SAINT PAUL, Minnesota – A result by any means against a club of Minnesota United FC's experience would have sufficed, but FC Cincinnati went for late flair and dramatics against Minnesota.
The end result was one of the most stunning and history-filled wins in FC Cincinnati history.
A tired, injury-plagued FC Cincinnati team that was admittedly off its collective game grabbed a late, game-winning goal at Minnesota's Allianz Field on Saturday. Brandon Vazquez's team-leading sixth score of the season proved decisive after he tapped in from close range off a feed from second-year player, Calvin Harris.
Moments after Vazquez silenced the partisan crowd, the final whistle sent Loons fans flocking for the exit gates as FC Cincinnati clinched three consecutive wins for the first time in the club's MLS history.
"Incredible. Three wins, back-to-back-to-back, feels good," Vazquez said. "The team's really been working and I think we deserve it."
The result pushed FC Cincinnati's record to 5-5-1 (16 points) in MLS play.
The fifth win saw FCC surpass its 2021 season-long total of four wins.
Set against the back-drop of fatigue, injuries and other personnel deficits as Cincinnati played its third of five matches in a 15-day span, the victory also saw the club overcome considerable obstacles.
"That win was a testament just to the mentality of the group," FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said afterward. "I thought we had heavy legs. You could see that. When you're quality with the ball isn't there, you've got to figure out how to defend well, and that was a lot of what we talked about before the game – understanding the importance of defending as a team.
"We could never get into our attacking shape or any kind of rhythm with a lot of careless turnovers but the way the guys defended the box tonight and put their bodies on the line enabled us to see this game out in a way where we could get three points."
FC Cincinnati was forced to endure a Minnesota onslaught over the first 20 minutes of the contest. Only by the end of the first half had FC Cincinnati staved off Minnesota's early push for a goal, and also claimed quality chances of its own to make the game more respectable.
With FC Cincinnati malfunctioning down the right side of its shape in the first half, Noonan replaced right back Zico Bailey, who made his first start of 2022 on the night, with Alvas Powell.
Powell was one of six FC Cincinnati players that had played every minute of the past six games but his services were required after FCC found itself in the game at the intermission despite being outplayed early.
When the time came to make substitutions throughout the second half, and as FCC moved closer to taking a valuable point off Minnesota, Noonan's changes trended toward more attacking than defensive as Alvaro Barreal was brought in for his second-ever game at left back, and Quimi Ordonez and Calvin Harris were also introduced.
The moves indicated FC Cincinnati wasn't content to sit back and defend for a draw. They were going for the win, although Noonan noted the attack-minded moves were also a result of the personnel he had available to him.
"Very pleased with the contributions of all the players that came in. Calvin Harris – fantastic to help us get that goal," Noonan said. "Quimi – I thought he did some really good things with his minutes... Alvaro and Calvin being put in positions that they're unfamiliar with, but the commitment is there from the group. That's what enables you to find points on a night when you're not at your best."
FC Cincinnati labored to get the win across the finish line and with a Wednesday Lamar Hunt Open Cup match at New England Revolution looming, Noonan announced that an unspecified number of players wouldn't even be considered for participation due to fatigue.
Rookie FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano shined against Minnesota in helping preserve the win.
Making his fifth consecutive start in place of the injured Alec Kann, Celentano made five saves to preserve his second consecutive shutout in league play.
A nine-point week
Wins have been few and far between for FC Cincinnati since it joined MLS, let alone notching consecutive wins.
Saturday was the club's first three-match winning streak since its days as a second-division juggernaut in what's now called the USL Championship, and those wins dimmed significantly as the club racked up losses in MLS.
"I think, man, it's just awesome. It's a good feeling," said four-year FC Cincinnati veteran Nick Hagglund. "I think it just goes into everything we've been working on this year: Building culture, building the right attitude, mentality. On a day when maybe our football wasn't our best and maybe we had tired legs, we gut out a win against a quality opponent. I think that says a lot about who we are right now and the direction that we're heading."
The club's first-ever nine-point week started in Toronto with FC Cincinnati in last place in the Eastern Conference.
By the close of business across the league on Saturday night, FCC was alone in fifth place – above the cut line to make the playoffs and just a point back from a top-four position, which guarantees a home playoff match.
The playoffs are, and will remain, a distant aim with 23 matches remaining in the season following Saturday's win.
Still, signs of an ongoing turnaround at the club are becoming clearer.
A legitimate push for the playoffs and meaningful matches deep into the season seems increasingly attainable.
"No question. You can feel it. You could hear it in the locker room. You could hear it and feel it in our stadium when we (get) a result at home against Toronto," Noonan said. "The winning is important for this club to show signs of progress but to also show that the group that we have is capable of winning games regardless of who we're playing, where we're playing. As long as we have the mentality that we've shown, certainly over the last week, this can continue.
"Hopefully, we don't settle because we've had a good stretch. That we understand that we can do this quite often with the commitment we get from every player, every single day and every time we step on the field. It sounds cliché but when you have that commitment, when you have the buy-in, when you have that effort, nights like tonight where you're not your best, you still can find a way to get results."
Previous reporting:
SAINT PAUL, Minnesota – Welcome to Cincinnati.com's live coverage of FC Cincinnati (5-4-1) versus Minnesota United FC (4-3-2) at Allianz Field. Refresh this page throughout the match for live updates and analysis, and follow Enquirer FC Cincinnati beat reporter Pat Brennan on Twitter (@PBrennanENQ) for further updates.
In-game updates:
Final: FC Cincinnati 1, Minnesota United FC 0.
• 90th-plus minute – GOAL, FC Cincinnati (0-1): Brandon Vazquez.
• Halftime notes – SAVES: Celentano 2, St. Clair 2; SHOTS: Cincinnati 4, MNUFC 8; SOG: Cincinnati 2, MNUFC 3.
• HALFTIME: Minnesota United FC 0, FC Cincinnati 0.
• Match underway at 8:08 p.m. ET.
Pre-match:
• FC Cincinnati starting XI: Roman Celentano (GK), John Nelson, Ian Murphy, Geoff Cameron, Nick Hagglund, Zico Bailey, Junior Moreno, Obinna Nwobodo, Luciano Acosta, Dominique Badji, Brandon Vazquez.
• FC Cincinnati bench: Alvaro Barreal, Allan Cruz, Calvin Harris, Nick Markanich, Haris Medunjanin, Quimi Ordonez, Alvas Powell, Harrison Robledo, Kenneth Vermeer.
• Lineup notes: Brenner Souza da Silva is unavailable due to a back injury.
