FC Cincinnati’s clean-sheet streak – and unbeaten run – both snapped Tuesday night when the Orange and Blue lost, 3-0, against Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field. Here are the takeaways from the match:
Rough start was the difference
After going more than 300 minutes without conceding in league play, FCC allowed a goal 100 seconds into the match when Fabian Herbers scored with a one-touch finish. The goal was initially ruled offside, but the call was overturned and the effort was awarded.
Six minutes later, the deficit doubled when Álvaro Medrán tucked a long-range strike into the back post.
Following the match, head coach Jaap Stam said the team allowed “two easy goals.”
“The game became difficult because when you concede two goals that early, then you need to chase the game and the opposition,” Stam said. “That gets the players into a certain mindset as well … You need to stick in there because you don’t want to concede anymore. You’re looking for the moment to come out and we can make a decision or score a goal yourself.”
While the first goal was an early blow for Cincinnati, allowing two inside the first 10 minutes created an insurmountable deficit to keep the side winless on the road (not including the MLS is Back Tournament).
“We let in two early goals and it kind of killed us,” Frankie Amaya said. “We shot ourselves in the foot. It’s the same thing as last year, but we tried to recover and unfortunately it wasn’t enough to get back in the game.”
Stam: “This is a good eye opener for us.”
Since Stam implemented a back five against Atlanta United FC in the MLS is Back Tournament, the defense has dealt with pressure well and has consistently overcome adversity. The loss in Chicago was the first setback – and the coach and Amaya said the game was another step in the team’s long-term growth.
“The players are not doing this on purpose,” Stam said. “The players are working very hard to get the results. By us losing, yeah, it’s a pity and everybody is not feeling well because of this loss, and I think that’s normal. That’s how it needs to be.
But we’ve been doing very well in the past. And even though you’re losing 3-nil, when you come back for the second half, the players are still trying to score that first goal … This is football and it happens at times.”
As the second half continued, FCC settled into the match and kept Chicago quiet until the club conceded a third goal in the 67th minute. But even after falling behind by three goals, the visitors continued looking for ways to break down the Fire – to no avail.
“This is a good eye opener for us,” Stam said. We’re not complacent so that we’re thinking we’re going to be defending well against every team. There’s always details you need to address and we’re going to try to do that.”
FCC limited to one shot on target
A header from Kendall Waston was Cincinnati’s only effort on target on Tuesday night. There were other scoring opportunities – including short-range free kicks – but the shots were off target.
When Cincinnati played in Orlando, the offensive success came from FCC capitalizing on the opponent’s mistakes or when they had found open space. That’s how Amaya scored his first professional goal against Atlanta and how Yuya Kubo scored the game winner against the New York Red Bulls.
But against the Fire, Cincinnati had neither space nor forced Chicago into making mistakes. Whenever the Orange and Blue were in striking distance, the home side took away space – something FCC have done to opponents. Only this time, FCC were leaky in the back and couldn’t make up for it in the attack.
“It’s obviously frustrating,” Amaya said. “Sometimes you’re not going to have it the way you want to, but at the end of the day, it’s about a result. We obviously didn’t get a result and need to start playing better. We’ve got to wake up from the beginning.”
What comes next
FC Cincinnati return to the Queen City tonight and will host Columbus Crew SC on Saturday night at Nippert Stadium. This will be the second #HellisReal Derby of 2020 after the clubs met in the MLS is Back Tournament group stage opener. Cincinnati lost, 4-0.
Similar to the home opener last Friday against D.C. United, the derby will be played without fans.
