It was exactly what FC Cincinnati needed to start the 2023 Major League Soccer season.
As an indicator of the lofty expectations for FC Cincinnati in 2023, a sellout, TQL Stadium crowd of 25,513 packed in to see the host title contenders play Houston Dynamo FC.
And as a sign that FC Cincinnati might indeed be up for title contention in the second year under head coach Pat Noonan, Cincinnati delivered a win.
Sergio Santos and Obinna Nwobodo both notched their first respective goal in their time with FC Cincinnati in a 2-1 win against Houston in which the club never trailed on Saturday in the West End.
The victory served as a valuable three points in the standings on a night when neither team offered finely-tuned play given the early stage of the season. It also gave supporters a much-needed home result – something Noonan has often said was too lacking last year.
The club’s ardent supporters will also have more reasons to return to TQL Stadium this summer as FC Cincinnati, a trendy pick to win at least one of several trophies it will compete for this year, looks to solidify TQL Stadium as a place opposing teams don’t want to play.
"The positive was we won, so credit to the group for figuring out a way to walk off the field with three points because it certainly wasn't our best performance," Noonan said in his post-match opening statement. "We need to give credit to Houston. They were good today... We'll take the win and try to improve moving into next weekend."
Santos got on the end of an Alvaro Barreal pass to deposit the first goal of the evening on Saturday. Santos started the game in place of Brenner Souza da Silva, the club’s joint-leading scorer a year ago, after Brenner missed the final three weeks of preseason.
Houston hit back in first half added time off a Hector Herrera corner kick. Tate Schmitt beat FCC’s Yerson Mosquera to the ball while it was in flight, and Schmitt headed home for 1-1.
Nwobodo scored the would-be game winner in the 48th minute, though.
A Barreal centering feed bounced around in the Houston penalty area and popped out to Nwobodo, who was stationed nearer to midfield at the top of the box. His shot took a deflection on the way in, and Houston goalkeeper Steve Clark was sent diving in the wrong direction by the first carom, but it counted all the same.
Roman Celentano, FCC’s promising second-year goalkeeper, had a five-save outing that included some necessary stops in the second half to protect FCC’s lead.
FC Cincinnati's returns to league action next Saturday at Orlando City SC.
The Enquirer will update this report.
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Welcome to Cincinnati.com's live coverage of FC Cincinnati's 2023 Major League Soccer season-opener at TQL Stadium against Houston Dynamo FC (7:30 p.m.). Refresh this page throughout the match for live updates and analysis, and come back after the game for player quotes, reactions and more analysis. Also follow Enquirer FC Cincinnati beat reporter Pat Brennan on Twitter (@PBrennanENQ) for further updates and insight.
In-game updates:
- Final: FC Cincinnati 1, Houston 0.
- 48th minute - GOAL, FC Cincinnati (2-1): Obinna Nwobodo scored his first-ever goal for FC Cincinnati when an Alvaro Barreal centering feed took a few bounces, popped out to Nwobodo at the top of the penalty area and he saw his shot deflected on the way in.
- Halftime: FC Cincinnati 1, Houston Dynamo FC 1.
- 45th-plus minute - GOAL, Houston Dynamo FC (1-1): Tate Schmitt head in a Hector Herrera corner kick to tie the game. Schmitt beat FC Cincinnati center back Yerson Mosquera on the play.
- 19th minute - GOAL, FC Cincinnati (1-0): Sergio Santos scored his first-ever goal for FC Cincinnati from the top of Houston's penalty area.
- Match underway at 7:39 p.m.
Pre-match updates:
- FC Cincinnati starting XI: Roman Celentano, Santiago Arias, Alvaro Barreal, Nick Hagglund, Matt Miazga, Yerson Mosquera, Obinna Nwobodo, Junior Moreno, Luciano Acosta, Sergio Santos, Brenner Souza da Silva.
- Cincinnati bench: Alvas Powell, Yuya Kubo, Marco Angulo, Brenner Souza da SIlva, Dominique Badji, Ray Gaddis, Quimi Ordonez, Ian Murphy, Evan Louro (GK).
- Houston Dynamo FC starting XI: Steve Clark (GK), Franco Escobar, Ethan Bartlow, Teenage Hadebe, Tate Schmitt, Artur, Ivan Franco, Corey Baird, Hector Herrera, Coco Carrasquilla, Seba Ferreira.
- Houston bench: Daniel Steres, Andrew Tarbell, Beto Avila, Charles Auguste, Nelson Quinones, Griffin Dorsey, Micael dos Santos, Thor Ulfarsson, Brooklyn Raines.
