Cincinnati vs Charlotte: Resumen

FC Cincinnati suffered a shock 0-1 defeat at the hands of Charlotte FC in a tension-filled MLS encounter at a sold-out TQL Stadium. Despite dominating proceedings for much of the match, the Eastern Conference high-flyers couldn't convert their chances and were ultimately punished by Wilfried Zaha's 85th-minute strike.

The atmosphere at TQL Stadium was electric as 25,513 fans packed the venue for Cincinnati's seventh sellout of the season. The home supporters, expectant of another strong performance from their second-placed side, were vocal throughout but left disappointed as their team failed to capitalize on their statistical dominance.

The match turned decisively in the 70th minute when Cincinnati midfielder Tah Brian Anunga received a straight red card for a reckless challenge, forcing the hosts to play the final 20 minutes with ten men. Charlotte, sensing an opportunity, gradually grew into the contest before Zaha delivered the decisive blow five minutes from time.

This result has significant implications for the Eastern Conference standings. Despite the defeat,

FC Cincinnati remains in second place with a 15-7-4 record (49 points), though the gap to the teams below has narrowed. Meanwhile, Charlotte FC continues their impressive ascent, climbing to seventh position with a 13-11-2 record (41 points) and extending their winning streak to five matches. The victory reinforces Charlotte's playoff credentials while giving Cincinnati cause for concern as they face a challenging schedule ahead with Portland Timbers and New York City FC on the horizon.

"We dominated in almost every statistical category but football isn't played on spreadsheets. The red card obviously changed the complexion of the match, but even before that, we weren't clinical enough in the final third. Charlotte defended well and took their chance when it came," lamented Pat Noonan, FC Cincinnati head coach.

"It's a massive three points for us. Coming to TQL Stadium against one of the best teams in the conference and getting a result shows the character and growth of this group. Kristijan was exceptional in goal, and Wilfried showed once again why he's one of the most dangerous players in the league," remarked a delighted Dean Smith, Charlotte FC head coach.

"Sometimes you have days where the ball just won't go in. We created enough chances to win two matches, but their goalkeeper was outstanding, and after going down to ten men, it became even more difficult. We'll learn from this and bounce back stronger," stated Matt Miazga, FC Cincinnati defender.

"This winning streak gives us tremendous confidence. We're playing with belief and purpose right now. Personally, I'm just trying to contribute however I can to help the team. The goal today was about being in the right place at the right time," explained Wilfried Zaha, match-winner for Charlotte FC.

"Cincinnati dominated possession and created more chances, but Charlotte's defensive resilience and goalkeeper performance were exceptional. The red card was the turning point, allowing Charlotte to exploit spaces that weren't there earlier in the match," analyzed Taylor Twellman, MLS analyst and former USMNT player.

Possession: FC Cincinnati dominated the ball with 55% possession compared to Charlotte FC's 45%.

Shooting: The home side registered 16 shots to Charlotte's 8, with 7 shots on target versus 4 for the visitors, highlighting Cincinnati's offensive dominance despite the scoreline.

Expected Goals (xG): FC Cincinnati generated 2.3 xG compared to Charlotte's 0.9, demonstrating the quality of chances created by the hosts.

Defensive Performance: Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, the 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, made 7 saves, including 3 classified as high-difficulty stops, proving decisive in preserving the clean sheet.

Set Pieces: Cincinnati earned 9 corners to Charlotte's 3, but couldn't capitalize on these opportunities.

Disciplinary: The pivotal moment came with Brian Anunga's straight red card in the 70th minute. Overall, Cincinnati received 3 yellow cards and 1 red, while Charlotte players were cautioned twice.

Individual Performances: Despite not scoring, Cincinnati's Luca Orellano created 5 chances and completed 87% of his passes. For Charlotte, Wilfried Zaha continued his remarkable form with the match-winning goal, his 7th of the season, complementing his 9 assists. Zaha has now contributed to goals in nine consecutive matches, an impressive streak in MLS competition.

15': First significant chance of the match fell to FC Cincinnati's Kei Kamara, whose powerful header from Orellano's cross forced a spectacular save from Kahlina.

32': Charlotte FC nearly broke the deadlock against the run of play when Vargas struck the post following a rapid counter-attack orchestrated by Bronico.

45+2': Cincinnati's Evander saw his curling free-kick from 20 yards tipped onto the crossbar by the ever-present Kahlina, keeping the scores level at halftime.

57': Tactical shift by Cincinnati as Pat Noonan introduced Yamil Asad for Gerardo Valenzuela, switching from a 4-3-3 to a more attack-minded 4-2-3-1 formation in search of the breakthrough.

70': TURNING POINT - Cincinnati midfielder Brian Anunga received a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Liel Abada, leaving the hosts to play the remainder of the match with ten men.

77': Charlotte coach Dean Smith responded to the numerical advantage by bringing on attacking midfielder Pep Biel for defender Bill Tuiloma, shifting to a more offensive 4-2-3-1 formation.

85': GOAL! Charlotte FC broke the deadlock when Wilfried Zaha slotted home from close range after Kerwin Vargas' initial shot was parried by Celentano, sending the traveling supporters into ecstasy.

The FC Cincinnati vs Charlotte FC rivalry, though relatively young due to Charlotte's recent entry into MLS in 2022, has quickly developed into an intriguing Eastern Conference matchup. Prior to this encounter, the all-time head-to-head record stood at 3 wins for Cincinnati, 2 for Charlotte, and 1 draw.

Historically, Cincinnati has dominated at home, winning both previous encounters at TQL Stadium without conceding a goal. This victory marks Charlotte's first-ever win in Cincinnati, representing a significant milestone for the visitors.

The tactical battle between Pat Noonan and Dean Smith has consistently produced fascinating contests. Cincinnati typically controls possession and creates more chances, while Charlotte has often adopted a more counter-attacking approach. This match followed that pattern, with Cincinnati dominating statistically but Charlotte executing their game plan perfectly.

Individual duels provided compelling subplots throughout the match. The battle between Cincinnati's center-back pairing of Robinson and Miazga against Charlotte's Zaha was particularly noteworthy. While the Cincinnati defenders largely contained Zaha for most of the match, his decisive intervention demonstrated the Ivorian's quality and opportunism.

Another key matchup saw Charlotte goalkeeper Kahlina face off against Cincinnati's attacking talents Orellano and Evander. The Croatian goalkeeper's exceptional performance proved the difference, as he denied several high-quality opportunities that would typically result in goals for Cincinnati's prolific attack.

This result continues the trend of competitive, closely-fought matches between these two ambitious Eastern Conference clubs, with neither side establishing clear dominance in the series.