MATCH RECAP: Another controversial VAR decision as Cincinnati holds off Monterrey in Leagues Cup Opener

By Tony Álvarez

Everyone knew that it was going to be a close matchup and fans were not disappointed as FC Cincinnati opened up the tournament with a thrilling 3-2 victory over FC Monterrey in another intense Leagues Cup match.

It was a very busy game for Rayados goalkeeper Luis Cárdenas. The clock said only 4 minutes when Deandre Yedlin sprinted for a ball that was inside the box when “Mochis” dove for it and the Cincinnati player ended put hitting him in the face with his foot as he fell to the grass.

That caused a cut on Cárdenas´ face, but he managed to stay in the game after being attended to on the grass for several minutes. However, his busy night continued when Cincy´s attacks became constant around the 30 minute mark. Gerardo Valenzuela found a determined Evander who delivered a strong shot to beat the goalkeeper from just inside the box to open the scoring.

Despite more chances being created by the MLS side, it was CF Monterrey who answered right before the half. Sergio Canales received the ball on the right side near the sideline and dribbled towards the box to deliver a shot that was deflected twice and went passed the goalkeeper off the base of the post to put the score 1-1 at the break.

La Pandilla picked up where they left off in the beginning of the second half, as they took control of the game and once again Canales delivered a dangerous shot of his left foot that hit the base of the post and then was cleared away in the 49 minute.

With that said, a very close play led to a VAR review that gave Cincy the lead in the 53rd minute. Luca Orellano left the ball to Evander outside the box of the left side and then received it again as he entered past the CF Monterrey backline and scored; an offside was given but then the play was reviewed, and the decision was overturned to put the scoreboard in favor of the MLS team.

After that, a header from Jesús Manuel Corona that went wide and an Evanver free kick that was saved by Cárdenas were just two of the most important chances for each team towards the final minutes, but the scoring was not over.

In the 90 minute mark Evander got his second assist of the game with another clinical pass between two defenders, this time to Pavel Bucha who delivered a strong shot to put the score 3-1. Rayados got that goal back four minutes later when Joaquín Moxica crossed a ball from the right near the endline and Germán Berterame jumped over a defender to deliver a header and put what was the final score 3-2. Cincy held on to secure three important points and send a message to the rest of the teams.

REACTIONS:

• Cincinnati
  • Head Coach Pat Noonan
    • “Winning was the priority, and the guys did a good job of that. We just beat a good team, I’m not
      concerned about goal differential, I’m too pleased about the performance”
  • Evander
    • “This is why I joined the squad (...) I think we're having a very good season right now, with a chance to win the Supporters Shield and to come away with everything in this Leagues Cup.”
• Monterrey
  • Head Coach Domènec Torrent
    • “We were better the team in the second half. A dubious play gave them a 2-1 lead and we gave up goals from throw-ins"

PLAYERS OF THE MATCH:

• Cincinnati:
  • Evander continues his MVP level season with a goal and two assists in his first Leagues Cup game with Cincinnati
• Monterrey:
  • Sergio Canales scored his 3rd career Leagues Cup with a nifty dribble and finish near the end of the first half

GAME NOTES:

• Cincinnati has won 7 of their last 9 games overall between MLS and Leagues Cup
• Evander has scored has 3 goals and 5 assists in 6 career Leagues Cup games
• Since joining Cincinnati in February, Evander has 18 goals and 10 assists in 28 total appearances
• Germán Berterame got his 5th goal in his last 3 games; Monterrey has scored 12 total goals over their last 8 matches and Berterame has 8 of those goals
• Sergio Ramos made his Leagues Cup debut patroling the entire field for Monterrey
• Monterrey goalkeeper, Luis Cárdenas, played with a cut on his face for the majority of the match

CARDS/INJURY REPORT:

• Yellow Cards
  • Cincinnati: Matt Miazga
  • Monterrey: Gerardo Arteaga, Lucas Ocampo

LOOKING AHEAD:

• Cincinnati's next match will be against FC Juarez on August 3rd
• Monterrey's next match will be against the NY Red Bulls on August 3rd