FC Cincinnati earned a 2-1 win Saturday night against Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field in Chicago. The Orange and Blue (1-0-1, 4 points) earned three points for the first time this season.
Aaron Boupendza scored his first goal of the league campaign and has scored in consecutive matches for the Orange and Blue after finding the back of the net midweek in the Concacaf Champions Cup against Cavalier FC. Boupendza, who scored five goals in 10 appearances for the Orange and Blue in 2023, registered the club’s first regular season goal of 2024.
Xherdan Shaqiri leveled things from the penalty spot late in the first half for the Fire with his first goal of the year after being held off the scoresheet in Chicago’s 2-2 opening week result against Philadelphia Union.
Offseason free agent signing Miles Robinson scored his first goal for the club, winning the match for the Orange and Blue. Luciano Acosta assisted on the goal for his first helper of the season after registering 14 assists in 2023 which was tied for the fourth most in MLS.
AS IT HAPPENED
CIN: Aaron Boupendza, GOAL – 39’ (0-1) – Aaron Boupendza took advantage of a poor centering pass from Rafael Czichos, intercepting deep in the Chicago half. Boupendza took possession and calmly settled atop the Fire penalty area, bouncing a shot past Chris Brady.
CHI: Xherdan Shaqiri, GOAL (PK) – 45’ (1-1) – Fire captain Xherdan Shaqiri brought the match level from the penalty spot following a VAR check for a previous foul against Brian Gutierrez by Obinna Nwobodo inside the area.
CIN: Miles Robinson, GOAL – 68’ (1-2) – Defender Miles Robinson won it for Cincinnati in the 68th minute from a Cincinnati corner kick. Luciano Acosta found Robinson inside the penalty area, and the defender was able to make good contact with Acosta’s service to put it away.
The Orange and Blue return home to TQL Stadium for the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 against CF Monterrey on Thursday, March 7. FC Cincinnati will stay at home for Major League Soccer play on Sunday, March 10 to take on D.C. United, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. ET.
Tickets to both matches are available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK).
GAME NOTES
- FC Cincinnati have earned more wins at Chicago Fire FC than any other MLS opponent (4).
- FC Cincinnati’s 4-1-1 record away to Chicago, and the 13 of 18 possible points earned in the Windy City, are both club bests.
- FC Cincinnati are 13-2-4 under Head Coach Pat Noonan when playing a game on two-days rest.
- Saturday marked FC Cincinnati’s win in their first MLS road match of a season … The club previously was 0-3-2.
- Aaron Boupendza netted the first MLS Regular Season goal of the 2024 season for FC Cincinnati … A different forward has scored the opening goal each of the past three seasons (2022: Brandon Vazquez at ORL; 2023: Sergio Santos vs HOU).
- Miles Robinson became the fifth player on FC Cincinnati’s roster to score their first career goal for the club this season (Pinto, Powell, Foster, Valenzuela).
FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati at Chicago Fire FC
Date: March 2, 2024
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: Soldier Field
Attendance: 26,582
Kickoff: 8:40 p.m. ET/7:40 p.m. CT
Weather: 50 degrees, clear
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
CHI: 1-0-1
CIN: 1-1-2
CHI – Xherdan Shaqiri (PK) 45’
CIN – Aaron Boupendza 39’, Miles Robinson (Acosta) 68’
LINEUPSÂ
CIN: Roman Celentano, Yuya Kubo, Ian Murphy, Matt Miazga, Miles Robinson, Alvas Powell (Bret Halsey 64’), Pavel Bucha, Obinna Nwobodo, Luciano Acosta (C), Corey Baird (Gerardo Valenzuela 87’), Aaron Boupendza (Sergio Santos 80’)
Substitutes not used: Evan Louro, Malik Pinto, Arquimides Ordoñez, Isaiah Foster, London Aghedo, Stiven Jimenez
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
CHI: Chris Brady, Rafael Czichos, Mauricio Pineda, Allan Arigoni, Fabian Herbers (Georgios Koutsias 75’), Gaston Gimenez, Kellyn Acosta (Federico Navarro 75’), Maren Haile-Selassie, Brian Gutierrez, Xherdan Shaqiri (C) (Chris Mueller 85’), Hugo Cuypers
Substitutes not used: Spencer Richey, Tom Barlow, Tobias Salquist, Wyatt Omsberg, Jonathan Dean, Chase Gasper
Head Coach: Frank Klopas
STATS SUMMARY: CHI/CIN
Shots: 5 / 14
Shots on Goal: 1 / 6
Saves: 4 / 0
Corner Kicks: 3 / 9
Fouls: 16 / 12
Offside: 1 / 3
Possession: 51.3 / 48.7
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – Obinna Nwobodo (Yellow Card) 43’
CHI – Kellyn Acosta (Yellow Card) 55’
CHI – Fabian Herbers (Yellow Card) 66’
CIN – Pavel Bucha (Yellow Card) 81’
CIN – Corey Baird (Yellow Card) 84'
CHI – Brian Gutierrez (Yellow Card) 90’+4
OFFICIALS
Referee: Mario Maric
Ast. Referees: Sergio Santana, Rogelio Alvarez
Fourth Official: Nikola Aleska
VAR: Frank Anderson
FC Cincinnati’s full 2024 schedule can be viewed HERE. FC Cincinnati matches air live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, the unprecedented subscription service which features every MLS Regular Season, MLS Cup Playoff and Leagues Cup match.
Single Match Tickets can be purchased now at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK). For more information about Group Tickets and Premium hospitality options, including suites and all-inclusive experiences, call (513) 763-1025.
For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. Additionally, fans are encouraged to download the team’s official mobile app on iOS or Android for instant access to mobile tickets, team content and match notifications.
