CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati's defense has been one of the team's biggest problems throughout the season. Poor positioning, costly mistakes, and an inability to keep opponents off the scoreboard have repeatedly put the Orange and Blue in compromising situations.
But Saturday night, the defense finally gave Cincinnati fans something to celebrate.
FCC's 2-0 victory over D.C. United wasn't just another important three points in the Eastern Conference playoff race. It was the club's first MLS clean sheet since April 25, ending a drought that had lasted nearly six months. Cincinnati's previous shutout in any competition came against Pumas in Leagues Cup play on August 7.
For a team that has spent much of the season struggling to defend consistently, that was a welcome change.
Cincinnati certainly had its offensive highlights. Evander scored a beautiful goal from outside the box in the 35th minute before setting up Tom Barlow for the second goal in the 52nd. Those two plays provided the margin, but the defense made sure the lead held up.
D.C. United finished with 13 shots, including just two on target, despite having eight corner kicks. Goalkeeper Roman Celentano needed only two saves to preserve the shutout, a reflection of how effectively Cincinnati limited its opponent's opportunities.
The defensive performance was especially encouraging after Cincinnati established its two-goal advantage. D.C. continued looking for opportunities by bringing a man forward, but the Orange and Blue prevented those attacks from producing a goal and avoided the costly mistakes that have hurt them throughout the season.
There were also encouraging contributions from the back line. Teenage Hadebe, Nick Hagglund, and Kyle Smith started in the three-man defense, while Bryan Ramirez and David Doudera provided support from the wider positions. Obinna Nwobodo and Pavel Bucha also played important roles in midfield.
It was exactly the kind of collective defensive effort head coach Pat Noonan has needed from his players.
But one clean sheet doesn't erase the problems that came before it. Cincinnati went nearly six months without shutting out an MLS opponent, a troubling statistic for a club hoping to compete in the postseason.
The big test is coming Wednesday, when FC Cincinnati travels to face Inter Miami. The matchup should provide a much better indication of whether Saturday's defensive performance represents genuine progress.
The Orange and Blue are now 11-11-9 with 42 points, sitting eighth in the Eastern Conference and three points ahead of the New York Red Bulls. With three matches remaining, every point is important, and the defense will have a major role in determining whether Cincinnati reaches the postseason.
There is plenty of offensive talent on this roster, with Evander, Kévin Denkey, and Barlow providing more than enough scoring opportunities. But even a dangerous attack can only do so much when the defense repeatedly gives goals away.
Saturday provided a reminder that Cincinnati doesn't need to score three or four goals to win when the entire team defends well.
It's far too early to declare the defensive problems fixed, but after nearly six months without an MLS clean sheet, the Orange and Blue have finally given themselves something positive to build on.
