CINCINNATI — Pat Noonan and his team went into Saturday’s game aware of the need to perform well at home. While the team snapped a mini two-game losing streak a week ago in Atlanta with a statement performance, it had been over a month (34 days to be exact) since the Orange and Blue had given their supporters a win at TQL Stage.
The awareness for the team was not worried or panicked, but thinking about what it meant to win at home and put on a performance that entertained and encouraged their home fans.
In many ways, the FCC did just that Saturday night.
The Orange and Blue scored twice (almost three times) and had cathartic, emotional performances from both the starting eleven on the field and the five subs who came on later. When the final whistle blew, FCC were up 2-1 over Colorado Rapids – winning their second game in a row, winning at home and sending the fans off with a win worth celebrating.
With few exceptions, FC Cincinnati dominated the match, pushed the game forward and imposed their will on a Colorado Rapids team that had entered with the same record and thus represented (in many ways) an equal opponent so far in the season .
“Really happy with the overall performance,” FC Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan said in the opening statement at the post-match press conference. “Maybe the score line, based on how I thought we played, wasn’t as good as you would have liked. But it’s hard to be critical … really happy with the group and having another overall strong team performance.”
They dominated possession, winning 57.7 percent, just short of a season high. They tied a club record for shots with 25 and held USA Men’s National Team goalkeeper and three-time Premier League winner Zac Steffen to 12 shots on goal. For all but three of the 5-minute periods, the balance of the game was played in the Colorado Rapids defensive zone.
“I think it’s just our mentality,” FC Cincinnati’s all-time leading scorer Luciano Acosta said after the game. “I think we lost those two games and it was a blow that woke us up. But now it’s the mindset and getting back into it.”
In the 42nd minute, Acosta bagged his 44th career goal with FCC in all competitions – the most by any player in the club’s history – cementing him further into club history and further extending his legacy. But more importantly, the goal gave FC Cincinnati the lead in the first half and ended the first 45 minutes of the match with a thrilling moment.
The play, set up by Acosta and Corey Baird, had the duo execute a seamless give-and-go passing scheme that provided Acosta with the space to curl a shot to the back post past a diving goaltender. The quick pass to Byrd, followed by a one-touch return to Acosta, gave Acosta enough time and space to hit the shot unabated. A rare moment of rest that the 2023 MVP made sure to capitalize on.
“I think what makes it more impressive is that teams are going to try to prevent him from making an impact,” FC Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan said from the podium at the postgame press conference. “When you’re a key player and you can do what he does with focus to stop you in so many ways, that’s unique and that’s what makes him special. I thought the goal was outstanding.”
The goal, Acosta’s fourth of the season, was also his ninth assist in goal. Nine of the 12 goals FCC has scored this young season have come directly from the actions of Luciano Acosta (the 12th was a goal that came later in the night). As FCC have struggled offensively to start the season, a story that has – until this point – overshadowed any talk of the club to date since the start of the season, Acosta has bolstered the attack and provided the boost it needed to keep going to score points… despite the attention he gets from opposing defenses.
“He’s stepped up in the first quarter or third of the season, I’d say, when we’re struggling to score consistently,” Noonan added of his captain. “He’s the guy who can contribute goals and assists at the moment. His consistency is pretty impressive as well, but definitely a nice accolade for him being the top scorer.”
The strong mentality that persevered and helped FC Cincinnati couldn’t have been more present in the eventual game-winning goal.
Baird, who started the season without a goal despite regularly putting himself in good position to finish, scored his first goal for FC Cincinnati.
“It’s a credit to Corey. He just kept putting his head down and working,” Noonan said after the game. “I don’t think he’s oblivious to the fact that the goals weren’t there. He wants to contribute, but I don’t think he’s trying to do more than he needs to, which is a credit to him because chances are he’s just playing his position and not trying to he’s shooting when he’s not on or off the dribble, he’s just doing simple things that continue to put him in a position to finish plays, and that’s the missing piece. (I’m) very happy he found the goal tonight to help us win one game”.
The emotion after that Byrd goal was also pointed out by Noonan in his press conference. Not only could you see how much it meant to Bird, but also to his teammates that he was able to score that goal. Everyone on the court and on the sidelines waited to get an extra moment to congratulate or celebrate. The hugs lasted an extra second. The high fives were a little harder and the cheers a little louder.
“Just look at the reactions of his teammates. Everyone was waiting for the moment, including him,” Noonan said.
FC Cincinnati finished the night tied for second in the Supporters’ Shield standings and outright second in the Eastern Conference with 18 points from 10 league games. Considering some of the challenges the FCC has faced, they are set up for success in the future.
As The Orange and Blue continue to loom on the field and put together more and more positive performances and through those performances, the results, you can start to see the collective cohesion of the team come together.
“In its simplest form, individual players perform. And so, the team looks a lot better,” Noonan said. “That’s probably the thing that stands out.”
FC Cincinnati returns to action with two more road games before returning to TQL Stadium next. The club will then travel to Orlando for a match against Orlando City SC at Inter&Co Stadium on May 4. They’ll then hit I-70 for the Hell is Real derby with the Columbus Crew on May 11 at Lower.Com Field.