MIAMI, Florida – FC Cincinnati of Major League Soccer (MLS) have Jamaican club Cavalier on the ropes in their 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Round One series following a 2-0 first leg victory on Thursday night at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.
The action started early and often, highlighted by each team having a great chance to score within 30 seconds of each other.
First, it was Sergio Santos of FC Cincinnati heading right at Cavalier GK Jeadine White, followed moments later by an Orlando Russell effort at goal for Cavalier saved by FC Cincinnati GK Roman Celetano.
Santos would later come achingly close to scoring with a shot off the crossbar in the 34’, but right before halftime he would break through for the game’s first goal when Bret Halsey found Santos, who stabbed home a shot for 1-0 FC Cincinnati lead.
Cavalier looked to respond in the second half and started testing the FC Cincinnati defense, including a chance in the 64’ with 2023 Concacaf Caribbean Cup top scorer Shaniel Thomas in the area and set to fire off a shot, only for FC Cincinnati’s Yuya Kubo to swoop in and make a last-ditch slide tackle to clear the danger
FC Cincinnati were keen to find a second to put Cavalier on the ropes, and nearly did so in the 82’ when Pavel Bucha hit a volley off a corner kick that grazed the crossbar.
The coveted second goal would ultimately arrive for FC Cincinnati in the 87’ helped by a slick backheel from Arquimides Ordonez and a powerful, well-placed right-footed finish from Malik Pinto to complete the 2-0 scoreline.
Malik Pinto doubles the lead for Cincinnati after a magnificent play! pic.twitter.com/nKYH5iGnTZ
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) February 23, 2024
