The 2023 Supporters’ Shield race has officially come to an end.
FC Cincinnati lifted their first trophy in club history on Saturday after defeating Toronto FC 3-2 at BMO Field. Pat Noonan’s squad also clinched the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed in the upcoming MLS Cup Playoffs with the result running the road through TQL Stadium.
FC Cincy have three matches left on their regular season schedule and are in contention to surpass the New England Revolution’s single-season points record (73). The Ohio-based club currently have 65 points in regular season play, registering 19 victories, four losses, and eight draws.
FC Cincinnati has been led by the stellar play of MVP-candidate and star attacker, Luciano Acosta. Acosta, a veteran midfielder, leads FC Cincy with 15 goals and 13 assists this season in MLS play.
Forwards Brandon Vazquez and Aaron Boupendza have combined for 13 goals and four assists as well in the attacking third. Wingback Alvaro Barreal has also enjoyed a strong season, scoring four goals and adding eight assists.
U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Roman Celentano has been impressive between the posts, registering 11 clean sheets in 31 appearances. He has a 1.13 goals against average (GAA) and 81 saves to date.
Defensively, FC Cincy have been led by veteran center backs Matt Miazga and Nick Hagglund.
FC Cincinnati next hosts the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday.
I want Brandon Vazquez and Gio Reyna moving to good teams in Europe this January winter transfer window.
Pretty confident that’ll happen with Vasquez for sure in the January window. Cincinnati made the right call holding onto him this season because they were chasing hardware – which they got – but when he struggled a bit to start the season I worried Vasquez had maybe missed his window. But he’s definitely finishing strong…and I do see him doing well in the Bundesliga. The B1 takes hard physical strikers with a combative predator’s mentality who see it and read it and fight for every scrap and that’s exactly his game.
Gio can play for anybody…if he’s healthy. Same old story with Gio. Hopefully at some point soon he can catch an extended run of good health.
Thanks quozzel, I agree with everything you said 👍