Full Time
FC Cincinnati get one last look on frame but the Detroit keeper sends it away. Our referee then blows his whistle and calls for full time to bring this preseason game to a close.
FC Cincinnati win 1-0 in game three, Kévin Denkey keeps his goal scoring streak up and the defense keeps a clean sheet.
That will be all for the Live Blog today. We will be back in action next week when FC Cincinnati take on Brooklyn FC and Orlando City SC.
Until then, I am Carter Chapley, it has been my pleasure to blog for you, thank you for reading along and I will see you next time!
88'
We are nearing the final whistle here and the Ayoubs (Jabbari and Lajhar) link up with Dado Valenzuela for another half chance. Dado get's free in the box but some contact goes uncalled and his touch goes wide and out for a goal kick.
A few moments later another chance comes for FC Cincinnati when Ayoub Jabbari outruns the back line and puts a solid shot on from wide but it's saved. Tom Barlow was there for the rebound but the bounce is just strong enough that he outruns it and he can't throw on the breaks fast enough.
84'
Dado Valenzuela cooks up the best look in this new group's time on the field, dancing through several defenders to center a beuatiful ball for a running Stiven Jimenez in the middle of the box. A Detroit City defender gets there a step earlier and clears the ball out for a corner.
78'
Big set of subs now as we reach the final 10 or so minutes of this match.
Coming on is Tom Barlow, Andrei Chirila, Ayoub Jabbari, Ayoub Lajhar, Stiven Jimenez and Dado Valenzuela.
Coming off is Kévin Denkey, Miles Robinson, Evander, Pavel Bucha, Gilberto Flores and Samuel Gidi.
71'
Great sequence just misses for a second FCC goal as Evander, Gilberto Flores and Kenji Mbomba Dem combine to play Mboma Dem up the side. Mboma Dem then feeds an awesome cross in on the run to Kévin Denkey, but the headed effort is sent just high over the bar.
I think a Detroit City player may have gotten a piece of it as well to disrupt the effort, but I am not sure of that. Either way it was a really pretty combination.
65'
One of those long passes Detroit has used finally comes off as the attacker stays onside and gets a look from the right side with Gilberto Flores pressuring him and cutting off the angle.
Evan Louro is there to save the day though. He makes himself big and makes the save off of what looked to be his hip (center mass at least) and hops on the rebound to end the threat.
62'
The next round of subs come on for FC Cincinnati:
Kenji Mboma Dem comes on for Bryan Ramirez and Kyle Smith comes on for Ender Echenique.
61'
Best chance for Detroit City this half comes and it is kind of like the earlier chance they had. Very offside. Only difference is this time it's whistled down before the shot can even come.
Evan Louro snags the ball either way and restarts things.
55'
Good chance for FC Cincinnati as Evander springs Pavel Bucha and all the defense can do to deal with it is send the ball away for a corner kick.
The feed from the corner finds Nick Hagglund but his touch is just off. FCC get another look on a shot from the edge of the box but it pinballs around and out for a goal kick.
50’
The teams have switched sides but the run of play stays the same as the first half with FC Cincinnati pressing the Detroit City end, and Detroit trying to counter with long clearances.
The only flub in this second half thus far was a misplayed touch by Gilberto Flores near the halfway line that sends Detroit running forward, but Sami Gidi tracks back to clean up the danger and end the counter before it really even begins.
46'
We are back underway for the second half and we have three changes for FC Cincinnati.
Nick Hagglund has come on for Teenage Hadebe, Brian Anunga has come on for Obinna Nwobodo and Evan Louro has come on for Roman Celentano.
Halftime
FC Cincinnati end the half with the run of play but Detroit City has upped the physicality and slowed things down. More stops and starts than runs of play.
Best chance of the final moments comes when Bryan Ramirez blasts a shot off the post.
We go to the break with a 1-0 score line.
38' - GOAL KÉVIN DENKEY, 1-0
Kévin Denkey steps up and blasts home the shot to give FC Cincinnati a 1-0 lead! It is Denkey's third of the preseason.
To say a few Detroit City players are unhappy with the call and outcome would be an understatement...
37' Penalty!
The ref points to the spot and FC Cincinnati win a penalty! Kévin Denkey steps to the spot...
35'
Another great chance for FCC as Pavel Bucha fights through traffic and centers a pass to Evander at the top corner of the box. Evander then slips a pass to Denkey but spinning one touch shot goes wide far post.
33'
Brief pause here as Ender Echenique is down after a set piece and trainers are out not to assist him. He gets up, jogs off and rejoins play a few moments later.
The counter attack that came off the set piece gave Detroit it's first moments of pressure in the FCC end, but they've cleared that now and are back on the attack.
28'
Earlier in the game Detroit was a little more bold in pressing forward and trying to pressure FC Cincinnati high. That has kind of disappeared as Detroit have now sat back far deeper and challanged The Orange and Blue to come at them.
It's basically eliminated any real threat to the FCC defense as every counter attack is effectively just booting it long to no one, but it has slowed down the game.
Evander rips the next good chance from a step inside the box but its just wide.
17'
FC Cincinnati really peppering the keeper now. Sami Gidi feeds a ball through to Kévin Denkey and his shot is just wide. Moments later another chance comes after Teenage Hadebe intercepts a pass and springs Denkey, but a dive on that shot from inside the box tips it away by just the outstretched fingers of the keeper.
Fair to say FCC have pinned in Detroit at this point.
Another shot from Bryan Ramirez comes just now as I type this. It too is saved and the follow up is cleared away for a throw in.
11'
Detroit City put one in the net against the run of play on a long ball played over the top, but even from my perspective it was really offside and the refs agree. Flag goes up and it's offside. All square still.
10'
Ten minutes in and possesion has been, basically, all FC Cincinnati's but both sides have an equal number of shots at one. FCC has had a some chances that never ended in a formal shot. The best of which was a cross to Pavel Bucha but his volley didn't come off properly.
Detroit's one shot on target was more of a wild cross that Roman Celentano caught with ease and no one near him.
Needed to pause 2'
Just realized I forgot to apply some sunscreen, can't forget that. A quick spray and I'm back in my seat watching and blogging.
FCC get the first good look early as Evander rushes forward and puts a shot on from inside the box, but it is blocked for a throw in deep in the Detroit half.
Kickoff! 1'
We are underway here in Clearwater, Florida! Detroit City kick things off to start the first 45 minutes.
Moments from kickoff - 11:55 a.m.
We are just moments from kickoff as both sides complete their final preparations. Looks like FC Cincinnati will again wear Blue in their Legacy Kits, while Detroit City FC will don an all red look with some different shades of lighter and darker red throughout their kit.
Also looks like (from my persepctive, so really doesn't matter if you don't have the context and there are no real reference points to make) that FCC will open by attacking right to left.
It's a sunny 66 degrees out today in beautiful Clearwater, Florida. There's a light cool breeze, but otherwise it's a lovely day for FC Cincinnati action.
Lineups are in! - 11:45 a.m. - about 15 minutes from kickoff
Folks, we have a opening XI for this 90 minute match. With FCC adding another friendly to the calendar this week it is unclear exactly how many minutes we should expect from everyone today, but the baseline thus far has been 45. Typicially we would expect to see players ramp up in minutes as preseason goes along, so perhaps look for that today, but we will see.
Anyways, here is the FC Cincinnati XI:
Pavel Bucha
Roman Celentano
Kévin Denkey
Ender Echenique
Evander
Gilberto Flores
Samuel Gidi
Teenage Hadebe
Obinna Nwobodo
Bryan Ramirez
Miles Robinson
Strong Start - 11:28 a.m.
Welcome back to the Live Blog! - 11 a.m. - one hour from kickoff
Welcome back to the Live Blog! I am Carter Chapley, your sun hat wearing, lawn chair sitting, Staff Writer! We are back in action as FC Cincinnati take on Detroit City FC at Walter C. Campbell Sports Park for the third preseason friendly of 2026! 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 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 so keep that in mind.
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 for me. But I'm constantly editing and I appreciate your patience while I sort that out. As Stephen King said: “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 an hour away! So check back in and thank you again for reading!