Cover Photo Credit: CONCACAF.com
Chicago Fire FC 1, FC Cincinnati 2
- MLS Regular Season Matchday 3
- Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
- March 2, 2024 – 8:30 pm EST
- MLS Season Pass, Apple TV+
Lineups
Chicago Fire (3-4-2-1): Brady; Czichos, Pineda, Arigoni; Herbers (Koutsias 75′), Gimenez, Acosta (Navarro 75′), Haile-Selassie; Gutierrez, Shaqiri (Mueller 85′), Cuypers
FC Cincinnati (3-4-1-2): Celentano; Murphy, Miazga, Robinson; Kubo, Bucha, Nwobodo, Powell (Halsey 64′); Acosta; Boupendza (Santos 80′), Baird (Valenzuela 87′)
Scoring Summary
39′ FC Cincinnati – Aaron Boupendza
45′ Chicago Fire FC – Xherdan Shaqiri (Penalty)
68′ FC Cincinnati – Miles Robinson (Assist: Luciano Acosta)
Discipline
39′ Yellow Card – Obinna Nwobodo (CIN)
55′ Yellow Card – Kellyn Acosta (CHI)
66′ Yellow Card – Mauricio Pineda (CHI)
81′ Yellow Card – Pavel Bucha (CIN)
84′ Yellow Card – Corey Baird (CIN)
90’+4′ Yellow Card – Brian Gutierrez (CHI)
Headlines
Miles Robinson scored his first goal for FC Cincinnati in Chicago.
Miles Robinson, Luciano Acosta both earned MLS Team of the Matchday honors for their performances on Saturday.
Man Of The Match
Every matchday, I have a poll posted on X/Twitter with the four highest rated players from FC Cincinnati via FotMob. Fans can vote on who they think was the man of the match, and I will agree or disagree with their decision on the recap post.
84% of voters picked…. Miles Robinson. Well done, Gary Nation! So far, you’re 2 for 2 on your Man of the Matchday picks!
FC Cincinnati vs Monterrey
- CONCACAF Champions Cup – Round 2
- TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
- March 7, 2024 – 7:00 pm EST
- FS2
This is the matchup that FC Cincinnati fans have had circled since the CONCACAF Champions Cup draw occurred. Brandon Vazquez, the all-time club goalscorer, returns to TQL Stadium months after his big move to Liga MX side CF Monterrey.
It’s the reigning MLS Supporters’ Shield winners hosting the 5 time CONCACAF Champions Cup… well Champions League… winners at TQL Stadium. This… is must watch TV.
Monterrey have opted for the back four look often as of late, shifting between a one and two striker look frequently. Vazquez leads the team with goals in Liga MX this year, 5 goals in 8 matches for the USMNT forward. He’s hot.
For FC Cincinnati, USMNT defender DeAndre Yedlin joins the team days before the matchup from 2023 Leagues Cup winners Inter Miami CF (more words about that transfer below), adding a dynamic wingback option for Pat Noonan’s 3-4-1-2 system.
With away goals as a the first tie-breaker in the CCC, FC Cincinnati will look to contain Vazquez and Rayados in any way possible. What’s going for the Orange and Blue? They haven’t conceded a goal from a set piece OR open play, with a single Shaqiri penalty being the only goal scored against FC Cincinnati in 2024. Miles Robinson and Matt Miazga create a dynamic centerback pairing, with Ian Murphy continuing to develop as the third CB in the back three system.
DeAndre Yedlin
Rhianna? Huh.
All jokes aside, FC Cincinnati finalized a deal to sign USMNT defender DeAndre Yedlin from Inter Miami CF for $172,799 in GAM. That’s oddly specific. Yedlin fills a big need at the wingback role on the right side, a whole left by Santiago Arias’ departure.
DeAndre Yedlin brings loads of experience, both European and International (USMNT), something that Cincinnati lost when Arias left. Combine that with the departure of one Alvaro Barreal, the current uncertainty of the availability of Luca Orellano (urgent family matter)… Yedlin should undoubtedly slot right into FC Cincinnati’s lineup with no issue.
Tactically, we’ll have to see how involved DeAndre Yedlin gets in the attack. He has the chops defensively to be more than serviceable as a RWB, especially with Miles Robinson as the RCB covering on his side.