4 Takeaways from FC Cincinnati’s Preseason Victory over Philadelphia Union

February 10, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – FC Cincinnati News Release

After a rough start to the match, FC Cincinnati scored four unanswered goals, including a brace from Aaron Boupendza and singles from Luciano Acosta and Corey Baird, to win their third preseason friendly, 4-3, over Philadelphia Union.

The match was played in an adapted 120-minute format with three periods organized into 45-minute, 30-minute, and 45-minute sets. One set of 11 players played the first two periods, totaling 75 minutes, then a new set of 11 substitutions checked in for the final 45 minutes.

Let’s look at four key takeaways from the penultimate preseason friendly for FCC:

Slow start, strong finish

An unavoidable talking point from the match was FC Cincinnati’s poor opening 20 minutes, falling in an early 3-0 hole by conceding in the 7th, 15th and 17th minutes.

FCC captain Luciano Acosta told FCCincinnati.com postgame that the slow start may have been due to some tired minds and bodies from preseason training. However, when the group refocused, they performed well.

It’s an apt analysis. After the first 20 minutes of the match, Acosta fed a surging Corey Baird with a high cross that the newly signed member of The Orange and Blue volleyed into an open goal to cut the deficit to 3-1. From there, FCC dominated the run of play and eliminated chances on their own end.

“We certainly addressed the start, because it was bad. It was us not getting into the game and competing for about 15 minutes, and I think the score line showed that,” head coach Pat Noonan said in his weekly media availability after the match. “I like the response … to be able to concede three goals within 20 minutes, and with the group that went 75 minutes to find four goals against a team that defends against the ball very well, that part I liked.”

FC Cincinnati tripped at the starting line, but raced to keep up and ultimately win the marathon. The comeback signified an impressive feat of perseverance and showed just how mature and together the team is as a group.

“You saw a group really need to come together going down so big, so we could have crumbled,” Baird said of today’s performance. “I think it’s a sign of an experienced team. There’s a reason why (FCC) had the success they’ve had (in the past): to be able to gather ourselves and take a deep breath.

“It was never a ‘Okay, we have to go score in the next five minutes.’ It was just like, ‘Alright, let’s wake up. Let’s do what we do.'”

It resulted in a…