Ayoub Jabbari and Felix Samson are off, and Steffan Chrilla and Will Kuisel (FC Cincinnati Academy) are on.
Both Kuisel and Chirila were MLS NEXT All-Stars in 2024. Kuisel also made 21 apperances for FC Cincinnati 2 last season in MLS NEXT Pro, including 15 starts and registered a goal and assist.
59'
FCC generate two very similar looks in quick succession but can't convert either. First one comes on from a Ayoub Jabbari feed to Dado Valenzuela, who rolls a pass through the box to the spot but Dado's shot is stopped just enough by the keeper for him to recover and snag it from behind him.
The second, a very similar slot across the box, is from Obi to Jabbari, but this time the keeper rushes to grab it and he gets there first before Jabbari...who has to leap over the diving keeper.
Generating really good looks, not finishing them though.
54'
Stiven Jimenez takes a heavy touch and tries to recover from it with a slide that catches the Brooklyn defender a little too much. He gets the first yellow of the game for FC Cincinnati.
53'
A few strong sequences here as Alvas Powell gets up the wing and puts good low crosses into the box, but they are blocked by Brooklyn defenders.
The most recent of which goes out for a corner, which, when sent in is headed by Ayoub Jabbari off the cross bar.
46'
We are underway again for the second half. Only sub to begin the frame is a Trialist coming on for Evan Louro.
Halftime
The ensuing corner kick effort from that last shot is headed on by Nick Hagglund, but a foul is called and the play is dead before we even get the outcome.
That corner/foul is the last play of the half so FC Cincinnati and Brooklyn FC go into the break with no score. They will take a 15 or so minute halftime stoppage now and get back to the action for the final 45 minutes.
43'
Another really good look for FCC but the Brooklyn keeper dives to tip it away for another FCC corner kick. I believe it was Dado Valenzuela who put the shot on from wide, but his curling effort to the far post is just tipped away by a finger.
38'
First really dangerous chance for Brooklyn comes on a wide swinging cross that Andrei Chrilia clears away from trouble near the goal mouth. He sends it way up clear and over the bar for a corner. The corner effort is quickly dispatched and FCC regains contorl.
Andrei has been very, very good today from my eye. Beyond just that clearance he's had a view very solid bits of defending to intercept or block a pass that ends an attacking effort before it really begins.
35'
A photo of the bird has emerged! Shout out to the FCC photo squad for this snapshot. Apperently I wasn't the first to notice and this was from earlier...
29'
New development arising away from the pitch as a massive bird circles the field and has taken up a post on a light standard on the far end. I think it has a nest built up there as well.
I will ask the photo team to investigate.
On the pitch the tempo has slowed down a bit as the officials get familiar with the whistles. In fairness I don't think they've done this controversially or anything, just that's how the game has developed. Not overally physical or anythign either, just alot of needed calls.
22'
FC Cincinnati has continued its possesion dominance and kept the Brooklyn keeper busy. Big sequences of chances come from the 20th or so minute to now as Dado Valenzuela feeds Obi Nwobodo but his tipped shot is saved out for a corner.
The corner is again saved out and away for a corner for FCC from the other side and that effort (I believe a shot near the top of the box from Stiven Jiminez) is saved but this time it's kept in play and sent away from net.
16'
Kenji Mboma Dem indeed comes off and Felix Samson comes on for him.
Samson, 18, is on loan to FC Cincinnati 2 from FC Cincinnati, and is one of a few FCC2 and FC Cincinnati Acadmey players who joined the group in Clearwater for this final week of training.
Samson, who was a 2024 MLS NEXT All-Star, has represented Canada at the U18 National Team level. He joined FCC this offseason from CF Montréal on loan.
15'
A stoppage here as Kenji Mboma Dem goes down after a play comes to an end and trainers are out to attend to him. Looks like he will walk off on his own but unclear what will happen next. He's been one of the more dynamic players early today, but unfortunately it looks like his day might be done.
9'
Not a ton of action yet early in this one but FC Cincinnati has been controlling possesion and the tempo of the match.
Only shot registered so far comes when Alvas Powell sends a long ball up the wings for Ayoub Jabbari, who cuts in and gets a shot on frame from a really tight angle. But the keeper is there to guard the near post and make the save.
Kickoff! 1'
We have game action once again at Walter C Campbell Sports Park in sunny Clearwater, Florida...home of the Guinness World Records record for most consecutive sunny days by the way.
FC Cincinnati take the field in grey training tops for this one, where as Brooklyn FC are in all black attire.
Brooklyn kicks things off to open this one and we are underway!
Lineups - 11:50 A.M. - About 10 minutes to kick
We have lineups! With FC Cincinnati playing today and tomorrow and these being the final preseason friendlies of 2026 it is unlikely we will see all members of FC Cincinnati boot up today, but we will see an interesting selection and combination.
Here is the FC Cincinnati XI to start things off, as always, in alphabetical order:
Brian Anunga
Andrei Chirila
Kenji Mboma Dem
Nick Hagglund
Ayoub Jabbari
Stiven Jimenez
Ayoub Lajhar
Evan Louro
Obinna Nwobodo
Alvas Powell
Gerardo Valenzuela
With a really healthy group this preseason, FC Cincinnati looked to add this extra game to the calendar to ensure everyone gets the minutes they need heading into the season. So today we may get to see everyone get stretched out in their game action and get a little closer to 90 minutes fit.
Welcome Back! - 11 A.M. - About one hour from kickoff
Welcome back to the Live Blog! I am Staff Writer Carter Chapley and I’m once again stationed pitchside at the lovely Walter C Campbell Sports Park for today’s friendly between FC Cincinnati and Brooklyn FC! Kickoff is set for Noon.
Lineups are a ways away, but when they are shared I will be sure to provide them here. What we do know now though what we will be playing…even if it's a little more normal than previous games. Today will be a standard 90 minute match with two 45 minute halves.
I will be updating as frequently as I can so refresh this page to stay current. That said, and I ask that this consideration apply on multiple fronts, remember that these preseason games take place far outside the typical viewing experience. Today I am again sitting at field level, with no clock, no replay and trying to track the game all while typing furiously.
I have encountered internet outages, equipment malfunctions, attacks by sprinklers, bird strikes, computers overheating in the Florida sun and even being knocked over by the ball in play. Anything can happen, that’s part of the fun, but that also impacts updates
With that in mind, every effort for accuracy will be made. Sometimes initial viewings create confusion, but I have extra eyes to help set me straight. So should corrections be needed, they will be made promptly. The same goes for typos. They happen, they don’t happen on purpose and can be embarrassing. But I'm constantly editing and I appreciate your patience while I sort that out. As Stephen King says: “To write is human, to edit is divine.”
This Live Blog will end once full time is called, so for all postgame information check back on FCCincinnati.com for future articles, or follow me on Twitter, @CarterChapley.
Alright, let’s get down to business! Kickoff is just hours away! So check back in and thank you again for reading!