FCC Beat: Short-handed Orange and Blue Turn Back Revolution, 1-0, Show Great Defensive Form ‘One of our best wins’

CINCINNATI — Sergio Santos picked up his first goal of the season in the 65th minute and Roman Celentano made three saves in goal to lead FC Cincinnati past the visiting New England Revolution, 1-0, Saturday night in an Eastern Conference match.

One week after earning their first road win of the season, FC Cincinnati (4-2-1, 13 points) earned its first-ever home win over New England (1-4-1, 4 points). The Orange and Blue had been 0-4-1 in five previous matches against the Revs in Cincinnati. New England was the last unbeaten Eastern Conference team in Cincinnati.

Celentano, who posted his 27th career clean sheet, benefitted from a defense that blocked 10 of New England’s 15 shots. The Revolution was denied consecutive MLS victories for the first time since June 2024 and its first road victory since Aug. 24, 2024.

FCC was very short-handed, without Teenage Hadebe (leg), Obinna Nwobodo (leg), Evander (knee), Yuya Kubo (leg), Matt Miazga (knee) and Miles Robinson (leg). Miazga was the only one of that list available, but did not play.

“One of our best wins, if I’m being honest,” FCC head coach Pat Noonan said. “Just the circumstances and some bodies that we’re obviously missing from last week. It challenged us. We’re obviously stretched thin, but clearly didn’t affect the group because they were ready to play and got the clean sheet, created some good looks, had good discipline, good composure, and, deserved to win the game. I’m really, really proud of the performance.”

Cincinnati’s Corey Baird fired a shot that New England keeper Aljaz Ivacic knocked away to his left. But Pavel Bucha controlled it for FCC and Bucha fed an unmarked Santos, who tapped it into the open goal for his first tally of the season. Santos entered in the 58th minute as a substitute for Brad Smith.

The match was played in heavy rains from the start that made the conditions extremely slick on the grass surface. FCC head coach Pat Noonan earned his second win against the team that took him ninth overall in the 2003 MLS Super Draft.

A solid crowd of 22,912 turned out at TQL Stadium, despite the rain.

“I sat down in my seat before the game and I looked at the Bailey and I was like, that’s pretty impressive to see how full it was and the energy they have on a night like tonight,” Noonan said. “And not just the Bailey. The stadium had life, and that’s not easy. This is one of those nights where it’s easy to say, ‘OK, this isn’t the weather for me. I’m going to stay home.’ That was important for our team tonight because I think that at certain moments certainly lifted our group because it could have been a lot quieter than it was for stretches of the game. The Bailey was outstanding, the crowd was outstanding, and they certainly played a part in tonight’s result.”

FC Cincinnati held New England scoreless for the first time since the first all-time meeting between the clubs (March 24, 2019 – 2-0 FC Cincinnati win).

FC Cincinnati recorded a season-high 21 shots, the most in a match since September 28, 2024 vs LAFC (22).

Sergio Santos netted his first game-winning goal since May 25, 2024 at Toronto FC.

Santos’ game-winning goal was the first regular season game-winning goal from an FC Cincinnati substitute since June 15, 2024 at San Jose Earthquakes (Yuya Kubo).

FC Cincinnati earned 250 all-time MLS points Saturday night with the win.

FC Cincinnati are 31-8 in MLS matches decided by one goal since the start of the 2023 season. No other club has as many as 20 one-goal wins in the same time frame.

Right backer Ilay Feingold had New England’s best chance in the first half, threatening from 18 yards out but his right foot shot went just outside the left post. Fiengold’s threat began a sustained stretch for the Revs, which included a header from Brayan Ceballos in the goal box that hit the left post.

Moments later, Celentano slipped on the wet pitch and fell to his knees, allowing a shot to slide through his mitts. But Celentano and FCC was saved by the right post.

In the 41st minute, Denkey had a spinning chance from just outside the goal area. But his left footed attempt when just wide of the right post.

The clubs traded quality chances in the opening five minutes of the second half, trying to break the scoreless tie. In the 48th minutes, Denkey’s with right footed shot was blocked by center back Mamadou Fofana. A minute later, New England’s Ignatius Ganago had an attempt from the left side of the box blocked by Cincinnati captain and top defender Nick Hagglund.

Luca Orellano nearly put Cincinnati two ahead with a break alone down the right side but Ivacic came out and kicked it away in the 81st minute.