FC Cincinnati Blanks Cavalier FC, 2-0

February 22, 2024 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – FC Cincinnati 2 News Release

FC Cincinnati defeated Cavalier FC, 2-0, Thursday night in the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup Round One matchup with the Jamaican side. The match was Cincinnati’s first-ever appearance in the Champions Cup.

Sergio Santos scored his first career Champions Cup goal with the final action of the first half to give the Orange and Blue a 1-0 lead going into the break. Malik Pinto doubled Cincinnati’s lead late in the second half with his first goal for the Orange and Blue.

Cincinnati will host Cavalier in the second leg of Round One play at TQL Stadium on Wednesday, February 28 at 7 p.m. ET.

AS IT HAPPENED

CIN: Sergio Santos, GOAL – 45’+5 (0-1) – Bret Halsey resumes play with a throw-in to Obinna Nwobodo, who returns to Halsey. Halsey drives into the box and gets off short cross which Santos meets and skillfully redirects into the back of the net.

CIN: Malik Pinto, GOAL – 87′ (0-2) – Arquimides Ordoñez receives a pass just inside the Cavalier penalty area. Ordoñez moves away from goal, looking for an angle to release a shot but elects to play Pinto with a backheel pass, and Pinto places a powerful curler past the keeper.

FC Cincinnati begin the 2024 MLS Regular Season and their defense of the Supporters’ Shield on Sunday, February 25 at TQL Stadium against Toronto FC. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. and the match will stream, for free with no subscription required, on Apple TV. Fans can also listen to the match on Fox Sports 1360 in Cincinnati and iHeart.

Tickets for the home opener and the home leg of the Champions Cup Round One matchup are still available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK).

GAME NOTES

– Sergio Santos scored his first goal for FC Cincinnati since April 22 of last season at St. Louis CITY SC.

– Santos’ goal matched the latest first-half goal in club history at 45’+5 (Yerson Mosquera, 45’+5: April 1, 2023 vs MIA).

– Malik Pinto scored his first goal for the club, becoming the 41st different goal scorer in FC Cincinnati’s history … Alongside Arquimides Ordoñez, who provided the assist, the two are the only two players to have scored for the club in non-MLS regular season play only (Ordoñez: April 26, 2023 vs LOU, USOC).

– Four players made their club debut for FC Cincinnati: Corey Baird, Pavel Bucha and Miles Robinson in the Starting XI; Kipp Keller as a substitute.

– Bret Halsey, registering his second-career assist, made his…