CINCINNATI — A month ago, FC Cincinnati probably wouldn't have won Saturday's match against the Philadelphia Union. The defensive problems that plagued the Orange and Blue throughout much of the season made protecting a one-goal lead an unlikely event.
But Cincinnati's 1-0 victory at TQL Stadium showed how much its defensive play has improved in recent weeks. The Orange and Blue earned their second clean sheet in three matches, secured their fifth consecutive playoff appearance, and demonstrated an ability to win without needing multiple goals from their offense.
It wasn't an easy afternoon. Philadelphia outshot Cincinnati 15-7, earned 12 corner kicks, and created several dangerous opportunities, especially during the first half. Roman Celentano was outstanding, making five saves before halftime and six overall to keep the Union off the scoreboard.
Those numbers also show that Cincinnati's defense hasn't suddenly become flawless. Philadelphia found ways to create chances, including a Bruno Damiani header that struck the crossbar in the 53rd minute. The difference was that the Orange and Blue handled those situations without conceding a goal.
Celentano deserves a lot of credit, but the defensive effort extended beyond the goalkeeper. Nick Hagglund, Teenage Hadebe, Kyle Smith, and Bryan Ramírez helped Cincinnati protect its penalty area, especially as Philadelphia continued attacking after falling behind.
Cincinnati finally broke through in the 70th minute when Evander forced goalkeeper Andre Blake into a diving save. Ayoub Jabbari, who had entered the match just six minutes earlier, reacted to the rebound and scored from close range.
That left Cincinnati with 20 minutes to protect a 1-0 advantage. Earlier in the season, that would have been an almost impossible task for a team that frequently allowed opponents back into matches, or to get out to a quick lead. On Saturday, however, the Orange and Blue defended their lead and prevented Philadelphia from finding an equalizer.
The performance continued a recent improvement that began with Cincinnati's two victories over D.C. United. After winning the first meeting 2-1, the Orange and Blue followed with a 2-0 road victory on October 24, their first MLS clean sheet since April.
Cincinnati then earned a 2-2 draw at Inter Miami, although conceding a 90th-minute equalizer showed that some problems remained. Saturday's result was a better example of the defensive discipline the team will need in the postseason.
There is still room for improvement, particularly in limiting the number of chances opponents create. Philadelphia's 15 shots and 12 corners would be concerning in a match against a more clinical attacking team, and Cincinnati cannot expect Celentano to rescue every dangerous situation.
Still, the Orange and Blue have now won three of their last four matches and secured a playoff berth after an uneven season. Saturday's victory showed that Cincinnati can win a match 1-0, protect a narrow advantage, and get the defensive performance it needs when the offense produces only one goal.
With Nashville coming to TQL Stadium for the regular-season finale next Saturday, Cincinnati has a chance to continue that improvement before the playoffs. The defense that caused so many problems earlier in the season is finally giving the team a better chance to win close matches at just the right time.
