FC Cincinnati just finished an intriguing early-season stretch of three matches against clubs from three countries across seven days. Last week, the local lads drew 1-1 with Honduran club Motagua to advance 5-2 on aggregate in the Concacaf Champions Cup (CCC). Saturday brought a return to MLS action—and a stinker of a showing in a 4-1 defeat at Philadelphia.
Back in the CCC universe last night in the West End, FCC missed a chance to seize a key first leg advantage against Mexican power Tigres. Cincinnati drew 1-1 against a side being helmed by a manager who was playing for Tigres less than a week ago. Only on Concacaf!
Let’s get into it.
Another early CCC exit would sting, but should be beneficial in the long run
The odds were, and still are, against FC Cincinnati making a deep run in the CCC. MLS teams are already at a disadvantage in the tournament, with Liga MX and clubs from other countries having played for weeks or even months in the tournament’s lead-up. FCC’s initial match of 2025 was its first leg tie against Motagua on February 19.
After being run over by a Red Bull-powered Union steamroller on Saturday, the Orange and Blue were better Tuesday evening with the stakes raised. Cincinnati struck early, with a clever bit of hold-up play by Kevin Denkey leading to a tidy finish from Pavel Bucha in the third minute. The midfielder already has three goals on the season. Bucha and center back Miles Robinson have been the two standout performers through five games.
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Unfortunately for the hosts, they coughed up the lead 14 minutes later, with poor marking from Teenage Hadebe leading to a Tigres equalizer. Both sides had missed chances the rest of the match, which was marred by the typical trifecta of shithousery found in Concacaf: all manners of time-wasting, uncalled yellow card-worthy fouls, and tough guy grandstanding from feckless match officials.
Denkey, the hometown side’s prized striker addition, suffered his worst match for the Garys despite his assist. He fluffed a wide-open chance minutes after Tigres’ equalizer. Later, Denkey attempted to five-hole the keeper instead of rounding him on a breakaway. And in lieu of letting a brilliant pullback pass from DeAndre Yedlin—who looked the best he has all season—roll to Evander, or simply one-timing the pass for a shot, Denkey’s attempted first touch was so wayward that it led him into a yellow card foul on an opponent.
The 24-year-old also took a cheap shot to the ribs from a Tigres defender that all three officials somehow missed. Denkey’s customary clinical finishing and overall penalty area proficiency is going to help Cincinnati earn points regularly 2025, but he wasn’t at his best Tuesday.
I offer the “they need more time” axiom/excuse each season, but it’s true since FC Cincinnati’s preseasons have been fraught with chaos. There was the Brenner transfer drama in 2023. Last year, Brandon Vazquez, Yerson Mosquera, Junior Moreno and Alvaro Barreal had to be replaced, and Bucha, Corey Baird and Aaron Boupendza had to be fully integrated. This year featured holdouts of various lengths from Orellano, Yuya Kubo and Lucho Acosta; the departure of Acosta and the arrival of Evander a week before the season began; the integration of Denkey, Lukas Engel and Gilberto Flores; and the injury to Orellano, which delayed his season debut until last night.
Thus, the patterns of play and combination between players are a month to six weeks behind where they should be. And it’s why if Cincinnati fails to win next Tuesday in “The Volcano” and exits CCC play in the round of 16 for the second successive campaign, I’d shrug my shoulders.
The odds were against FCC. Of the four competitions in play in 2025—CCC, Leagues Cup, Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup—this one was always going to be the most difficult because of the quality of the opposition, early position on the calendar and squad integration issues. These guys need the time on the training ground.
Falling flat in Philly
Hadebe called it a “wake-up call.” Pat Noonan referred to it as a possible “blessing in disguise.” For me, the 4-1 beatdown in Philadelphia feels like it fell under the banner of “not mad, just disappointed” for most supporters. Saturday’s display was played in gusting winds that reminded me of navigating Lake Michigan gales while walking in between high rises in downtown Chicago.
The Union looked different because they are very different. After parting ways with longtime gaffer Jim Curtin following the 2024 season, the club hired Bradley Carnell, who previously piloted St. Louis through its first year and a half in MLS. The longtime Red Bulls assistant is a devotee to the energy drink manufacturer’s frenetic high-pressing persona, which is a constant among its various squads across the globe.
Red Bull outfits prefer to eschew possession in favor of turnover creation and pushing numbers forward. With Bucha rotated to start the match, FC Cincinnati was already going to have a tough time building through its midfield of Obinna Nwobodo and Tah Brian Anunga. Both are ball winners first, tacklers second and passers third.
The lack of verve, the inability to move the ball through the midfield and the comically high winds made for a disastrous first half. The Orange and Blue failed to register a shot on goal in the first half and were fortunate to trail just 2-0. Attackers Evander, Denkey and Kubo were choked off from the rest of the unit. And once Union forward Tai Baribo polished off his hat trick in the 52nd minute, the deed was done.
Up next
FC Cincinnati welcomes Toronto to the West End Saturday evening. A favorite for the Wooden Spoon in 2025, Toronto has conceded six goals in two matches thus far. The return leg at Tigres follows on Tuesday, with FCC needing a victory to advance.
Grant Freking writes FC Cincinnati coverage for Cincinnati Magazine. You can follow him on X at @GrantFreking.
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