FC Cincinnati battled back from a two-goal deficit to earn a 3-3 draw on Saturday night against the Chicago Fire. It was a point gained, but also another night where familiar issues showed up for the orange and blue. Cincinnati trailed 3-1 early in the second half before fighting back to level the match in front of a loud home crowd.
After the match, head coach Pat Noonan said he liked the effort but was frustrated with how long it took for the team to figure it out.
“We found two goals against a good team in the second half, where I thought we pushed the game well, and I liked the way we pushed the game. don’t like how we can’t figure out how to do that earlier in the game and be more courageous and just be more tuned into a lot of things so that we don’t find ourselves in the hole we’re in.”
Chicago opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Hugo Cuypers fired home a volley to make it 1-0.
Later on, Cincinnati answered in the 42nd minute. Tom Barlow followed the play and finished a rebound to tie the match 1-1.
Chicago regained the lead deep into first-half stoppage time. Philip Zinckernagel converted a penalty five minutes into extra time after Sam Gidi was called for running over Cuypers from behind. Roman Celentano guessed correctly but could not stop the well-placed shot, giving Chicago a 2-1 lead at halftime.
Chicago struck again right out of the half. Cuypers scored his second of the night in the 48th minute, one-timing a shot into the corner to extend the Fire lead to 3-1.
Cincinnati began its comeback in the 79th minute when Evander converted a penalty kick to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Moments later, a free kick from Evander deflected off a Chicago defender for an own goal, tying the match 3-3.
Noonan also addressed the ongoing discipline issues that have affected the team this season.
“We have not solved it. We spoke about it after the last game, so it is going to take a longer period of time to see improvement. Because even if that would not have been the case where they do not pick up the yellows, or we do not concede a PK, this needs to be the norm.”
Noonan also said center back Miles Robinson left the match in the 64th minute because he was on a minutes restriction after returning from a groin injury that kept him out for roughly three weeks.
Cincinnati is now 2-4-2 in MLS play and sits on eight points through eight matches, 10th in the Eastern Conference standings.
Next up is a one-game road trip to New York City on Wednesday, followed by a return home next Saturday to face the New York Red Bulls.
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