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What we learned as FC Cincinnati faces elimination from the Leagues Cup
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- What we learned as FC Cincinnati faces elimination from the Leagues Cup
For the second time this season, FC Cincinnati lost a tough heartbreaking game at a crucial point in a major tournament to a Mexican side.
Cincinnati lost 2-1 to Atlas FC in its third group-stage game in the Leagues Cup on Aug. 11 at TQL Stadium. Cincy conceded two goals from the 79th minute on to squander a big chance to advance in the tournament.
FC Cincinnati defender Teenage Hadebe reacts after the team's 2-1 loss to Atlas FC during the Leagues Cup Phase One match at TQL Stadium Tuesday, Aug. 11. FCC led at the half 1-0.
Cincinnati finished 2-1 in the group stage with six points. Pending the results of other group-stage games Aug. 12 and 13, Cincinnati will likely be eliminated from the tournament.
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It was a similar finish to the club's loss in the Concacaf Champions Cup to Tigres in the round of 16. Cincinnati lost a 3-0 lead in the aggregate series and was eliminated when Tigres scored at the death in March and won the game, 5-1.
"Yeah, it's a tough one," said Cincinnati's Gerardo Valenzuela . "We definitely had the motivation and the confidence to go and win this tournament, and we were playing so well in these few games."
Can FC Cincinnati advance to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals?
FC Cincinnati defender Bryan Ramirez (29) heads the ball against Atlas FC midfielder Duk (11) in the first half during the Leagues Cup Phase One match at TQL Stadium Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Cincinnati faces long odds to be one of the four Major League Soccer clubs to advance to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals. FCC was in fourth place in the MLS group standings at the end of the night and needs a lot of help over the next two days to stay there and qualify for the knockout quarterfinals.
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Columbus defeated Pumas in a PK shootout to finish with eight points in the group stage. Real Salt Lake defeated Juarez 3-0 to finish with seven points. Charlotte lost 1-0 to Pachuca and finished with six points but ends up ahead of Cincy in goal differential at plus-four to plus-three.
There are four other MLS teams that can finish ahead of Cincy in points, plus eight teams with three points who could match Cincinnati with a win and finish ahead of the Orange and Blue on tiebreakers.
"We know how it is to play against these teams from Mexico ," Evander said. "They're never going to give up. And they are a team that even though they lost their two games, they came here to win. I think we should have shown them, should have shown the same."
Besides claiming a trophy for winning a tournament, the Leagues Cup was one of Cincy's best avenues to qualify for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup, because the top three finishers earn a spot in that bigger tourney. Cincinnati can also earn a spot by winning the MLS Cup championship or finishing high enough in the Supporters' Shield standings.
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Cincinnati conceded two goals late in the game
Cincinnati forward Evander, right, reacts after scoring a goal in the first half against Atlas FC during the Leagues Cup Phase One match at TQL Stadium Tuesday, Aug. 11. Matt Miazga looks to congratulate Evander.
Holding a 1-0 lead with 12 minutes left in regulation, FC Cincinnati allowed two goals on rebound shots.
Atlas tied it in the 79th minute. Florian Monzon knocked in a rebound off a shot that goalkeeper Evan Louro couldn't control, and it was 1-1.
Atlas took a 2-1 lead in the 86th minute. Jesus Serrato, a 20-year-old academy player for Atlas who came in late in the game, knocked in a rebound from close range after a hard shot from Ryan Mmaee .
"With the first goal, with the turnover, and then the shot at the rebound and all of it, there are enough moments to prevent that," Noonan said. "I think that's pretty clear. And then the second one, a couple duels lost with some direct play, and then still plenty of moments to prevent the shot. Yeah, that's a disappointing one with where we were positioned and how we finished."
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FC Cincinnati couldn't crack World Cup star Camilo Vargas
Cincinnati had 17 shots. Atlas keeper Camilo Vargas, coming off an outstanding World Cup performance for Colombia with four clean sheets, made some outstanding saves down the stretch.
One of his toughest came in second-half stoppage time and set up a controversial call. Cincinnati's Ayoub Jabbari was near the left post and headed a cross that Vargas saved. The ball deflected in front of him. Jabbari and an Atlas player slid to try to get to it. The Atlas player was called for a penalty when he missed the ball and hit Jabbari's foot on the follow-through.
The call went to video-assisted review, and the lead official waved off the penalty. Vargas made a great save on Tom Barlow soon after, and the final whistle sounded.
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If Cincy had tied the game late, it would have earned one point for the draw, then the teams would have gone to a penalty shootout for an extra point. Getting those one or two points would have been vital for Cincinnati's chances of getting to the quarterfinals.
"We had a good opportunity with the chance that we didn't convert," Noonan said. "It's a 50-50 ball, but they didn't go to the penalty, so I don't have too much argument. We had a chance to finish before the penalty. When I look back at it, doesn't look like it's egregious in a call that shouldn't be overturned. So that's not the difference."
Said Valenzuela: "It's just finishing the game. Like the chances we get, we get multiple chances that even after the goal that we either could have tied or could have went up 2-0 and put the game away, then control the whole game."
FC Cincinnati took the lead with more Evander magic
FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Evan Louro reacts after a goal was scored by forward Evander (not pictured) in the first half against Atlas FC during the Leagues Cup Phase One match at TQL Stadium Tuesday, Aug. 11. FCC led 1-0 at the half.
Cincinnati took a 1-0 lead in the 44th minute with another Evander shot from outside the box. He dribbled inside from the left corner of the box, freeing up space and delivering another rocket for a goal. The ball deflected off the head of Atlas's Paulo Ramirez and behind the outstretched hand of Vargas.
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Bryan Ramirez was given the assist as Evander scored his 13th goal of the season.
Cincinnati was not credited with a shot attempt until late in the first half but notched five in the closing minutes of the half, although with only an expected-goal mark of 0.4.
Atlas had one shot, saved by Louro on a crossing shot to the far post.
Cincy finished with 17 shots to nine for Atlas.
Evander said the loss was a missed opportunity.
"I think the League Cup (would have) been a good moment for the club to have a trophy," Evander said. "But it's just throwing things away. And I think we need to be better. We need to have more urgency as a team and as a club as well … I think we want to grow as a club, we want to grow as a team and win trophies and I think we need to do more."
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What's next for FC Cincinnati?
Cincinnati will resume Major League Soccer play at Orlando City at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. Orlando plays San Luis in the Leagues Cup on Aug. 12, and with three points in two games faces long odds to advance heading into the match.
"We've had letdowns," Noonan said. "We've had low moments. And you address why you came up short and be honest about it and make sure guys are understanding of it and then also professional enough to know how to turn it around. So it's not a situation we haven't been in before. You don't want to be in it, but it's part of the sport. It's part of life and it's our responsibility to see how we can turn it around."
Said Valenzuela: "It's football. You have to take the loss on the chin and just move on. And as a team, we know we have each other's backs and we're confident in each other. So we just move on to the next league game."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What we learned as FC Cincinnati faces elimination from the Leagues Cup
