FC Cincinnati coach happy with 2-0 cushion
Speid: It will be difficult and a 2-0 lead means we definitely will have to try and score early in second leg
HEAD COACH of FC Cincinnati, Pat Noonan, says the two-goal cushion his team gained in their first-leg Concacaf Champions Cup match at the National Stadium on Thursday night will give the team a lot of confidence going forward.
In a highly anticipated fixture where both teams were making their respective Concacaf Champions Cup debuts visitors FC Cincinnati got the better of Cavalier 2-0.
Sergio Santos scored the game’s opener in the first half while Malik Pinto added a late goal in the 87th minute to give the Major League Soccer (MLS) unit the aggregate lead heading into the second leg.
“I saw the first half and we just didn’t take our opportunities because I thought there were plenty of goals there for us,” Noonan said. “It was good to get the goal before the break and then in the second half we got the goal in the end, but credit to Cavalier, they made it difficult.
“These games are difficult against an unfamiliar opponent. It’s certainly good to get a win, keeping the clean sheet is always positive and hopefully, it’s a victory that gives the group an early confidence.”
Cincinnati controlled much of the possession on the night as the visitors proved persistent on the attack. However, Cavalier were up to the task defensively with goalkeeper Jaedine White and his backline doing well against waves of attacks from Cincinnati.
The winners broke the deadlock five minutes into added time of the first half when Santos finished off a well-worked team effort with a first-time finish just past the outstretched arms of White in the Cavalier goal.
The team would find their double late in the second half when substitute Pinto curled his effort to the back post through a crowded penalty box.
Cavalier were able to carve out the rare chance against the MLS team on the counter, but were unable to apply that final touch to drag themselves back into the game.
Cavalier head coach Rudolph Speid said his team faces a massive task in the second leg if they are to advance to the next round.
“I thought FC Cincinnati played very well. We know that they were going to apply pressure so it was deliberate for us to play on the counter. We had a couple of opportunities early, we just didn’t make use of them and I also thought we defended well.
“We lost concentration twice towards the end of the first half and the second half and we conceded. It will be difficult ( to advance) and a 2-0 lead means we definitely will have to try and score early (in second leg). I’m thinking that based on what transpired today, we will always have a chance.”
The second leg will be played next Wednesday at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati for a spot in round two of the Concacaf Champions Cup.