FC Cincinnati earns fourth straight victory with win over Chicago Fire FC

Missing several of its defensive leaders, FC Cincinnati held off one of the highest-scoring offenses in Major League Soccer Saturday night at TQL Stadium with more big plays from its offensive stars.

Cincinnati beat Chicago Fire FC 2-1 to win its fourth straight game in front of a crowd of 25,513, the fourth sellout of the season at TQL Stadium.

Cincy improved to 13-5-3 overall for 42 points, entering the night in second place in the Eastern Conference. Chicago, eighth in the East coming in, fell to 8-8-4 (28 points). The Orange and Blue won both regular-season games against the Fire for the first time in their MLS history, and picked up only their second all-time win over Chicago at home.

Cincy built a 2-0 lead early in the first half as they took advantage of transition opportunities, while Chicago’s chances to that point mainly came from numerous set pieces.

Evander scored his 12th goal of the season in the 19th minute on a laser strike from just outside the penalty box.

He was completely unmarked as he received a long pass by Luca Orellano from the left side. Evander pushed the ball upfield towards the right side of the 18-yard box. He had time to set his feet and fire a strike to the opposite side of the net, past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Jeffrey Gal and inside the left post.

The shot started from just outside the penalty box, marking Evander’s seventh goal this season from outside the 18-yard area. That leads MLS this season. Counting his two previous seasons with the Portland Timbers, he has 15 goals from outside the penalty area since the start of the 2023 season, seven more than any other MLS player.

The goal came moments after Brian Anunga cleared the ball from Cincy’s 18 to midfield by launching a bicycle kick backwards over his head.

Those were the types of plays needed by the Cincinnati defense in the first half. Missing three of their regular center backs to injury and one to international duty, as well as defensive midfield stalwart Obi Nwobodo, the Orange and Blue conceded six corner kicks in the first half. Chicago also won two free kicks late in the half from just outside the penalty area.

After the first one, Chicago had one of its most dangerous chances, as Philip Zinckernagel missed about a foot high on a laser from 22 yards. Chicago didn’t get a dangerous chance from its six corner kicks.

Hugo Cuypers, the leading scorer for the Fire, got a golden opportunity when he had Roman Celentano one-on-one in the penalty box. Celentano kept him from getting a shot off, and Matt Miazga was there to clear the ball.

Four minutes into the second half, Evander delivered some more magic to make it 2-0.

With Cincy in transition, Evander dribbled the ball near the right front corner of the 18, and passed the ball on the ground through two Chicago players and the keeper, Gal, to KévinDenkey, who poked it into the open net from close range. It was Denkey’s 12th of the year.  

Chicago got one back when Philip Zinckernagel was unmarked on the right side of the penalty box. He got a pass from former Cincinnati player Andrew Gutman and fired the ball past Celentano from about 8 yards away in the 56th minute.

Zinckernagel missed from 22 yards in the 74th minute.

Chicago had 15 shots to 13 for the Orange and Blue and finished with 10 corner kicks.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati beats Chicago Fire for another MLS victory