FC Cincinnati defeated Cavalier FC in the return leg of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, 4-0 Wednesday night at TQL Stadium, earning an aggregate 6-0 win in Round One of the Champions Cup. The Orange and Blue had three first-time goal scorers in the clean sheet victory.
Alvas Powell got things started for FCC as he buried a wide-open shot in the first 20 minutes, his first-career goal with the club. Aaron Boupendza sent the Orange and Blue into the half with a 2-0 lead after a laser off his left foot in the 34th minute.
Isaiah Foster picked up his first FC Cincinnati goal late in the second half, followed by 19-year-old Gerardo ‘Dado’ Valenzuela’s goal in the 78th minute, making him the youngest goal scorer in club history. Bret Halsey picked up two assists, giving him his first-ever multi-goal contribution game, and Lucho Acosta’s assist of Valenzuela’s goal was his 50th career helper for the Orange and Blue.
FC Cincinnati advance to the Concacaf Round of 16 to face Mexican club CF Monterrey.
FC Cincinnati take on Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field on Saturday, March 2. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT and the match will air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Fans can also listen to the match on Fox Sports 1360 in Cincinnati and iHeart.
The Orange and Blue return home next to TQL Stadium for the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 against CF Monterrey on Thursday, March 7. Tickets to the general public will go on sale tomorrow, February 29, at 1 p.m. ET. Opted-in FCC Season Ticket Members and Orange and Blue Reserve members will have an exclusive presale at 10 a.m. ET. Tickets will be available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK).
AS IT HAPPENED
CIN: Alvas Powell, GOAL – 19’ (1-0) – Bret Halsey showed off his handling as he dribbled the ball through two Cavelier defenders inside the box. Halsey then found a wide-open Powell on the right side of the goal-box where he tapped in his first career goal with the Orange and Blue.
CIN: Aaron Boupendza, GOAL 34’ (2-0) – Gerardo Valenzuela picked up his dribble just outside the box and executed a skillful pass off his back heel to a contested Boupendza. As Boupendza collected the pass, he fired a rocket off his left foot from 20-yards out into the back right corner of the net.
CIN: Isaiah Foster, GOAL 71’ (3-0) – Bret Halsey mirrored his first half assist as he maneuvered around a defender outside the goal-box. Foster found his way into the picture as Halsey crossed the ball and Foster deflected his shot off the goalkeeper and into the net.
CIN: Gerardo Valenzuela, GOAL 78’ (4-0) – Luciano Acosta entered the game in the 74th-minute and sent a pass from the middle of the field to a heavily contested Valenzuela. With three defenders around, Valenzuela showed off his footwork, split the middle of the defenders and sunk his first career goal into the left side of the net.
GAME NOTES
- Alvas Powell scored his first-career goal for FC Cincinnati in his 83rd appearance for the club, which was the most appearances for the club without a goal scored … The next most appearances made by a non-GK without a goal scored for the club is Ray Gaddis (61 apps/0 goals).
- Powell’s goal was his second career Concacaf Champions Cup (League) goal, his first coming August 19, 2014, at Guyanese club Alpha United with the Portland Timbers.
- Aaron Boupendza netted his first goal of the season, the eighth of his FCC career.
- Wednesday’s kickoff temperature of 34°F marked the coldest home kickoff for a match in club history … The Previous coldest home kickoff was last season’s Eastern Conference Semifinal vs Philadelphia Union (38°F).
- Gerardo Valenzuela made his first career start for FC Cincinnati, scoring his first career goal for the club also.
- Valenzuela became the youngest player in club history to score a goal and an assist in club history.
- Lucho Acosta recorded his 50th career assist for FC Cincinnati.
- Bret Halsey’s two assists marked his first-career multi-goal contribution game.
- Isaiah Foster, making his second-career appearance for the first team, netted his first goal … He is the second substitute to score for the club this season after Malik Pinto did in the first leg.
- Matt Miazga wore the captain’s armband for the eighth time in his career.
FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati vs Cavalier FC
Date: February 28, 2024
Competition: Concacaf Champions Cup Round One, Second Leg
Venue: TQL Stadium
Kickoff: 7:06 p.m. ET
Weather: 34 degrees, clear
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-FT
CIN: 2-2-4
CAV: 0-0-0
CIN – Alvas Powell (Halsey) 19’, Aaron Boupendza (Valenzuela) 34’, Isaiah Foster (Halsey) 71’, Gerardo Valenzuela (Acosta) 78’
CAV – None
LINEUPS
CIN: Roman Celentano, Bret Halsey (Luca Orellano 87’), Ian Murphy (Isaiah Foster 46’), Matt Miazga (London Aghedo 46’), Kipp Keller (Luciano Acosta 74’), Alvas Powell, Malik Pinto, Obinna Nwobodo (Stiven Jimenez 46’), Gerardo Valenzuela, Arquimides Ordonez, Aaron Boupendza (Sergio Santos 62’)
Substitutes not used: Evan Louro, Yuya Kubo, Corey Baird, Miles Robinson, Pavel Bucha
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
CAV: Vino Barclett, Gadail Irving (Kwayne Thompson 46’), Richard King, Kyle Ming, Jeovanni Laing, Dwayne Atkinson, Dwayne Allen, Jerome Mcleary (Ronaldo Robinson 63’), Shamar Watson (Makenson Cadet 63’), Jalmaro Calvin (Jaheem Frazer 75’), Shaniel Thomas (Orlando Russell 75’)
Substitutes not used: Jeadine White, Matthew Ellis, Alexavier Gooden
Head Coach: Rudolph Speid
STATS SUMMARY: CIN/CAV
Shots: 33 / 2
Shots on Goal: 17 / 2
Saves: 2 / 13
Corner Kicks: 10 / 2
Fouls: 7 / 3
Offside: 3 / 1
Possession: 60.0 / 40.0
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CAV – Jalmaro Calvin (Yellow Card) 12’
OFFICIALS
Referee: Keylor Herrera
Ast. Referees: Carlos Fernandez, William Chow
Fourth Official: Bryan Lopez
VAR: Adonai Escobedo
AVAR: Said Martinez
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.
