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FC Cincinnati had a new offensive hero for the second game in a row and won its third-straight Major League Soccer game Saturday night.
One week after Sergio Santos scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over New England, Gerardo “Dado” Valenzuela scored his first of the season in the first half. Then, the Orange and Blue held off a flurry of chances in the second half to shut out DC United 1-0 at Audi Field.
The Orange and Blue, 5-2-1 overall, end the night with 16 points and temporarily tied for first in points in the Eastern Conference with Charlotte before Columbus (15 pts) and Miami (14) have road games on Sunday. Charlotte has the goal-differential tiebreaker by five over FC Cincy.
DCU lost its fourth straight, falling to 1-4-3 (6 points).
Valenzuela, the 20-year old homegrown player from Florida, scored his first goal of the season and second as a member of FC Cincinnati.
In the 28th minute, after Kévin Denkey forced a turnover at midfield, he got the ball to Valenzuela in transition. Valenzuela dribbled past two DC United players before meeting two defenders in the middle of the goal box.
Valenzuela took a quick pivot to his right, getting the ball away from the two defenders and firing a laser past DC United keeper Luis Barraza.
He was making his first start of the season as the Orange and Blue were missing four regular starters, including playmakers Evander and Yuya Kubo up front.
"I’m happy that he got the goal because that was important for him and for the team," said FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan. "He got a plus rating because he scores the goal and he does some other things well that I hadn’t seen enough of prior. And he hasn’t had a lot of opportunities so hopefully he can build on this."
DCU came into the match allowing 17 goals in seven games, three more than any other MLS team. That included 12 conceded in the previous three losses, six last weekend against San Jose.
In response, the home team swapped out four starters from the San Jose loss. One of the new starters was the keeper Barraza, making his first start since August 2023, which was also against FC Cincinnati when he played for New York City FC.
The changes didn’t help early, as the Orange and Blue had a couple of dangerous chances and twice a DCU backliner nearly passed the ball back into his own goal.
The second time, about 14 minutes in, Barraza had to scramble to kick the ball away just before it crossed the goal line.
Early in the game, Valenzuela found Lukas Engel in transition, with Engel forcing Barraza into a tough save.
More: TQL Stadium to host seven international teams in FIFA Club World Cup group stage
FC Cincinnati posted its fourth clean sheet of the season and second in a row.
It wasn’t easy as the home team controlled the second half, peppering the Cincy defense with one chance after another, most involving one of the league’s top offensive stars, Christian Benteke.
Benteke, last year’s MLS Golden Boot winner (23 goals), came in with five goals this season for DCU. The 34-year old, 6-foot-3, Belgium national star is in his fourth season for DC United after 10 seasons in the English Premier League.
Benteke is adept at winning headers, and DCU frequently lobbed the ball to him in the middle of the goal box. Nick Hagglund, playing the middle of the back line, had primary responsibility on him.
"Our guys did an excellent job of defending the goal and defending one of the best in the world in front of goal," Noonan said. "When we weren’t at our best, defending the right way is important. Defending to protect a lead and keep a clean sheet is important to them."
In the 54th minute, Hagglund leapt with Benteke to keep him from getting a clean header in the middle of the 18.
In the 67th, Hagglund got in Benteke’s way again, forcing Benteke to miss from close range on a header from a free kick.
"One of Nick’s best performances," Noonan said. "I know there have been plenty. The task in front of him: How he anticipated service, how he used his body and defending set pieces. The one on the free kick, that was such a difficult play."
In the 72nd minute, Benteke got the ball and sprinted past Miles Robinson into the 18, but Robinson caught up with him and cleared the ball away.
Matt Miazga made his 2025 debut for the Orange and Blue, replacing Gilberto Flores on the back line in the 83rd minute.
The Orange and Blue go back on the road next weekend, playing at Chicago Fire FC at Solder Field 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19.
Chicago is 3-2-2 for 11 points, entering the day in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Chicago plays at home against Inter Miami 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati gets third win, this time over DC United in MLS 2025
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One week after Sergio Santos scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over New England, Gerardo “Dado” Valenzuela scored his first of the season in the first half. Then, the Orange and Blue held off a flurry of chances in the second half to shut out DC United 1-0 at Audi Field.
The Orange and Blue, 5-2-1 overall, end the night with 16 points and temporarily tied for first in points in the Eastern Conference with Charlotte before Columbus (15 pts) and Miami (14) have road games on Sunday. Charlotte has the goal-differential tiebreaker by five over FC Cincy.
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DCU lost its fourth straight, falling to 1-4-3 (6 points).
Valenzuela, the 20-year old homegrown player from Florida, scored his first goal of the season and second as a member of FC Cincinnati.
In the 28th minute, after Kévin Denkey forced a turnover at midfield, he got the ball to Valenzuela in transition. Valenzuela dribbled past two DC United players before meeting two defenders in the middle of the goal box.
Valenzuela took a quick pivot to his right, getting the ball away from the two defenders and firing a laser past DC United keeper Luis Barraza.
He was making his first start of the season as the Orange and Blue were missing four regular starters, including playmakers Evander and Yuya Kubo up front.
"I’m happy that he got the goal because that was important for him and for the team," said FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan. "He got a plus rating because he scores the goal and he does some other things well that I hadn’t seen enough of prior. And he hasn’t had a lot of opportunities so hopefully he can build on this."
DCU came into the match allowing 17 goals in seven games, three more than any other MLS team. That included 12 conceded in the previous three losses, six last weekend against San Jose.
In response, the home team swapped out four starters from the San Jose loss. One of the new starters was the keeper Barraza, making his first start since August 2023, which was also against FC Cincinnati when he played for New York City FC.
The changes didn’t help early, as the Orange and Blue had a couple of dangerous chances and twice a DCU backliner nearly passed the ball back into his own goal.
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The second time, about 14 minutes in, Barraza had to scramble to kick the ball away just before it crossed the goal line.
Early in the game, Valenzuela found Lukas Engel in transition, with Engel forcing Barraza into a tough save.
More: TQL Stadium to host seven international teams in FIFA Club World Cup group stage
FC Cincinnati defense comes up big again
FC Cincinnati posted its fourth clean sheet of the season and second in a row.
It wasn’t easy as the home team controlled the second half, peppering the Cincy defense with one chance after another, most involving one of the league’s top offensive stars, Christian Benteke.
Benteke, last year’s MLS Golden Boot winner (23 goals), came in with five goals this season for DCU. The 34-year old, 6-foot-3, Belgium national star is in his fourth season for DC United after 10 seasons in the English Premier League.
Benteke is adept at winning headers, and DCU frequently lobbed the ball to him in the middle of the goal box. Nick Hagglund, playing the middle of the back line, had primary responsibility on him.
"Our guys did an excellent job of defending the goal and defending one of the best in the world in front of goal," Noonan said. "When we weren’t at our best, defending the right way is important. Defending to protect a lead and keep a clean sheet is important to them."
In the 54th minute, Hagglund leapt with Benteke to keep him from getting a clean header in the middle of the 18.
In the 67th, Hagglund got in Benteke’s way again, forcing Benteke to miss from close range on a header from a free kick.
"One of Nick’s best performances," Noonan said. "I know there have been plenty. The task in front of him: How he anticipated service, how he used his body and defending set pieces. The one on the free kick, that was such a difficult play."
In the 72nd minute, Benteke got the ball and sprinted past Miles Robinson into the 18, but Robinson caught up with him and cleared the ball away.
Matt Miazga made his 2025 debut for the Orange and Blue, replacing Gilberto Flores on the back line in the 83rd minute.
What’s next for FC Cincinnati?
The Orange and Blue go back on the road next weekend, playing at Chicago Fire FC at Solder Field 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19.
Chicago is 3-2-2 for 11 points, entering the day in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Chicago plays at home against Inter Miami 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati gets third win, this time over DC United in MLS 2025
Continue reading...
