FC Cincinnati fell 1-0 to the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night in a tough, frustrating match that saw FCC struggle with passing all evening. They couldn’t connect on a decisive shot, sending too many efforts wide and misplacing passes all over the pitch.
The loss leaves Cincinnati five points back in both the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield race.
Head coach Pat Noonan didn’t sugarcoat the performance after the match. “Result, that was a tough, tough stretch, tough moment for the group, right. Results, performances, below our standard and we’ll continue to work to try to fight through it. I know that disappointment’s there with these players, with the fans, and that’s the way it should be. We’re not getting it done.”
It was Brenner’s first game back with FCC in his second stint, and Dominik Marczuk’s debut after joining on loan from Real Salt Lake through the end of the season. Both had a quiet night, with Brenner in particular struggling to find his footing in the front three.
Noonan noted, “Struggled to move again early on. I thought we could try to find moments to get them isolated 3v3, and some of the moments were good, but there wasn’t enough. The movement has to be earlier; it has to be finding ways to be in sync with how you move off the ball.”
First Half
FCC put tons of pressure on Philadelphia early, nearly finding the net several times, but Philadelphia’s keeper Andrew Rick stood tall.
In the 36th minute, Rick made a brilliant diving save after Kevin Denkey’s shot was deflected on its way toward goal, keeping the match tied at 0-0.
The rest of the half was back and forth, with plenty of physical play between the two teams at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Just before halftime, FCC keeper Roman Celentano made a beautiful save to preserve the 0-0 score heading into the break.
Second Half
Right out of halftime, Philadelphia struck first. Bruno Damiani’s header off a perfect cross from Milan Iloski put the visitors ahead 1-0.
Around the 60th minute, Philadelphia’s Olwethu Makhanya was sent off after receiving his second yellow card, giving FCC a man advantage for the final stretch.
Despite the extra player, Cincinnati couldn’t find the equalizer. Noonan pointed to decision-making and composure as key issues: “I think we’re lacking some patience – Just rushing some plays. They defended very well, so that was a part of it, and defended the box well, but I think we could be more patient in the next pass and get a little bit closer to the goal and run harder to the goal and cause more problems.”
He added that the team’s urgency sometimes works against them: “I think it’s this urgency to find the goal and find a lead – that leads to these stretches where we’re trying to do too much. We’re not finding the right simple pass – Times we try to make the play because we’re desperate to find a goal, and the wrong decision, and that just compounds.”
FCC eventually fell 1-0, now putting themselves in a tough position to win the Supporters’ Shield and Eastern Conference, sitting five points behind Philadelphia with a week break to reset.
Next up, FC Cincinnati hosts Nashville SC at TQL Stadium on Saturday, September 13.
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