FC Cincinnati defeats Colorado Rapids for 10th win of 2023 MLS season | Replay

COMMERCE CITY, Colorado – FC Cincinnati’s tired legs were strong enough to hold out for a road victory roughly a mile above sea level.

Another 1-0 lead for a road-weary and generally tired FC Cincinnati produced another finish that entailed desperate defending. But unlike on Tuesday night against the New York Red Bulls when FCC conceded a late equalizer, Cincinnati on Saturday managed to hold off Colorado Rapids for a 1-0 victory at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Dominique Badji scored his first goal for FC Cincinnati in the 34^th minute. His tally hit the back of the net in front of the Rapids’ supporter section that had previously cheered Badji on as a Rapids player.

In the ongoing run of 10 matches across 41 days, that was all the goal-scoring FCC gave itself on the night. Goalkeeper Roman Celentano made three vital saves in the second half to protect his and the club’s seventh shutout of 2023.

With the win, FC Cincinnati became the first club in 2023 to reach 10 victories and sat atop the league-wide standings on a 10-1-3 record and 33 points.

Final: FCC 1, Rapids 0

FC Cincinnati is the first MLS club to 10 wins in 2023. They held out for the win despite a dominant second half from the Rapids. Roman Celentano came up huge in net for the visitors as he preserved his seventh shutout of the contest.

Santos on, Santos off (75')

Potentially bad news on the striker front for FC Cincinnati as Sergio Santos, who dressed tonight and appeared for the first time since May 6, exited the match shortly after entering it due to apparent injury and holding the back of his right leg following a long run in pursuit of the ball.

FC Cincinnati then inserted Santiago Arias and Malik Pinto to the proceedings, both of which are defense-first substitutions. That means Cincinnati might already have all the offense it's going to get and will be primarily looking to shut the match down.

Hanging on (67')

The Rapids are threatening to pull even. This will not be easy to close out and, with that thought in mind, FCC's gone to its bench. Sergio Santos is on for Dominique Badji and Yuya Kubo has replaced Junior Moreno.

FC Cincinnati's ball-hawking defensive midfielder Obinna Nwobodo just picked up a yellow card, which will require him to be suspended for Wednesday's league match against NYCFC. That won't feel like such a steep price to pay if Cincinnati hangs on tonight.

Halftime

FC Cincinnati's been in pretty firm control of the match throughout via its defense and possession. The Rapids have just three shots. Two were blocked and the other was off-target. Late in the half, FCC went in front via Dominique Badji, whose goal was his first for Cincinnati.

A long-awaited goal for Dominique Badji (34')

In his 34th appearance for FC Cincinnati, Dominique Badji scored his first goal for the club against a Rapids organization where he made 103 total appearances over three separate stints with the team. It's 1-0 to FC Cincinnati.

FC Cincy mostly in control (18')

FC Cincinnati hasn't had huge chances but they've had the best of them between the two teams, which are still scoreless so far. Luciano Acosta scuffed in open shot wide from a good, central position. Brandon Vazquez forced Colorado goalkeeper William Yarbrough into a save, and so did Obinna Nwobodo. FCC's Roman Celentano is still awaiting his first action of the night in net.

Colorado's best movements of the night have been a couple long balls lobbed over FCC's back line on the left side, but no shots resulted from those.

Underway (1')

Storms passed through the area of Dick's Sporting Goods Park earlier but the rain is holding off for now. We're underway at "DSGP."

Pre-match coverage

FC Cincinnati will play six matches in May by month's end and Saturday's match at Dick's Sporting Goods Park is their fifth game in that run.

More:MLS preview: FC Cincinnati's hectic schedule continues against Colorado Rapids

The starters

• FC Cincinnati starting XI: Roman Celentano (GK), Alvaro Barreal, Ian Murphy, Matt Miazga, Yerson Mosquera, Ray Gaddis, Junior Moreno, Obinna Nwobodo, Luciano Acosta, Dominique Badji, Brandon Vazquez.
• Cincinnati bench: Alec Kann (GK), Alvas Powell, Joey Akpunonu, Yuya Kubo, Marco Angulo, Santiago Arias, Sergio Santos, Malik Pinto, Dado Valenzuela.
• Colorado Rapids starting XI: William Yarbrough (GK), Keegan Rosenberry, Danny Wilson, Andreas Maxsø, Lalas Abubakar, Connor Ronan, Danny Leyva, Calvin Harris, Anthony Markanich, Kévin Cabral, Jonathan Lewis.
• Colorado bench: Ilic, Gersbach, Bassett, Anderson, Beitashour, Vargas, Amadou, Hanya, Bombito.