Photograph courtesy FC Cincinnati
Despite the inherent familiarity and the frequency of matches, recent history between FC Cincinnati and the Philadelphia Union had been one-sided. Since 2022, in seven matches against the perennial Eastern Conference contenders, FCC had four victories and one loss. Now let’s not confuse an extended run of positive results since ex-Union staffers Pat Noonan and Chris Albright’s joint takeover of the league’s sorriest franchise with utter dominance—three of the Orange and Blue’s triumphs were one-goal victories.
Still, entering Tuesday evening’s Leagues Cup round of 16 tilt at TQL Stadium, the Garys hadn’t dropped a match to their frenemies from Philly since a 1-0 loss at Subaru Park in the 2022 Eastern Conference semifinals. Notable recent conquests include a 94th-minute Yerson Mosquera score to clinch last year’s East semifinals. Earlier this season, Lucho Acosta delivered a 100th-minute winner to ice a 4-3 triumph.
The pendulum swung back to the City of Brotherly Love with the Union’s 4-2 victory last night, sending FC Cincinnati packing prior to the Leagues Cup quarterfinal round for the second year running. The local lads are now off until an August 24 road trip to East-leading Inter Miami.
FCC and Philly submitted one of the more exciting scoreless first halves you’ll witness, with thrusting counterattacks and ample penalty area activity, but zilch in the way of finishing touches. The second half delivered six goals from the 51st minute to the 84th minute, with the visitors registering the first two and last two scores.
Goals from Pavel Bucha and DeAndre Yedlin to level the match evoked memories of last week’s four-goal second-half outburst to rally past New York City FC, but FCC’s defense, typically stout under Noonan, crumbled under constant pressure from the Union. A pair of wonder goals by Tai Baribo, the hottest striker in MLS with nine tallies over his past seven matches, were particularly crushing.
The Orange and Blue certainly don’t need 10 days off between matches, but time on the training ground to fully integrate Chidozie Awaziem and more recuperation for Acosta’s foot injury could pay dividends down the line. FC Cincinnati progressed to the round of 16 by downing Liga MX’s Santos Laguna in penalty kicks (6-5) on Friday night. Awaziem’s mishit back pass gifted Santos an early lead, but Luca Orellano answered with a corner-pocket effort from 20 yards out. The match ended 1-1 in regulation.
In an early view of FCC’s offseason plans, Noonan said post-Santos Laguna that he expects Orellano to be back in 2025, which would require the club to pick up his loan purchase option (amount unknown). Orellano’s rights are still owned by Vasco da Gama of the Brazilian first division.
Speaking of personnel moves, as of this writing the only news to report—MLS’s Secondary Transfer Window closes at midnight Wednesday—arrived last week, when Aaron Boupendza’s contract was terminated. He scored only one more goal than he had jaws broken in 2024 and finished his FCC career with nine goal contributions in 24 league matches.
Albright’s near-spotless record on player recruitment gets its first major demerit with Boupendza, who not only failed to replace Brenner or Brandon Vazquez but couldn’t train well enough to start over less-talented teammates once his jaw healed. Will Albright atone by bringing in another striker before the window closes, or will the club wait until the winter?
Grant Freking writes FC Cincinnati coverage for Cincinnati Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter at @GrantFreking.
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