In a game initially delayed by lightning, the electricity between teams on the pitch defined FC Cincinnati’s 3-1 win over Nashville FC. 

The match featured eight yellow cards, two red cards, two VAR decisions, one debut, and countless comings together between the two sides in a fiery contest that will mark an important milestone in the two clubs’ budding rivalry. 

With emotions running high all night, FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan credited his team’s composure as the defining factor in the win. All evening the two sides clashed physically and felt the unsureness that came with the officiating created a chaotic atmosphere that required the winning side to play a cooler, more composed game to be victorious. 

“We just need to have more composure, and that’s a lot of what we talked about at halftime,” Noonan said of the changes and challenges required to win. “Understanding that the game can get out of control if you lose your composure.

“Typically when you’re composed, you’re making good decisions with and without the ball. That tends to lead to good decisions on how you defend, how you press and how you win the ball. So when we’re more composed on the field, we’re a better team.” 

The match was defined by six minutes in the second half and the play of Santiago Arias, later named Man of the Match. 

After both teams had found goals in the first, making it an even 1-1 draw, Nashville SC suddenly found themselves down two men in two minutes when Taylor Washington and Fafà Picault received their second yellow cards just minutes apart. 

Washington was the first to be sent off due to an accidental handball when wrestling through Arias in the 68th minute. Moments later, Picault had a late tackle on Arias and received his second yellow after being shown his first just 10 minutes earlier because of an off-ball clash with defender Matt Miazga. 

Suddenly, the pressure was on. FC Cincinnati, at home, needed to find the goal to put them on top, and just four minutes after Picault was dismissed, it was Arias again who scored what ultimately amounted to the winning goal, putting just the right amount of strength and touch to send it over the charging Nashville SC goalkeeper and into the back of the net after captain Luciano Acosta made the perfect pass into open space behind the NSC defensive back line.

“In that moment, the space opened up and they’re down some players so it was a good moment on the ball,” Arias said of the goal through the team’s translator. “I made a run and you know the qualities that (Acosta) has and so I know that if I continue my run, he would find me and was able to put it away.” 

It was the fourth time in as many games that The Orange and Blue came back and earned points after conceding an early lead to their opponents, and the second game in a row they have rallied to win the match. Saturday night’s win also marked the first time in club history that FC Cincinnati has come back to win in a home game. 

After never having come back to win before this week, FC Cincinnati has made a habit of comebacks, showing a distinct sign of growth that at one point may have been considered a weakness. 

“The progress of the group in understanding how to better manage and navigate going down a goal.” Noonan said of the growth this team has shown, “In the past, coming from those positions where we’re trailing a goal, I think it would have led to maybe a second goal conceded because we lost our way a little bit or lost our confidence. 

“Now you can see the guys can move on and get back into a game…I don’t want to say we’re comfortable being in a trailing position, but they know how to get their way back into a game and win games.” 

Aaron Boupendza scores in his debut

While Arias’ second goal ultimately proved enough to win the night, newly signed striker Aaron Boupendza debuted for The Orange and Blue in the second half, coming on and having an immediate impact. 

In the 75th minute, Boupendza came on for Sergio Santos and immediately let the fans know who he was. In one of his first touches on the ball, the Gabonese forward unleashed a screamer of a shot from 25 yards out that was destined for goal if not for the hands of the Nashville SC keeper, who could not corral the shot and only deflected it away for a corner kick. 

But he would not be denied, as in the match’s dying moments, Boupendza added the insurance goal and scored on a Brandon Vazquez assist to make it a 3-1 game. 

“My debut, it’s important as a striker…the coach trusts me and the team trusts me so for me it was very important I score in my first game.” Boupendza said of his debut. 

After the goal, Boupendza was assessed a yellow card for excessive celebration as he took off his jersey and displayed the crest to the roaring fans in The Bailey, a move he says was spontaneous and due to the fans’ energy. 

“It’s amazing!” Boupendza said with an amazed laugh and smile post-game, “I couldn’t control my emotions, I just pulled off my jersey and I wanted to go jump in with the fans…So for a culture like this I’m just happy.” 

 Headed into the break

With Saturday night’s victory, FC Cincinnati earned their 15th win of the season to improve to a record-tying 15-2-6 (51 points), becoming tied for the fastest team to reach the 50-point threshold in MLS history. 

The win also secured their lead at the top of the Supporters Shield table, marking an 8-point gap between The Orange and Blue and second-place New England Revolution. 

FC Cincinnati will now take a month-long break in MLS league play to participate in the inaugural playing of the Leagues Cup, a tournament featuring teams from both MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX. 

Noonan indicated he wanted his club to have confidence and momentum heading into the break. They will, having earned points in all three games played in the last seven days and earning victories in two. 

“It was very important.” Noonan highlighted the performances this week, “If you just look at the last few results, the magnitude that can have coming out of the break is really big for us.

“We found a way to win and now you look at the six points and how that impacts teams that are chasing us and the distance we’ve been able to keep… I think that’s important. The guys did a good job and succeeded in that regard.”