Full-Time
That's the full time whistle! Paul Walters ices the game by rushing out to collect a long pass from CF Montréal, the young GK scoops it up, falls on it, and the ref blows his whistle.
FC Cincinnati take this one 1-0 thanks to a headed goal from 16-year-old Andrei Chirila! I will have more coverage this evening on FC Cincinnati's victory, including a press conference with Pat Noonan later this afternoon.
Thank you for reading along, see you online and right back here next week for FCC's second preseason match!
86'
FC Cincinnati nearly grabs its second goal of the day as Opeyemi gets a shot off but it goes just wide and hits the side netting. Maybe there was an open path for a centering pass but the newly announced FCC2 attacker from Nigeria had a clean look and earned the oppertunity.
1-0, I'd imagine there won't be any stoppage time again so this one will be coming to a close soon.
82'
Just as I hit send on that, Brian Anunga is shown a yellow.
81'
The game has slowed down a bit as both sides feel each other out. The Montréal defensive group has adapted to the FCC press but the Cincy forwards are still hounding them and winning possesions. Just certainly not at the rate they earlier in the second half.
Ref is starting to blow the whistle more, esspecially in more physical but perhaps fair tackling instances he was letting play earlier in the match. That too has contributed to a more stagnant game in the last 7-8 minutes or so.
AllForCincy
73'
Montréal's turn for some sustained pressure. The French-Canadian's are getting dangerous crosses in an hemming FCC in but a formal shot has not reached the keeper to be saved. Some solid shot blocks and half clearances by Halsey a and Daley though, Anunga also very dominant as the definitive most experianced player on the field for The Orange and Blue.
Danger seems to be cleared away now after a CF Montréal free kick that was excellently served leads to a shot that goes over the bar.
We have a change coming on now for FCC. Paul Walters coming on for Evan Louro, a GK swap.
64'
This group is clicking well as Stefan Chirila, Brian Anunga and Bret Halsey combine to set up an excellent cross that Peter Mangione just can't get enough of. But it goes out for a corner kick. FCC has been the dominant side from the jump this half and the attacking trio of Mboma Dem, Chirila and Opeyemi have been excellent at creating/winning space.
There were shout on for a penalty as there was definite contact on Mangione as he came in for the cross but the ref doesn't give it. Mangione needs some time to get to his feet and the ref gives it but play continues with the corner.
56' FCC GOAL
FCC get on the board first! Kenji Mboma Dem and Bret Halsey combine to win the first corner kick of the day with some nifty passing along the side lines then use the set piece to score the first goal of preseason!
Mbomba Dem served in an excellent corner kick to the box where defender Andrei Chirila rose up and headed the service to the far post and past the keeper! Chirila was the goal scorer but Mboma Dem created the chance in the build up and the service.
1-0 FC Cincinnati. Also, if you had a Chirila scoring on your preseason Bingo card...make sure you didn't have to specify which one.
49'
Evan Louro with a OUTRAGOUS save. He dives to his right to save a curling free kick that seemed destined for the upper corner netting but the keeper sends it away. Ensuing corner is quickly cleaned up by FCC and away from danger.
We play on.
46'
The first moments open with Kenji Mboma Dem and Stefan Chirila rushing forward of the kickoff, the duo were dangerous with FCC2 last season but the CF Montreal keeper sweeps things away.
Montreal has similarly made a full change, I have no details on who has come on for them
Play has stopped though as a CF Montréal player takes a cleared ball off the foot of Amir Daley to the head. Clearly not intentional but the player is taken off to be evaluated. He quickly reenters.
Halftime
We have a full lineup change for the second half. Should be kicking off shortly.
Bret Halsy
Amir Daley (FC Cincinnati 2)
Stiven Jimenz
Monsuru Opeyemi (FC Cincinnati 2)
Kenji Mboma Dem (FC Cincinnati 2)
Tah Brian Anunga
Stefan Chirila
Trialist
Andrei Chirila (FC Cincinnati 2)
Peter Mangione (FC Cincinnati 2)
Evan Louro
45', Halftime whistle
That's the whistle and the first half ends nil-nil. Not sure what to make of that first half but there were some interesting things. Some young FCC defenders made some excellent tackles and looked ok against a mostly starting XI caliber CF Montréal attack. Corey Baird and Kévin Denkey connected on some things really well. But mostly both sides struggled to create any meaninful sustained offensive danger.
Preseason action. We will find out later what Pat Noonan thought of it.
43'
As we approach the 45 minute mark, CFM has been the more controlling side but haven't really create a bonafide chance. A few corner kicks, but no dangerous looks.
I am told there will be no added time. So 45 minutes exactly it is.
37'
Looks like the first card of the day is coming out....nope. Obinna Nwobodo is tackled in the midfield and the ref calls the play dead and gives everyone a talking too.
Moments later the ref does confirm he has cards today by giving a yellow to DeAndre Yedlin for a tackle on Prince Owosu. Probably worth it as he was making a run on and had a good look if not for the tackle. The insueing free kick is headed away by Niko Hämäläinen, to much praise of his keeper.
28'
Montréal uses that same line breaking pass to get their next chance, with again (I'm almost certain its Opoku now) getting free. As the french may say "Deja Vu." He is very, very quick but trialist Abdi Salim makes a brillant sliding tackle to win the ball and sweep it away from danger right off the attackers foot.
Moments later Salim goes in for another tackle and takes down Piette for a foul. Dangerous free kick spot for CFM... but the restart leads to nothing and FCC play forward.
Nil-Nil, still.
20'
It's probably not unfair to say CFM have had the majority of possesion, but all but a few moments of the game have been played in the middle third of the field rather than either of the two ends. Montreal has been conservitive with their progessive passing, waiting for a moment to send a ball deep for a runner. Route One style, but not really sustaining dangerous pressure. Where as FCC have done more quick build up passing, but making their moves more decsively.
Brief stoppage as an Montreal player is down after a coming together, no foul but this is preseason so refs are more comfortable with stoppages like this. Action quickly resumes, Montreal player is back up and going.
13'
Montreal with their best chance thus far. They loft a direct pass over the backline of FC Cincinnati and an extremely speedy Opoku?) races on to it for a semi breakaway. Brian Shchaefer and Teenage Hadebe race back to cover but Roman Celentano comes out to meet the free runner and stops the shot. Schaefer was able to get back and interupt the run so (Opoku) had to alter his route, probably doing enough to give Roman the angle he needed to block the look and absorb the ball.
8'
First real chance of the game as Corey Baird intercepts a pass near midfield and sends a deep forward pass to Kévin Denkey. The new striker out runs Piette but his shot from an angle goes just wide of the far post. The two have connected a couple times with some nice combinations but this one gets closest to goal.
Still nil-nil
3'
Montréal starts like this:
Jonathan Sirois, Luca Petrasso, Joel Waterman, Brandan Craig, Dante Sealy, Samuel Piette, Nathan Saliba,Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Fabian Herbers, Mahala Opoku and Prince Owusu. Per their social channels.
As I type this Montreal win the first corner of the match but Roman Celentano collects it with ease, picking it out of the air.
Noon, kickoff, 1':
We are off and running in Tampa! FC Cincinnati playing attacking to my left and are wearing the Cavas kit for this one. CF Montréal in their dark blue shirts and black shorts. Montréal kicks it off first.
11:45 AM, 15 minutes from kickoff:
Lineups are in! Important to mention, this is preseason action, so a flux of things is natural and not really indicative of anything without further context from Head Coach Pat Noonan. He will be speaking to the media via Zoom later today as well.
Most notable of this group is new FCC striker Kévin Denkey starts for the group. Montréal has not provided this writer a lineup yet.
Here is the first lineup of the day for FC Cincinnati:
Niko Hämäläinen (unsigned)
DeAndre Yedlin
Obinna Nwobodo
Pavel Bucha
Ben Augee (unsigned)
Corey Baird
Kévin Denkey
Teenage Hadebe
Brian Schaefer (FC Cincinnati 2)
Abdi Salim (unsigned)
Roman Celentano
From Earlier...
Good morning/ bonjour everyone! Welcome back to Florida for FC Cincinnati preseason friendly action! Today at Noon, FCC kicks off against CF Montréal. After a week of rain, freezing cold winds and overcast skies, the heavens have opened, and the sun is shining through for a beautiful match-day environment. While it’s still a chilly 48 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius for any Canadian readers we may pick up today), it is an excellent day for soccer.
This is the second season I have done a live blog for preseason, so I’ve learned some lessons from last season I’m looking to bring to these that I hope can better inform you as you read about today’s match. First, let me get ahead of some of the rules before I give my personal cautions as to how today may go.
The match is set for kickoff at noon. As I understand it, the two sides have agreed to a 90-minute match with a standard halftime at the 45-minute mark. It is expected that both sides will make a full lineup change at that time, but these games are loose, and that can change at any time. I have not yet been made privy to the exact details, but I will gather all the info I can along the way. Also, unfortunately, due to the aforementioned weather earlier in the week, the match has been moved from its previously scheduled location of Walter Campbell Sports Park. The Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL Championship have graciously supplied their training facility as a host site for today’s friendly. Which is where I am writing to you from now.
Now, my personal notes as we go forward. This match is not streamed, nor does it have any video assistance for my usage. So, essentially, it is just me…in a beach chair…on the sidelines…with my laptop. I am watching and typing so I may miss some things or perhaps misidentify things as we go. Still, if I realize an error is made, I will make sure to correct it and identify it. Same goes for typos. I'm moving quickly so if I made an error...cut me some slack, I'm editing on the fly.
Similarly, there is no public clock for the match, so the timer on my phone will have to do for my usage, so assume everything is an approximation from that point of view.
Lastly, for those who may be visiting FC Cincinnati from other fan bases. Welcome! Bienvenu! I am not in contact with the CF Montréal’s PR staff, but I may get some info regarding lineups and such. Typically speaking, most of these games also don’t have jerseys with last names (or even numbers in some cases), so I will not be able to identify key info on the fly.
Let’s have a great day in Florida. Follow along here for updates! I will be updating time stamps as we go, and the top of the blog will always show the most recent updates. Lineups will be provided as soon as I get them!