FC Cincinnati Look to Take Lessons Learned from Concacaf Champions Cup Pain to MLS Play, Future Competitions

March 15, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – FC Cincinnati News Release

At night’s end, a rabid fan base in Estadio BBVA cheered and cried over its club advancing. FC Cincinnati had to sit in that chaos and swallow its fate. After two premier performances, that warranted a better outcome than an early exit, FC Cincinnati are headed stateside out of the Concacaf Champions Cup.

Scoring opportunities were abound but FC Cincinnati finally found a goal in the second half of the match-a golazo from Luciano Acosta that may now be lost to time due to the outcome-and went 12 rounds with the Liga MX leaders, the top club in the Concacaf Club Index, and consensus favorites in the tournament. They pushed Rayados to the brink at times.

The passion was clear. There was no layoff. FC Cincinnati rolled out their A squad, kept their foot on the gas and fought for 90-plus minutes. Acosta rallied his troops at every opportunity, Yuya Kubo battled through every CF Monterrey player who dared to step in his way for every 50/50 ball, Matt Miazga pushed for each and every inch and Pavel Bucha ran like he was mad at the ground.

From the get-go, it was made clear that it would take especially impactful contact to earn a foul, let alone a card, leading to one of the more physical games in the club’s recent memory. Still, FCC persisted, fighting through every extracurricular scuffle to win possession, resulting in plenty of fireworks between both sides. Sparks that may have been warranted.

But it wasn’t enough. CF Monterrey played like they were in midseason form (because they are) and as if they have been playing together for years (because they have). Passes moved into spaces that seemed open, but were picked up quickly by a running Monterrey man, making it seem like the passer and receiver communicated telepathically. The Liga MX side looked like 11 men who knew exactly where each other were at all times and where they would be next.

And still, despite being less than a month into the season with significant turnover and playing in perhaps the most hostile environment the club has ever played in, FCC went blow for blow.

“The way the guys competed out there today … I was really pleased with how they went after the game,” Pat Noonan said after the match. “Even going down the goal in a difficult moment right before the break, we came out in a strong way to get the goal and get some momentum.

“It’s disappointing, but the guys gave everything so I can’t be you know, I can’t be more proud…