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After memorable win in Columbus, FC Cincinnati has to turn the page quickly

pat brennan, cincinnati enquirer
·5 min read

COLUMBUS − FC Cincinnati's memorable win against Columbus Crew was rewarding for the club in a number of ways, but one of the rewards was also a quick turnaround into one of the busiest weeks of the season.

Following the 2-1 victory Saturday at the Crew's Lower.com Field, which is being hailed by supporters as one of the great successes of head coach Pat Noonan's tenure at the club, FC Cincinnati returned to work almost immediately Sunday morning. The work was in preparation for home matches at TQL Stadium Wednesday and Saturday against Atlanta United and St. Louis City SC, respectively.

FC Cincinnati supporters cheer a goal by midfielder Luciano Acosta during the second half of Saturday night's 2-1 victory over the Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field. FCC gets right back to work with a home match Wednesday against Atlanta United.
FC Cincinnati supporters cheer a goal by midfielder Luciano Acosta during the second half of Saturday night's 2-1 victory over the Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field. FCC gets right back to work with a home match Wednesday against Atlanta United.

Both games are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. starts.

The short rest between Saturday and the upcoming matches means that FC Cincinnati won't get much time to savor what Noonan indicated was the most complete performance by his team so far this year.

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"Yeah, probably our best performance," Noonan said. "And it certainly needed to be against a very good team in a difficult environment. But I couldn't be more pleased for the group to just come in and play the way we did. You know, there was certainly a lot of talking points and previous disappointments (against Columbus), but it was nice for them to, I don't want to say put some of that to rest because it's one game, but there was enough talk about our struggles against a good team. And tonight, we just focused on playing a good game and hoping that our performance would result in a good outcome. And I think it did."

On Wednesday, FC Cincinnati will close out its two-match season series against Atlanta. FCC came from behind to grab a 2-1 win against Atlanta at Mercedes Benz Stadium on April 20.

Atlanta's season seems to be approaching a tipping point. The club hasn't won a match since March 31, went winless in the six matches that followed, and enters the game on a two-game losing skid.

FC Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga congratulates FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Alec Kann after his save in the first half against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. FCC won the April 20 match 2-1.
FC Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga congratulates FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Alec Kann after his save in the first half against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. FCC won the April 20 match 2-1.

"I think it's our job to refocus and (Sunday) we'll be back in just getting our body right," Cincinnati defender and former Atlanta player Miles Robinson said. "Monday, Tuesday, we'll get our ideas right (and) our tactics right because Wednesday's definitely a big game for me personally. I want to come out on top for sure on Wednesday."

Giorgos Giakoumakis, who came off the bench as a substitute against FC Cincinnati on April 20 due to a prior injury, is leading Atlanta with five goals.

Argentine playmaker and FIFA World Cup winner Thiago Almada has three goals this season, including one against FCC.

Atlanta will encounter an FC Cincinnati side with the best defensive record in all of MLS with just 10 goals allowed.

FC Cincinnati has never beaten Atlanta in Cincinnati.

On Saturday, FC Cincinnati gets a taste of something a little more exotic as St. Louis City SC, the second-year MLS Western Conference franchise, will visit TQL Stadium for the first time.

The clubs met for the first time ever April 15, 2023. The match was delayed several hours for severe weather, and St. Louis dominated once it started. The hosts eventually cruised to a 5-1 win.

In Year One, St. Louis impressed by finishing as the top playoff seed in the west. The club has followed that up in 2024 with a draw-heavy 3-1-7 mark, which has it sitting in the final MLS Cup playoffs play-in position in the west (ninth).

St. Louis is scoring plenty of goals (18) but has leaked 15 goals against, too.

Even Noonan conceded Saturday's win was one of the best of his tenure at FC Cincinnati. The club will now be charged with turning the page on that success as quickly as possible.

"This is up there. I do, it feels that way," Noonan said. "Because of you know, just where both teams are at in this moment. I think, again, they're a very strong team, I give credit to Wilfred (Nancy, Crew head coach) and those players because, you know, they're a very tough team to play against. You can't make a whole lot of mistakes, because they can punish you in so many ways, and they throw so many different things at you so you have to be able to adjust. And I thought our players did that in a really, really good way tonight. And you can see how much it means. We've had some, you know, some failures in the past as far as results go and certainly in meaningful games.

"But it's nice to go on the road and win this game. Especially for those that were up top, you know, thank you for the traveling fans. They were outstanding tonight. Thank you for those supporters groups who sent us off, you know, in such a unique way from MHTC yesterday, that was special. And now you start to see in those moments, just the love they have for this team and it's nice to share the joy of a moment like tonight. I know it's just one game, but to see what it means to them. that matters so I'm pleased for them."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Why FC Cincinnati has to move on quickly from winning at Columbus Crew