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Wearing the same jersey number as former FC Cincinnati striker Aaron Boupendza, Kévin Denkey scored a key goal for the team.
He and Evander, playing together for the first time in five weeks, delivered all three goals in a 3-2 win at Chicago Fire FC Saturday night at Soldier Field. FC Cincinnati won its fourth game in a row to improve to 6-2-1 (19 points).
Cincinnati has now won four straight for the first time since last season’s club-record seven match win streak from April 20 to May 25. It is the fourth time in club history they have won four or more in a row in MLS play. Cincy also improved to 33-8 in one-goal games since the start of the 2023 season.
Cincy improved to 5-1-1 all-time in Chicago, the most road wins it has against any MLS opponent. Chicago drops to 3-3-3.
FC Cincinnati honored Boupendza, who died Wednesday in China at age 28. Boupendza was a key player in their 2023 Supporters’ Shield campaign.
Saturday night, the starting lineup held Boupendza’s jersey with his number 9 up front for their standard pregame photo.
The players also wore black armbands to honor Boupendza. Chicago held a moment of silence during pregame.
Denkey, who has worn the same number since he joined FC Cincinnati in the offseason, scored the eventual winning goal.
In the 42nd minute, he got open in the middle of the goal box. Sergio Santos dribbled to the end line and near the left post, delivering a pass to Denkey who fired it in past Chicago keeper Chris Brady for his fourth goal in MLS play. That gave Cincy a 2-1 lead.
After the goal, Denkey lifted up his jersey to reveal a T-Shirt with Boupendza’s name and jersey number on it. He was given a yellow card for excessive celebration.
Evander, returning to the Cincinnati lineup after missing two games to injury, gave Cincy a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute.
Cincy got a transition opportunity after a Chicago player got his feet tangled up with the center official and fell. Santos found Evander in transition, and Evander fired from a few yards in front of the goal box. The ball deflected off the leg of a Chicago defender who dove in front of Evander, and the ball popped up and over Brady’s head.
Hugo Cuypers tied it for Chicago in the 31st minute after Jonathan Bamba found him in space on a pass from midfield. Cuypers, Chicago’s leading scorer, beat two Cincinnati defenders into the 18 and then fired a shot pass Roman Celentano from close range for his sixth goal of the season.
Evander scored again in the 71st minute, dribbling the ball to the post and getting the ball between Brady’s legs from an acute angle to make it 3-1. That was his sixth goal in MLS play this season.
Chicago got one back when a Cincy foul gave the Fire a penalty in the 85th minute. Brian Gutierrez delivered for Chicago.
Bamba missed an open shot to tie the game in stoppage time. Cincy blocked two shots in the final minute.
Matt Miazga made his first start since last summer. He played the first half and was replaced at the break by Gilberto Flores.
Yuya Kubo and Obinna Nwobodo remained out of the lineup with injuries.
Luca Orellano was out of the starting lineup after a minor injury in training on Thursday, but came into the game in the 54th minute in place of Santos.
The Orange and Blue ended the night tied for first in the Eastern Conference with Charlotte, as both teams have 19 points. Charlotte beat San Diego 3-0 on Saturday and has an identical 6-2-1 record but a seven-goal advantage in the goal-differential tiebreaker.
Inter Miami and Columbus Crew ended the day tied for third with 18 points apiece after Miami’s 1-0 win over the Crew Saturday in a big showdown. Miami has a game in hand on every team in the top half of the Eastern Conference standings.
The Orange and Blue return home to TQL Stadium next weekend, playing Sporting Kansas City 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 26. SKC is 1-6-1 for 4 points, entering a game at San Jose later Saturday night.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati beats Chicago Fire in MLS 2025 regular season
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He and Evander, playing together for the first time in five weeks, delivered all three goals in a 3-2 win at Chicago Fire FC Saturday night at Soldier Field. FC Cincinnati won its fourth game in a row to improve to 6-2-1 (19 points).
Cincinnati has now won four straight for the first time since last season’s club-record seven match win streak from April 20 to May 25. It is the fourth time in club history they have won four or more in a row in MLS play. Cincy also improved to 33-8 in one-goal games since the start of the 2023 season.
Cincy improved to 5-1-1 all-time in Chicago, the most road wins it has against any MLS opponent. Chicago drops to 3-3-3.
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FC Cincinnati honored Boupendza, who died Wednesday in China at age 28. Boupendza was a key player in their 2023 Supporters’ Shield campaign.
Saturday night, the starting lineup held Boupendza’s jersey with his number 9 up front for their standard pregame photo.
The players also wore black armbands to honor Boupendza. Chicago held a moment of silence during pregame.
You must be registered for see images
Denkey, who has worn the same number since he joined FC Cincinnati in the offseason, scored the eventual winning goal.
In the 42nd minute, he got open in the middle of the goal box. Sergio Santos dribbled to the end line and near the left post, delivering a pass to Denkey who fired it in past Chicago keeper Chris Brady for his fourth goal in MLS play. That gave Cincy a 2-1 lead.
You must be registered for see images
After the goal, Denkey lifted up his jersey to reveal a T-Shirt with Boupendza’s name and jersey number on it. He was given a yellow card for excessive celebration.
Evander, returning to the Cincinnati lineup after missing two games to injury, gave Cincy a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute.
Cincy got a transition opportunity after a Chicago player got his feet tangled up with the center official and fell. Santos found Evander in transition, and Evander fired from a few yards in front of the goal box. The ball deflected off the leg of a Chicago defender who dove in front of Evander, and the ball popped up and over Brady’s head.
Hugo Cuypers tied it for Chicago in the 31st minute after Jonathan Bamba found him in space on a pass from midfield. Cuypers, Chicago’s leading scorer, beat two Cincinnati defenders into the 18 and then fired a shot pass Roman Celentano from close range for his sixth goal of the season.
Evander scored again in the 71st minute, dribbling the ball to the post and getting the ball between Brady’s legs from an acute angle to make it 3-1. That was his sixth goal in MLS play this season.
Chicago got one back when a Cincy foul gave the Fire a penalty in the 85th minute. Brian Gutierrez delivered for Chicago.
Bamba missed an open shot to tie the game in stoppage time. Cincy blocked two shots in the final minute.
Lineup notes
Matt Miazga made his first start since last summer. He played the first half and was replaced at the break by Gilberto Flores.
Yuya Kubo and Obinna Nwobodo remained out of the lineup with injuries.
Luca Orellano was out of the starting lineup after a minor injury in training on Thursday, but came into the game in the 54th minute in place of Santos.
Where FC Cincinnati stands in the MLS Eastern Conference
The Orange and Blue ended the night tied for first in the Eastern Conference with Charlotte, as both teams have 19 points. Charlotte beat San Diego 3-0 on Saturday and has an identical 6-2-1 record but a seven-goal advantage in the goal-differential tiebreaker.
Inter Miami and Columbus Crew ended the day tied for third with 18 points apiece after Miami’s 1-0 win over the Crew Saturday in a big showdown. Miami has a game in hand on every team in the top half of the Eastern Conference standings.
What’s next for FC Cincinnati?
The Orange and Blue return home to TQL Stadium next weekend, playing Sporting Kansas City 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 26. SKC is 1-6-1 for 4 points, entering a game at San Jose later Saturday night.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati beats Chicago Fire in MLS 2025 regular season
Continue reading...
