FC Cincinnati

CINCINNATI— In a surprising move, FC Cincinnati is parting ways with former MLS Defender of the Year Matt Miazga.

The 31-year-old center back has been with FCC since 2022 and has 84 career starts to his credit.  In the last couple of years, he's been besieged with injuries beginning when he suffered a serious knee injury after colliding with the goalpost while preventing a goal on June 15, 2024 against the San Jose Earthquakes.  Since then, he has been limited to only 16 games.

While FC Cincinnati did acquire center back Julian Malatini and wingback David Doudera before the MLS secondary transfer window closed, neither will provide an immediate replacement Saturday against D.C. United at TQL Stadium. And even once Malatini arrives and settles into the club, there's no guarantee he'll replace what Miazga brought to the back line.

Some have speculated that this could indicate more moves are forthcoming as by letting Miazga go, FCC saves some of that $1.6 million annual salary.  That remains to be seen.

What we do know is that Miazga's departure leaves a significant void, not only because of what he brought on the field, but because of the leadership, experience and competitive edge he provided inside the locker room.

The hardest decisions in sports are often the ones you don't make.

FC Cincinnati entered the secondary transfer window with one glaring question.  Was the defense good enough to win MLS Cup?

The front office answered that question by adding defender David Doudera and center back Julian Malatini, reinforcing the squad without making the blockbuster move many supporters had hoped to see.

Whether that proves to be enough won't be known for another couple of months.  But it's a fair question to ask.  When this team is clicking offensively, it can beat anyone in Major League Soccer—provided, of course, it holds up on the back end.

Evander is enjoying one of the best seasons in club history. Kévin Denkey has given opponents another elite scoring threat. Pavel Bucha continues doing the little things that often go unnoticed but make winning possible.

Goals have not been the issue.  Keeping them out has.  Too often this season, FC Cincinnati has played well enough to win, only to undo that work with defensive lapses. Sometimes it's a missed assignment. Sometimes it's poor marking on a cross. Sometimes it's failing to clear a dangerous ball.

Whatever the cause, the result has been the same.  Goals that championship-caliber teams simply can't afford to concede.  That's why I understood why so many supporters wanted Chris Albright to swing big before the transfer window closed.

Championship windows don't stay open forever. Evander is playing at an MVP level, and Roman Celentano remains one of the league's best goalkeepers.  I mean, let's go!

This roster has enough talent to compete with anyone.  Those opportunities don't come around every year.  To Albright's credit, the club actually didn't stand pat.

Doudera should provide additional quality and versatility on the wing, while Malatini gives Pat Noonan another option in central defense. They're sensible additions that improve depth and offer flexibility over the final stretch of the season.

The question is whether they move the needle enough.  I'm not convinced they do.  That doesn't mean FC Cincinnati can't make a deep playoff run.  It absolutely can.

MLS is unpredictable, and a club with Evander pulling the strings is capable of beating anyone in a one-game playoff.  But if the Orange and Blue fall short this autumn, I suspect the conversation won't center on the attack.  It'll center on whether the defense was ever truly championship caliber.

I hope I'm wrong.

Because if this back line finds another level over the final two months, FC Cincinnati has every reason to believe it can still lift MLS Cup.

We'll find out soon enough if it was enough.

NASHVILLE — There are nights when everything seems to bounce your way.

Then there are nights like Saturday.

FC Cincinnati generated enough quality chances to keep pace with Nashville SC, but couldn't find the back of the net as the Supporters' Shield leaders rolled to a 4-0 victory at GEODIS Park.

For much of the first half, Cincinnati managed to weather Nashville's relentless pressure despite spending long stretches pinned in its own end.  That changed in the 43rd minute.

Cristian Espinoza floated a cross into the penalty area where Sam Surridge rose above the defense and headed home the opening goal, giving Nashville a deserved 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

The Orange and Blue nearly found an immediate response after the break.

Gerardo Valenzuela struck the outside of the post in the 50th minute before Nashville doubled its advantage just four minutes later. Hany Mukhtar finished from close range after a well-worked buildup, putting Cincinnati in an early second-half hole.

To FC Cincinnati's credit, it didn't quit.  Kévin Denkey nearly pulled one back in the 58th minute, but Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake got just enough of the attempt to push it off the post before defenders scrambled to clear the ball off the goal line. Moments later, Evander appeared destined to score on a rebound, only for defender Maxwell Woledzi to block the shot from an open net.

Those missed opportunities proved costly.

With Cincinnati pressing numbers forward late, Nashville took advantage of the extra space. Bryan Acosta blasted home a free-kick sequence in the 90th minute before Ahmed Qasem added another deep into stoppage time, turning what had been a competitive match into a lopsided final score.

The defeat was certainly disappointing, but the 4-0 scoreline was also somewhat misleading.

FC Cincinnati created enough dangerous chances to make Nashville uncomfortable throughout the second half, only to be repeatedly denied by Schwake, the goal frame and several outstanding defensive recoveries. Meanwhile, Nashville punished nearly every mistake the Orange and Blue made while continuing what has become one of the most impressive seasons in Major League Soccer history.

What's Next: FC Cincinnati returns home Saturday night to host D.C. United at TQL Stadium, looking to bounce back after one of its toughest defeats of the season.

CINCINNATI — For 83 minutes, FC Cincinnati looked like the better side.

For the final seven, it looked like two valuable points slipped away.

Evander continued his outstanding season with another goal Saturday night, but Seattle's Kalani Kossa-Rienzi equalized late as FC Cincinnati settled for a frustrating 1-1 draw before a sellout crowd at TQL Stadium.

The Orange and Blue controlled much of the evening from the opening whistle.

After several quality chances were denied in rapid succession, the ball fell kindly to Evander near the penalty spot in the 24th minute. The MLS All-Star made no mistake, rifling a left-footed strike into the roof of the net to give Cincinnati a deserved 1-0 advantage. The goal marked his sixth consecutive home MLS match with a goal and further strengthened his case as one of the league's top MVP candidates.

Cincinnati appeared poised to add to its lead throughout the second half.

The Orange and Blue dominated possession, generated chance after chance and repeatedly forced Seattle goalkeeper Andrew Thomas into difficult saves. Despite controlling nearly every statistical category, however, FC Cincinnati couldn't find the insurance goal it desperately needed.

That opened the door for Seattle late.

In the 83rd minute, Albert Rusnák delivered a cross into the penalty area that found Kossa-Rienzi, who finished from close range to spoil what had been an otherwise commanding performance by Cincinnati. It was one of the Sounders' few quality opportunities all night, but it proved enough to steal a point.

The result snapped FC Cincinnati's four-match home winning streak in MLS play and left the club disappointed with only a point after producing one of its most complete performances of the season. The Orange and Blue finished with 17 shots, nine on target, while limiting Seattle to just three shots on goal.

Sometimes soccer can be cruel.

Saturday night was one of those nights.

FC Cincinnati played well enough to win, controlled the run of play for long stretches and created more than enough chances to secure all three points. Instead, one defensive breakdown late in the match erased what otherwise would have been an impressive victory.

What's Next: FC Cincinnati heads to Nashville next Saturday for a key Eastern Conference matchup before returning home Sept. 5 to host D.C. United.

CINCINNATI — Just when it appeared FC Cincinnati would have to settle for a point, Evander reminded everyone why he's one of Major League Soccer's most dangerous players.

The Brazilian midfielder scored in first-half stoppage time to lift FC Cincinnati to a dramatic 2-1 victory over New York City FC on Wednesday night at TQL Stadium, snapping the club's winless streak against NYCFC and moving the Orange and Blue further up the Eastern Conference standings.

FC Cincinnati wasted little time taking control.

In the 11th minute, Evander threaded a beautiful pass into the attacking third, where Kévin Denkey's effort created a loose ball for Kenji Mboma Dem. The former Dayton Flyer pounced on the opportunity, sliding home his fifth MLS goal of the season to give Cincinnati an early 1-0 lead.

The advantage didn't last long.

New York City answered in the 21st minute when Agustín Ojeda found Luighi in the middle of the penalty area for the equalizer. From there, both clubs traded quality scoring chances throughout a physical match that featured strong goalkeeping at both ends of the field.

Roman Celentano was outstanding for FC Cincinnati, turning aside seven shots to keep the Orange and Blue level as New York City applied pressure throughout the second half. His performance gave Cincinnati the opportunity it needed late.

That opportunity finally arrived in stoppage time.

Pavel Bucha worked the ball to Gerardo Valenzuela, who quickly found Evander inside the box. The midfielder spun between two defenders and buried a left-footed shot into the corner of the net, sending TQL Stadium into celebration and delivering three valuable points. The goal added to Evander's league-leading total of goal contributions this season while further strengthening his MVP candidacy.

The victory showcased one of FC Cincinnati's greatest strengths this season: patience.

Rather than forcing the issue after surrendering the equalizer, the Orange and Blue continued creating chances, trusted their defense to keep the match within reach and eventually found the breakthrough when it mattered most.

What's Next: FC Cincinnati remains at TQL Stadium on Saturday night when the Seattle Sounders visit Cincinnati for an interconference matchup.

ORLANDO — FC Cincinnati left Florida with a point Saturday night, but it also departed believing there was an opportunity for more.

Pavel Bucha gave the Orange and Blue an early lead before Orlando City answered shortly after halftime as the clubs played to a 1-1 draw at Inter&Co Stadium.

Cincinnati struck first in the 23rd minute after Evander's shot was blocked inside the penalty area. The rebound fell perfectly to Bucha, who calmly fired home his fifth MLS goal of the season and the 20th of his FC Cincinnati career, moving him into sole possession of eighth place on the club's all-time scoring list.

The visitors looked poised to carry that advantage into halftime, but Orlando emerged from the break with renewed energy. Just three minutes into the second half, Tyrese Spicer raced onto a through ball from Justin Ellis, fought through contact and rounded goalkeeper Roman Celentano before finishing into an open net to level the match.

FC Cincinnati thought it had an opportunity to reclaim the lead minutes later.

After Kévin Denkey's shot struck the post, Evander went to ground in the penalty area and a penalty kick was initially awarded. Following a lengthy VAR review, however, the call was overturned and Evander was shown a yellow card for simulation, keeping the score level.

Despite the disappointment, Cincinnati turned in one of its stronger defensive performances of the season. Facing difficult playing conditions with temperatures hovering around 90 degrees, the Orange and Blue limited Orlando's chances for long stretches while Roman Celentano came up with several key saves to preserve the draw.

The result also continued an encouraging stretch for Pat Noonan's club. While the attack never quite found the second goal it was searching for, FC Cincinnati showed resilience on the road against an Orlando side that had been much improved since the league resumed play following the summer break.

What's Next: FC Cincinnati returns home Wednesday night to host New York City FC at TQL Stadium as the Orange and Blue continue their push up the Eastern Conference standings.

The Columbus Crew defeated FC Cincinnati on Saturday night, and if you're a Crew supporter, it was about as satisfying a result as you could ask for. The atmosphere was electric, as always, the soccer was outstanding, and Columbus earned three points against one of its biggest rivals.

As I watched the match, though, I kept catching myself having the same thought I've had for years whenever two Ohio teams play each other: I wish they didn't.

Now, before anyone accuses me of wanting to get rid of the Hell Is Real Derby, Browns-Bengals games or the Ohio Cup, that's not what I'm saying at all. These games are important. They're good for the teams, they're good for the leagues, and they're incredibly fun for fans.

But I just feel... funky... the entire time I'm watching one of these games. Literally every play is simultaneously the best and the suck. One side scores and I'm happy. The other side gives up a goal and... well... I'm not. How can anybody party like that? Serious question.

Growing up outside Cincinnati, I was, of course, a Bengals fan. What I was always afraid to admit to anyone—certainly not my father or my brothers—was that, as long as the Browns weren't playing the Bengals, I quietly hoped they won too. As it turns out, my brothers secretly rooted for the Browns as well. These days, we've all come clean and freely admit we root for the Guardians.

But I think my wiring goes back even farther than that.

One of my earliest childhood memories is visiting family in Tennessee. We made that trip at least once every year, and usually more than once. During one visit, there was a football game on television, and one of the teams had a giant orange "T" on the side of its helmet. I remember asking what the "T" stood for—probably because I was at the age where everything was "A is for Apple" and "B is for Ball."

"Tennessee," someone told me.

Well... that made perfect sense. We were in Tennessee.  So I asked the next obvious question.

"Does Ohio have a team?"

My aunt smiled and said, "Yes. Ohio has the Ohio State Buckeyes."

Ohio.  State.

To my little-kid brain, that wasn't just a university. That was Ohio's team.  It encompassed the entirety of the state.  It was OUR team.  Where we were from.

On the drive home, I remember asking my dad, "Does Cincinnati have a team like the Buckeyes?"  He answered the question from the college perspective.  "Yes. The Cincinnati Bearcats."

And just like that, the Bearcats joined Ohio State in my little collection of teams. Looking back, I think that's where this whole thing started. Somewhere along the way, my brain permanently linked sports teams to the place where I lived instead of making me choose just one.  Which is actually to say, I had no choice.

I remember another moment years later that reinforced it.

I was watching a college basketball highlights show, and several Ohio teams had all won on the same day. For whatever reason, that absolutely fired me up. I grabbed a basketball, ran outside into the driveway and started yelling, "Ohio hoops! Ohio hoops!" while launching jumpers at the basket.

Sadly, that excitement was soon tempered as I obsessively recreated the baseline jumper Chris Jent missed against that team up north. Every miss sent me a little deeper into a malaise that lingered well past dinner.

So when UC plays Ohio State, it honestly feels like my brothers are fighting each other.  I want to run out onto the field and intervene.

That's why I don't like when Ohio teams play each other. It's just not cool.

Yet somehow..it totally is.  And now sports has become a Ren video.  See what I'm saying?

It's goofy.

But it's also awesome.

Most fans live for these games because they get bragging rights. They spend all week talking with friends, coworkers and family members who support the other side. Then, after the game, somebody gets to enjoy saying, "I told you so."

I've never cared much about that part. To be honest, I absolutely loathe the trash talk. (I'm looking at you, UC fans, every time the Bearcats play Ohio State. Look, I went to UC. I love that university. But some of the things I read online before those games are just embarrassing. Stop. Please.)

What I enjoy is watching Ohio teams compete against everybody else. If the Crew are playing Nashville, I hope Columbus wins. If FC Cincinnati is playing Atlanta, I hope Cincinnati wins. If the Browns are taking on Pittsburgh, or the Reds are hosting the Cubs, I'm all in. It feels like the entire state is pulling in the same direction, even if it's spread across different leagues and different cities.

Then the schedule gives us Crew versus Cincinnati or Browns versus Bengals, and suddenly one of my teams has to lose.

Of course, I know that's how sports work. Rivalries aren't going anywhere, nor should they. Hell Is Real has become one of the best rivalries in American sports because supporters on both sides have embraced it. Browns-Bengals games matter because they're divisional matchups. Guardians-Reds games are a reminder that Ohio is home to two proud—and historic—baseball franchises.

I'll continue watching every one of them.

I'll cheer when somebody scores a great goal, makes a spectacular catch or throws a game-winning touchdown. And when the final whistle or final out arrives, I'll congratulate the winner just like everyone else.

I just know that, for me, every celebration comes with one tiny, unavoidable thought in the back of my mind.

It's too bad the other Ohio team had to lose.

COLUMBUS — The Columbus Crew once again proved why home-field advantage has mattered in the Hell Is Real Derby.

After falling behind early, Columbus scored twice before halftime and held off a late push from FC Cincinnati to earn a 2-1 victory Saturday night at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. The win snapped Cincinnati's five-match road unbeaten streak and gave the Crew an important three points in the Eastern Conference standings.

FC Cincinnati struck first in the ninth minute when Kévin Denkey finished a setup from Evander and Pavel Bucha for his 15th goal in all competitions this season. The early goal quieted the home crowd, but Columbus steadily worked its way back into the match by controlling possession and creating opportunities in the attacking third.

The equalizer arrived in the 42nd minute.

Dylan Chambost delivered a corner kick into the penalty area, where Jamal Thiaré rose above the defense and headed the ball into the back of the net to level the match at 1-1. Deep into first-half stoppage time, the Crew completed the comeback after Max Arfsten was fouled inside the box. Dániel Gazdag calmly converted the penalty kick, sending Columbus into halftime with a 2-1 advantage.

The second half featured the intensity expected whenever Ohio's two MLS clubs meet.

Patrick Schulte preserved the lead with several key saves, while the Crew defense withstood Cincinnati's pressure over the final 45 minutes. Tempers flared in stoppage time when FC Cincinnati's Gerardo Valenzuela was shown a red card following a reckless challenge on Taha Habroune, bringing another heated chapter to one of Major League Soccer's fiercest rivalries.

Columbus finished with a slight edge in possession and shots on target, making the most of its opportunities after conceding the opening goal. More importantly, the Crew earned a rivalry victory that provided momentum as they continued climbing the Eastern Conference standings.

What's Next: The Crew continue MLS play Friday when they host Inter Miami CF at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. The match will feature another marquee Eastern Conference matchup as Columbus looks to build on its rivalry victory.

CINCINNATI — Major League Soccer announced Wednesday that FC Cincinnati midfielder Evander has been named to the 2026 MLS All-Star roster.

This marks Evander’s third consecutive All-Star selection and his second since coming to the Queen City. The Brazilian playmaker earned the honor on the heels of a dominant first half of the season, racking up nine goals and six assists ahead of the World Cup break.

“Yeah, it’s special, you know,” Evander told reporters on Wednesday. “Third time in a row. Really happy to represent Cincinnati one more time.”

Evander's inclusion marks the 11th time an FC Cincinnati player has received an All-Star nod in the young club's history. His elite creative play has kept the Orange and Blue firmly in the postseason hunt, as FCC currently sits in seventh place in the Eastern Conference ahead of another anticipated MLS Cup playoff run.

The 2026 MLS All-Star Game is scheduled for Wednesday, July 29, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The midsummer showcase will feature the MLS All-Stars facing off against the top talent from Mexico’s Liga MX.