FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. − FC Cincinnati never recovered from the first six minutes. No one could explain how the club could start a match of such significance in that fashion, either.
The celebrities were out in support of Inter Miami CF on Saturday at Chase Stadium. FC Cincinnati seemed to have plenty of motivation to show up for the game, too, as its Supporters' Shield hopes were hanging in the balance. But it's hard to say that FCC truly showed up for any meaningful period of the contest after Miami sent an early message via two Luis Suarez goals in the opening six minutes.
Miami took advantage of a flat-footed start by Cincinnati when Suarez scored 30 seconds into the match. The goal marked the fastest from the opening whistle in Miami's young history. Just a few minutes later, an errant pass by FCC's Obinna Nwobodo sent Miami on a counterattack that ended with another Suarez goal.
FC Cincinnati grew into the match and created some chances, and even played with a man advantage for 50-plus minutes due to a Tomas Avilés red card in the first half, but the visitors failed to dent the 2-0 deficit and lost by that score line.
"Real disappointing for a number of reasons," acting FC Cincinnati head coach Dominic Kinnear said afterward. "Obviously, the start was not what we want. Not what we expect. Not the standards we expect. So, to go two goals down in the first (six) minutes was really bad by us, stating the obvious.
"Played our way back into the game. Red card gives us some hope, a swing of momentum. Second half, (Miami goalkeeper) Drake Callender makes a handful of really, really good saves... But in the end, we didn't do enough to be good for more than one goal, I would say. I think we moved the ball slow with 10 men, which is not something we spoke about at halftime."
FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan viewed the match from the press level of Chase Stadium as he served the second and final game of a suspension stemming from his red card in the July 17 loss to Chicago Fire.
With the win, Miami became the first club of 2024 to clinch an MLS Cup playoffs berth, as well as maintain its lead in the race for the Shield.
The implications for the Supporters' Shield, east standings
FC Cincinnati (15-8-3, 48 points) lost its fourth MLS match in a row, marking its longest losing streak since the four-win 2021 season. But the defeat had larger consequences than that.
Losing at Miami meant FCC's deficit in the Shield race as it pursues the trophy for a second straight year stood at eight points with eight regular-season matches to play. In other words, an all but insurmountable chasm to bridge in the dwindling weeks of the 2024 season.
"It's tough," Kinnear said of Cincinnati's fading Shield hopes. "Obviously, we need for them to slip up and for us to go on a very, very good run for us to catch them. It's still a reality. We have some difficult games coming up, I'm sure they do as well. But, after tonight, stating the obvious, it makes it a lot harder."
For the time being, FC Cincinnati remained in second place in the Eastern Conference, which would be a desirable position to hold onto come playoff time. It's important to note that third-place Columbus Crew (12-4-7, 43 points) was idle in league play this weekend due to Sunday's Leagues Cup final at Lower.com Field against Los Angeles FC. The Crew also have three regular-season matches in-hand on FCC, and can overtake second place with a stumble by FCC.
'It was shocking'
Cincinnati was without the services of Luciano Acosta for the first half due to his prolonged bout with a foot injury. Acosta came on to begin the second half but was unable to steer FCC toward a goal. Acosta also picked up a yellow card, meaning he'd be suspended for the club's match against CF Montreal at TQL Stadium next Saturday.
By night's end, many of the on-field metrics favored Cincinnati, including shots and expected goals, or "xG." Callender was a big part of the reason FCC was blanked for the fifth time this season as he made six saves.
What was missing was an urgency − an awareness that one trophy was at risk of potentially falling out of the club's reach, and that the accumulation of losses could imperil its shot at MLS Cup in the long run.
"It was shocking," FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano said. "It just seemed like we didn't really want it at any point really. We just came out flat, got punished right away. Let them have another goal, and then, I feel like, the red card should be helping us out but I feel like we just didn't pick up the urgency as the game went on... You wish you could just take it back. You just wish you could start it off the right way."
The night of frustration was best-encapsulated by DeAndre Yedlin's brief post-match remarks. His mind seemed to wander when he was prompted by The Enquirer specifically on the club's remaining Shield hopes, but perhaps that was understandable.
Yedlin's comments followed a game in which he was assessed a yellow card during a stoppage in play the resulted in the Avilés red card, which injured FCC's Kevin Kelsy.
During the match, Yedlin also tangled with former teammate Suarez, and was visibly frustrated by a first-half encounter in which Yedlin appeared to be pushed into the advertising boards running along the sideline.
"It's MLS. It's a strange league," Yedlin said. "Strange things in this league, which if I speak on, I'll probably get fined. So, I'll leave it at that. Yeah, it's a strange league. Lucky for us, I think anything is possible but we definitely put ourselves in a deeper hole than we need to be."
Asked about his interactions with Suarez, Yedlin said he didn't see Suarez after the match and was therefore unable to close the book on their exchanges.
"It's what happens on the field. You compete. I don't really care who I'm competing against," Yedlin said. "At the end of the day, business is business. This (FC Cincinnati) is the team that I'm fighting for now. Like I said, I don't care if it's my old team. I'm gonna fight for this team now. That's just the way it goes."
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Live updates from during the match:
A fourth straight loss for Cincy
Miami takes this one, 2-0, and are doubly rewarded by clinching a playoff spot. Cincinnati will clinch its playoff berth in due time but it has a long way to go before they're back in the realm of MLS Cup favorites. Tonight was a step backward.
Midway through the second half
The chances aren't coming as fast or effectively as they did over the last 10-plus minutes of the second half. The clock is bleeding out and this FCC team doesn't look like it has the necessary spark.
Pivotal second half underway
Ian Murphy, Luciano Acosta and Sergio Santos are on for FC Cincinnati. Gerardo Valenzuela, Niko Gioacchini, and Kevin Kelsy are done for the night.
45 to go for FC Cincinnati
Miami held onto its 2-0 lead through to halftime, even as FC Cincinnati played with a man advantage and saw the referees add nine minutes of time to the end of the period. The club is going to have to rattle off some goals now.
Miami down to 10 men (41')
An ugly collision involving Tomas Avilés and Cincinnati's Kevin Kelsy earned Aviles his second yellow card of the match, and a red card. Miami will have to see this game out with 10 men for about 50-plus minutes.
Cincinnati definitely wasn't ready to go (6')
A giveaway near midfield by Obinna Nwobodo sent Miami on the counterattack, and Luis Suarez punished Cincinnati with his second goal.
Or maybe not ready to go (1')
Miami scored less than 40 seconds into the match, with Luis Suarez finding the ball at his feet and unmarked at the back post. Disaster start for Cincinnati.
Ready to go (1')
It's FC Cincinnati's biggest match of 2024 so far, and a loss to Miami, the Supporters' Shield leaders, would effectively end FCC's reign with that trophy. Cincinnati would be eight points back with eight to play, so if they value holding onto that trophy, at least a draw tonight is a must.
Starting lineups for FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami
- FC Cincinnati starting XI: Roman Celentano (GK), Yuya Kubo, Miles Robinson, Chidozie Awaziem, DeAndre Yedlin, Luca Orellano, Pavel Bucha, Obinna Nwobodo, Gerardo Valenzuela, Niko Gioacchini, Kevin Kelsy.
- Cincinnati bench: Alvas Powell, Luciano Acosta, Corey Baird, Kipp Keller, Bret Halsey, Sergio Santos, Malik Pinto, Ian Murphy, Evan Louro.
- Inter Miami starting XI: Drake Callender (GK), Sergio Busquets, Tomas Avilés, Matías Rojas, Luis Suarez, David Martinez, Jordi Alba, Diego Gomez, Yannick Bright, Federico Redondo, Marcelo Weigandt.
- Miami bench: Dos Santos, Fray, Krystov, Allen, Negri, Cremaschi, Ruiz, Campana, Taylor.
