COLUMBUS – FC Cincinnati’s six-game unbeaten run was snapped Sunday night at Lower.com Field with a 2-0 loss to the Columbus Crew.
With the loss, the Orange and Blue move to 7-8-6 (27 points) and finish MLS Week 21 just above the playoff line in seventh place. The Crew improve to 7-5-8 (29 points).
FC Cincinnati was shutout for the first time since a scoreless draw at Atlanta United FC on April 16. The club’s record 13-game streak with a goal was snapped.
Cucho Hernández scored his fourth goal in his third career MLS game for the Crew to open scoring in the 16th minute. Lucas Zelarayán converted from the penalty spot in the 86th minute to put the game to rest.
The Orange and Blue return home to TQL Stadium on Saturday, July 23 to take on Nashville SC. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and the game can be watched on Star64, streamed in-market at fccincinnati.com, out of market on ESPN+ and listened to on the radio on ESPN 1530. Tickets are available at fccincinnati.com/tickets.
FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati at Columbus Crew
Date: July 17, 2022
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: Lower.com Field
Attendance: 20,771
Kickoff: 7:57 p.m. ET
Weather: 72 degrees, rain
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
CLB: 1-1-2
CIN: 0-0-0
CLB - Cucho Hernández (Lucas Zelarayán) 16’, Lucas Zelarayán (PK) 86’
CIN - None
GAME NOTES
• FC Cincinnati fall to 1-5-3 against the Crew in MLS competition.
• The Orange and Blue failed to score for the first time after 13 consecutive games … the streak ends matched with CF Montréal’s run (March 5 – May 28) as the longest such run in MLS this season.
• Yuya Kubo has started in all seven Hell is Real matches since joining FC Cincinnati prior to the 2020 season … Haris Medunjanin, coming on as a second half substitute, has appeared in all seven derbies since joining the Orange and Blue prior to 2020.
• Coming on as a second half substitute, Arquimides Ordonez made the longest appearance of his MLS career (May 14, 2022 at CHI – 24 minutes).
• Obinna Nwobodo became the ninth player in the club’s MLS history to start as captain of the Orange and Blue (Acosta, Waston, Medunjanin, Matarrita, Hagglund, Hoyte, Garza, Cameron).
LINEUPS
CIN: Roman Celentano, John Nelson (Geoff Cameron 54’), Ian Murphy (Calvin Harris 83’), Nick Hagglund, Ray Gaddis (Alvas Powell 69’), Allan Cruz (Haris Medunjanin 69’), Obinna Nwobodo (C), Álvaro Barreal, Brenner, Yuya Kubo (Arquimides Ordonez 55’), Brandon Vazquez
Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Tyler Blackett, Nick Markanich, Harrison Robledo
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
CLB: Eloy Room, Josh Williams, Jonathan Mensah (C), Pedro Santos, Steven Moreira, Darlington Nagbe, Lucas Zelarayán (Milos Degenek 89’), Aidan Morris, Cucho Hernández (Erik Hurtado 64’), Luis Diaz (James Igbekeme 74’), Derrick Etienne Jr.
Substitutes not used: Evan Bush, Kevin Molino, Yaw Yeboah, Jalil Abibaba, Sean Zawadzki, Will Sands
Head Coach: Caleb Porter
STATS SUMMARY: CLB/CIN
Shots: 17 / 9
Shots on Goal: 4 / 2
Saves: 2 / 2
Corner Kicks: 9 / 3
Fouls: 8 / 17
Offside: 0 / 2
Possession: 58.3 / 41.7
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – Nick Hagglund (Yellow Card) 47’
CLB – Steven Moreira (Yellow Card) 78’
CIN – Obinna Nwobodo (Yellow Card) 84’
OFFICIALS
Referee: Marcos Deoliveira
Ast. Referees: Andrew Bigelow, Jose Da Silva
Fourth Official: Elvis Osmanovic
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
Ast. VAR: Jeff Muschik
POSTGAME QUOTES
FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan
On the result
"It just felt like it wasn't our night. I thought it was a good start and we had a, in the first five minutes, a really good look to go up and had missed out on that opportunity. But I think where we lost some rhythm and momentum in the first half was just our defensive pressure. I think we dropped too deep. You know, instead of the break, our wingers were often dropping, which allowed their outside backs to really get forward. At the same time, we had Obi [Nwobodo] and Allan [Cruz] just too deep. I think we were maybe too respectful of two very talented players in the middle of the field, but it did allow us to get pressure to the ball higher up the field. And so we took on a lot of pressure. I thought in the second half, it improved. But on the night, defensively, I just don't think we were consistent enough in how we defended higher up the field. And then, in the box, we had a couple of good looks, but you know, just lacked a little bit composure in the final product tonight. I thought we defended the box very well with the amount of times they were able to get wide and get crosses in the box. I was pleased with that tonight. And in the end, we concede on a set piece and a PK. Games are going look like that on the road where you have to defend and defend well, and I think we were unfortunate, but also they were the better team on the night.”
On the loss
“This was one of the first in a while where it felt like we just weren't good enough on the night. And the disappointing part is, we know how much it means to the club and to the fans. And so to not be able to send the ones that came home happy, that's disappointing, and certainly the ones that have supported us along the way and are back home, we're going to continue to work to make our fans proud of what we're doing. And the group that we put out on the field every week will be ready to compete. We won't win every game. But I think tonight showed that no matter how the games go when these guys are ready to compete, we just have to have a little bit more quality and focus in certain moments and we can be more consistent in our results. The loss doesn't set back some of the things that are happening in the mentality of the group, but it's a disappointing loss.”
Fans can place deposits now for 2023 Season Tickets, and current season ticket holders can renew for 2023 now. Anyone with interest in 2023 Season Tickets can place their deposit HERE, or by calling 513-977-KICK, that’s 513-977-5425.
FC Cincinnati's 2022 schedule can be viewed, HERE. Fans can build their custom 3 Match Flex Plan today. Pick any three matches and save on single match ticket pricing with no fees at checkout. Fans can pick the same seats for three games or select different options around TQL Stadium.
Single match tickets to any of FC Cincinnati’s remaining home games are also available now, head to fccincinnati.com/tickets or call 513-977-KICK, to learn more.
FC Cincinnati are playing their fourth season of MLS competition in 2022, and their second playing at TQL Stadium. 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 the Apple App Store or Google Play for instant access to mobile tickets, team content and match notifications.
