4 Takeaways from FC Cincinnati’s Preseason Victory over the New England Revolution

February 2, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – FC Cincinnati News Release

FC Cincinnati scored twice in the second frame of the adapted 120-minute fixture with New England on Thursday at IMG Academy. The match was structured with four 30-minute periods, and both clubs made a full 11-man switch after the first two periods.

The 2-0 victory for The Orange and Blue is nice. Still, given the circumstances and oddities of preseason friendlies like this one, the performance was truly important and worth discussing.

Let’s dive deeper into four things I took away from the match:

The Boupendza-Acosta Connection

Aaron Boupendza scored both FC Cincinnati goals. Luciano Acosta assisted on both to give the duo three goal connections in two games in preseason. They haven’t all been cookie-cutter or in the same way; all three have come in different ways and situations.

The connection between FC Cincinnati’s Landon Donovan MLS MVP winner in Acosta and the DP striker the club purchased in the middle of last year’s season is imperative moving forward. In many ways, they are expected to be the engine that drives this offense, and their growing chemistry is key to that.

It’s taken time to click on all cylinders, as any new player would tell you is normal, but it’s clear they are connecting on some higher level now. Acosta understands where and when Boupendza likes a ball played for him, and conversely, Boupendza is finding runs that he knows Acosta can, or likes to, play the ball and create open space.

An impressive example of this was the second goal the Gabonese striker finished on. Where Acosta had won a ball in midfield just shy of the circle in the FCC defensive zone, and before the MVP had fully turned to run in the space, Boupendza took off up the field, realizing the bubble in the New England defense. Acosta found him in stride for an over-the-top long ball that bounced once before Boupendza got a flick over the keeper for a score.

Instinct? Good coaching? Chemistry? All of the above in some combination but they’re clearly developing something special.

They put the CB in USA

For the first time, FC Cincinnati could utilize their full might at the center-back position and see how their new star defender would slide into an impressive defensive core.

Miles Robinson was joined by Matt Miazga and Ian Murphy in the opening 11, giving FCC a trio of defenders who have all been called to represent their country in some capacity. When you throw Roman Celentano into that mix, it’s…