Cincinnati vs Charlotte: Overview

The highly anticipated MLS clash between FC Cincinnati and Charlotte FC at a sold-out TQL Stadium ended with a surprising 0-1 victory for the visitors on a warm August evening. Despite dominating much of the contest, second-placed Cincinnati fell to a late Wilfried Zaha strike in the 85th minute after playing the final twenty minutes with ten men.

A capacity crowd of 25,513 passionate supporters created an electric atmosphere in Cincinnati, with orange and blue colors dominating the stands as the home faithful expected another strong performance from Pat Noonan's men. However, the match took a decisive turn when Brian Anunga received a straight red card in the 70th minute for a reckless challenge, shifting momentum to Dean Smith's Charlotte side.

Despite controlling 51.4% possession and creating more chances (16 shots to Charlotte's 8), Cincinnati couldn't find a way past an inspired Kristijan Kahlina, who produced seven remarkable saves to preserve his seventh clean sheet of the season. The Croatian goalkeeper's heroics laid the foundation for Zaha's late winner, extending the Englishman's impressive streak to nine consecutive matches with goal involvements.

The result maintains FC Cincinnati's position in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 15-7-4 record (49 points), while Charlotte FC continues their impressive climb up the standings, improving to 13-11-2 (41 points) and moving into seventh position. This victory marks Charlotte's fifth consecutive win in MLS play, establishing them as genuine contenders as the playoff race intensifies.

The match also witnessed Roman Celentano becoming FC Cincinnati's all-time leader in minutes played, though the goalkeeper will be disappointed not to have celebrated the milestone with a clean sheet. For Cincinnati, attention now turns to their away fixture against Portland Timbers on August 16, while Charlotte will look to extend their winning streak when they host Real Salt Lake on the same date.

"Sometimes football can be cruel. I thought we were the better team for large portions of the match, even after going down to ten men. But that's the game – if you don't convert your chances, you leave yourself vulnerable. Charlotte defended well and took their opportunity when it came." - Pat Noonan, FC Cincinnati Head Coach

"This is exactly the type of performance we've been working toward – disciplined defensively and clinical when opportunities arise. Kristijan was exceptional today, and Wilfried showed again why he's such a special player. To come to a difficult venue like TQL Stadium and take three points shows the character and growth of this team." - Dean Smith, Charlotte FC Head Coach

"It's frustrating because we created enough to win the game. The red card changed things, but even with ten men, we had chances to score. We need to be more clinical in front of goal and learn from this as we move forward." - Matt Miazga, FC Cincinnati Defender

"Seven saves doesn't mean anything without the three points. I'm just doing my job to help the team. The defensive unit deserves credit too – everyone was committed to preserving the clean sheet today. Winning five straight matches shows our potential, but we're staying focused on continuing this form." - Kristijan Kahlina, Charlotte FC Goalkeeper

"FC Cincinnati demonstrated their quality despite the result, but Charlotte's defensive organization and transition play made the difference today. Zaha's form is transforming Charlotte into legitimate contenders in the East." - Taylor Twellman, MLS Analyst

Possession: FC Cincinnati 51.4% - 48.6% Charlotte FC

Shots (On Target): FC Cincinnati 16 (7) - 8 (4) Charlotte FC

Corners: FC Cincinnati 9 - 3 Charlotte FC

Fouls: FC Cincinnati 14 - 10 Charlotte FC

Cards: FC Cincinnati 3 (2Y, 1R) - 2 (2Y, 0R) Charlotte FC

Passing Accuracy: FC Cincinnati 83% - 79% Charlotte FC

Individual Performances:

• Kristijan Kahlina (Charlotte FC): 7 saves, 100% claim success, 1 clean sheet
• Wilfried Zaha (Charlotte FC): 1 goal, 3 shots, 4 successful dribbles, 86% passing accuracy
• Kei Kamara (FC Cincinnati): 5 shots (3 on target), 4 aerial duels won, 1 key pass
• Evander (FC Cincinnati): 4 key passes, 91% passing accuracy, 3 shots
• Tim Ream (Charlotte FC): 7 clearances, 4 interceptions, 2 blocked shots

Despite creating more chances and enjoying more possession, FC Cincinnati's finishing let them down against a resilient Charlotte defense. The visitors were more efficient with their opportunities, converting one of their four shots on target while Cincinnati failed to score from seven. The home side's numerical disadvantage after Anunga's dismissal ultimately proved decisive, allowing Charlotte to capitalize in the closing stages of the match.

3' - Early opportunity for FC Cincinnati as Kei Kamara's powerful header from Luca Orellano's cross forces Kahlina into an acrobatic save, setting the tone for the goalkeeper's exceptional performance.

24' - Charlotte creates their first significant chance when Wilfried Zaha beats two defenders on the left wing before cutting back to Kerwin Vargas, whose first-time shot flies narrowly over the crossbar.

45+2' - The first half ends goalless despite Cincinnati's dominance in possession and chances. Kahlina already with four saves to keep Charlotte in the contest.

58' - Tactical adjustment by Dean Smith as Charlotte switches to a 4-4-2 formation, bringing on an additional midfielder to gain more control in the center of the pitch.

70' - RED CARD: FC Cincinnati reduced to ten men when Brian Anunga receives a straight red card for a dangerous sliding tackle on Djibril Diani. Referee shows no hesitation after viewing the VAR monitor.

76' - Cincinnati nearly breaks the deadlock despite being a man down. Evander's free-kick strikes the crossbar with Kahlina beaten for the first time in the match.

85' - GOAL: Charlotte FC takes the lead! Liel Abada's precise through ball finds Wilfried Zaha, who calmly rounds Celentano before slotting into the empty net. 0-1 to the visitors.

90+4' - Final chance for Cincinnati as Kei Kamara's powerful header from close range is somehow clawed away by Kahlina, preserving Charlotte's clean sheet and securing all three points for the visitors.

The match dynamics shifted dramatically following Anunga's dismissal, as Charlotte capitalized on their numerical advantage to control the final twenty minutes. Pat Noonan's side showed admirable resilience with ten men but ultimately couldn't prevent Zaha's decisive intervention.

The rivalry between FC Cincinnati and Charlotte FC remains relatively young in MLS terms, with Charlotte having joined the league as an expansion franchise in 2022. Prior to this encounter, the all-time series stood at 3 wins for Cincinnati, 2 for Charlotte, and 1 draw across all competitions.

The teams' previous meeting this season resulted in a commanding 3-0 victory for FC Cincinnati at Bank of America Stadium in April, with goals from Luciano Acosta, Yuya Kubo, and Aaron Boupendza. That result suggested Cincinnati had Charlotte's number, making this 0-1 reverse particularly surprising.

A fascinating tactical battle developed between Pat Noonan and Dean Smith, with Cincinnati's fluid 4-3-3 formation controlling large portions of the match before Anunga's dismissal forced a more defensive 4-4-1 shape. Smith's decision to introduce Liel Abada in the second half proved decisive, with the Israeli international providing the assist for Zaha's winner.

The individual duel between FC Cincinnati's defensive partnership of Matt Miazga and Miles Robinson against Charlotte's Wilfried Zaha was particularly compelling. The former Crystal Palace star was largely contained until finding space in the 85th minute to score the match-winner, showcasing his predatory instincts and decisive quality.

Another crucial matchup saw Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina decisively outperform his counterpart Roman Celentano. While Celentano had little chance with the goal, Kahlina's seven saves – particularly his stunning stoppage-time denial of Kei Kamara – ultimately determined the outcome.

This result shifts momentum in the rivalry toward Charlotte, who have now won two of the last three encounters between these ambitious Eastern Conference clubs. With both teams looking to establish themselves as perennial MLS Cup contenders, this budding rivalry promises to deliver more dramatic chapters in seasons to come.

Eastern Conference Standings (Top 8):

1. Columbus Crew - 17-5-4 (55 points)
2. FC Cincinnati - 15-7-4 (49 points)
3. Orlando City - 14-8-4 (46 points)
4. Inter Miami - 13-7-6 (45 points)
5. Philadelphia Union - 13-8-5 (44 points)
6. New York Red Bulls - 12-7-7 (43 points)
7. Charlotte FC - 13-11-2 (41 points)
8. Atlanta United - 11-10-5 (38 points)

Despite the defeat, FC Cincinnati maintains their position in second place, though the gap to leaders Columbus Crew has now increased to six points. With eight matches remaining in the regular season, Cincinnati remains well-positioned to secure a playoff berth, though their hopes of claiming the Eastern Conference's top seed have diminished slightly.

Charlotte FC's fifth consecutive victory has propelled them firmly into playoff contention, climbing to seventh place with 41 points. Their remarkable form under Dean Smith has transformed them from mid-table outsiders to legitimate contenders in just over a month.

The Eastern Conference playoff race continues to tighten, with only seven points separating third from eighth place. Cincinnati's upcoming road trip to Portland becomes even more crucial as they look to maintain their buffer over the chasing pack, while Charlotte will aim to continue their ascent when they host Real Salt Lake.