Updated 2:46 p.m.
That's the final whistle and FC Cincinnati win 5-2. They finish the preseason with a 3-1-0 record, scoring 12 goals in four games while conceding just seven.
FC Cincinnati will continue its training in Clearwater for the next few days and will depart for Kingston, Jamaica for their Concacaf Champions Cup opener with Cavalier FC next Thursday directly from Florida.
Until then you can continue to expect updates from me, including a takeaways piece later today after Pat Noonan speaks with the media. We are now just seven days away from competitive soccer!
Updated 2:44 p.m.
More subs come on as FCC look to see this to the finish. Stiven Jimenez comes on for Nwobodo, and Malik Pinto for Pavel Bucha.
Updated 2:37 p.m.
They don't stop coming. Aaron Boupendza gets his sixth goal of preseason, as again the dangerous combination of Baird and Acosta support him for the fifth goal of the day! 5-2 now in the 82 minute.
With a high line pushing FC Cincinnati forward, Luciano Acosta makes the Revs pay by slipping a through ball past everyone to Corey Baird on a breakaway joined by Boupendza.
The two only had to beat the keeper as Baird slips a pass late to Boupendza who puts it home after the keeper got a piece of the first attempt.
Subs coming on now for the big three. Quimi Ordoñez in for Boupendza, Dado Valenzuela for Acosta, and Sergio Santos for Baird.
Updated 2:33 p.m.
Corey Baird, Luciano Acosta and Aaron Boupendza combine to earn the fourth goal of the game for The Orange and Blue! Boupendza flicks over to Acosta, who feeds Baird, who slips a pass forward to Boupendza...but the Gabonese striker is hauled down and the ref awards a penalty kick!
Luciano Acosta steps over the spot and converts giving FCC their second four goal game of preseason.
78', 4-2 FC Cincinnati
Updated 2:27 p.m.
Goal New England. Celentano dives to his right but can't reach it.
Revs are starting to try and pressure the backline a little more now and forcing FCC to play out of the back. It's flustered FCC initially but they've responded well since the goal.
3-2 FCC lead, 71'
Updated 2:24 p.m.
FC Cincinnati goal, Trialist. 69'
FCC with their 10th goal in four preseason games and now lead 3-1 scoring three unanswered after scoring four unanswered last week against Philly.
Updated 2:15 p.m.
Pavel Bucha gets his first goal in Orange and Blue and gives his side the lead! Bucha positions himself in the right place to collect a pass near the penalty spot and rip it on target. The keeper gets a piece of it but it's too solid and it flys on into the back of the net.
It was Bucha's third shot on target of the match, so he was closing in on one but he finally gets the big moment to give his team the lead.
2-1 FC Cincinnati, 60'
Updated 2:08 p.m.
Roman Celentano gets a real test on net as a shot is put on but he leap to grab it. After he collects the shot, a beat goes by and Celentano is CRUSHED by a Revs player flying in to try and head it as if the shot was a cross. The pair go down in a heap but it seems there's no hard feelings.
The Revs player immediately apologizes and makes sure Celentano is ok. He is, the pair share a friendly hand clasp to get back up, Matt Miazga ruffles the Revs player hair after charging in to defend his keeper and it's all smiles.
A dangerous possiblity turned into a funny little moment.
Updated 2:01 p.m.
Second half kicks off as Luciano Acosta rolls it back. No changes to the lineup as it appears this group is going to go as long as they can. Halsey stays in for Kubo as the only alteration from the opening eleven.
Updated 1:46 p.m.
Along side the goal, FC Cincinnati made their first substation of the day. Subbing out Yuya Kubo for Bret Halsey. Halsey immediately makes an impact with interception on the restart and starts a build up that results in a corner kick from a Corey Baird shot.
Short runway for the youngster as the half-time whistle blows. He will be out there for the second half though.
Updated 1:43 p.m.
Revs can't hold the lead for long as Luciano Acosta gets his second goal of the preseason and equalizes the match at one at piece.
Acosta perfectly timed up a run and slipped in behind the back line to receive a free look inside the box and calmly slid it past the Revs keeper.
1-1 in the 40'
Reminder, we're playing a full 90 today with a halftime at the 45 minute. So, standard timing.
Updated 1:37 p.m.
Well, it only takes one.
The Revs send a free kick cross through the box and Celentano just can't get a hand on it to send it away. With him out of the net it seems to bounce nearly unintentionally off a Revs players chest and roll slowly into the back of the net near the far post.
In the 35', Revs take a 1-0 lead.
Updated 1:29 p.m.
Pavel Bucha gets the first shot on target for either side but the keeper collects it. Obinna Nwobodo find him to the keepers left side but there just wasn't a window for a quality shot. The new Cincinnati man gets the attempt off quick but its low and near the keeper, all he has to to get low and wrap it up.
The estimated xG for this game would be somewhere near maybe 0.4 - 0.0 but FCC have won the "close chances" battle.
Updated 1:23 p.m.
It has been the preseason of Boupendza. While he doesn't get a goal this time, he creates a brilliant chance. Boupendza picks up a pass just before midfield then drives it upfield, fending off two defenders before finding the outlet to Baird who feeds a 'give and go' back to him... but the shot is blocked from just left of the keeper.
The comfort level Aaron appears to be playing with is just so clear. He's able to drive play up the middle and his teammates are moving to create space around him. We've seen it work with Acosta to the tune of five goals and now Baird is coming into the mix. Really exciting play so far from him.
Updated 1:15 p.m.
Missed this earlier but below is a tweet with New Englands lineup which they state is "fully rotated." The Revs played Philadelphia Union yesterday so it's worth noting that for the evaluation of this match.
Update 1:09 p.m.
First card of the game comes early, as a Revs player (I think it was Buck) takes a yellow for a tackle on Pavel Bucha. I think Bucha's speed after picking up the ball surprised the New England player as he was late to the tackle and caught him on the back heels after turning up field.
The build up from the free kick see Acosta race up the wing and send a cross to Baird, but the keeper intercepts. Very reminiscent of the first goal they connected on but the first one had the cross a little higher, this one was about head high and firmer.
First real chance for either side but it's extremely early.
Updated 1:02 p.m.
Away we go! The Revs win the "Rock Paper Scissors" at center field so they kick off first. We are officially underway!
Updated: 12:55 p.m.
Some traditional match notes on today's game as the sides finalize warmups and begin heading to their places.
FC Cincinnati will attack right to left (from my perspective) to open the game, and will wear their River Kit blues. The Revolution are in grey training tops, with black pants and bright blue socks.
Also of note, for today's fixture we are using the Nike Concacaf Champions Cup balls. The current edition of the 2024 Adidas MLS ball that has been used in training to this point are a bit more multicolored whereas these have a distinct orange design laced into the white.
Nike balls were also used for the US Open Cup last season, where players described them as lighter and therefor more likely to float upwards or move quicker across the air. Something to keep in mind!
Updated: 12:30 p.m.
We are live from Walter Campbell Sports Park, the home of FC Cincinnati preseason training, for the final friendly of 2024. The facility is directly beside Jack Russell Stadium where the Philadelphia Phillies called home for Spring Training from 1953 to 2003 before moving further inland. So while there is a classic old baseball stadium painting the backdrop of today's fixture, the field we play on is essentially just that. A soccer field.
It's a nice field. The grass is well manicured and it holds a vibrant shade of green, the accessories around the park are limited. No scoreboard, no public clock. Just some benches and a small groundskeeping shed.
This is where FC Cincinnati have trained everyday in Clearwater, and it has been an excellent home. Any other luxuries would be just that. The soccer side has effectively worked day in and day out with no issues. But it does color my commentary. Today I will be seated on the far side of the field around midfield in a lawn chair. The curve of the ground means I'll actually be below the playing field about 20 feet from the touch line. All of this is to say sight lines may be compromised, but as always I will do my best.
LINEUPS ARE IN:
Here are the lineups for the final preseason friendly. They may look familiar because they are. FCC will be rolling with the same starting XI that opened the match against Philadelphia Union and took a 4-3 victory. The following are the lineups in alphabetical order:
Luciano Acosta
Corey Baird
Aaron Boupendza
Pavel Bucha
Roman Celentano
Yuya Kubo
Matt Miazga
Ian Murphy
Obinna Nwobodo
Miles Robinson
Trialist
We are back and closer than ever to FC Cincinnati full fledge matches as The Orange and Blue welcome the New England Revolution to their home training facility of Walter Campbell Sports Park for the final preseason friendly of the year! Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. I am Carter Chapley, your friendly neighborhood staff-writer (okay, no hyphen, but respect it!) and I will be set up pitch-side to cover the match in its entirety.
Two weeks ago, FCC traveled to Bradenton, Florida (about 90 minutes south) to play the Revs in a friendly, so today New England makes the return trip. In that friendly, Aaron Boupendza scored twice to give FCC the 2-nil victory in a 120-minute match. Today serves as a return match and the final preseason friendly for both sides.
This match will return to the standard time format, going the standard 90 minutes with a halftime break, altering from the previous two friendlies, which went 120 minutes. As the last tune-up game before departing for Kingston, Jamaica, to take on Cavalier in the Concacaf Champions Cup, then returning to TQL Stadium for opening day of the 2024 MLS season, this is the last opportunity to build fitness to the 90-minute level and start to finalize tactics.
In the past three matches, any substitutions would be made during period breaks, but as a match-ready tune-up, today's game will look and feel more like a standard competitive match.
Check back here throughout the morning for lineups, weather updates, and more before kickoff. I’ll be updating you on all the excitement and highlights! Ill be back around Noon with updates, see you then!
