10-man CF Monterrey outlasts FC Cincinnati in Champions Cup | Replay

The goal was vintage Brandon Vazquez, the kind FC Cincinnati fans had seen so many times before at TQL Stadium. He just happened to be wearing the blue and white of CF Monterrey when he scored it.

With the ball out on the right wing and Matt Miazga draped all over his former teammate, Vazquez didn't appear to be a threat to do damage. But then he flashed his trademark lightning-quick movement in the penalty area.

A shoulder-shrug and one, hard cut-back toward the middle of the box and Miazga, the 2023 Major League Soccer Defender of the Year, was taken out of the play.

Then Vazquez just needed to receive the ball, which he did as he was wide open in a dangerous position, and get it out of his feet, which he also did. The shot was hit with venom. FCC goalkeeper Roman Celentano got hands to the ball but it still dribbled over the line.

"Obviously, left a bit too much space for him," Miazga said afterward. "He scored a good goal."

Vazquez, FC Cincinnati's all-time leading scorer, tallied in his first match back at TQL Stadium, and this was a big one. Maybe his biggest yet in the venue, and that includes scores against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami CF in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal, and against Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference final.

Vazquez was a man of his word, too. He told The Enquirer on Wednesday night he wouldn’t celebrate in front of FC Cincinnati fans if he scored at TQL Stadium, and he didn’t.

The score for 1-0 in the 24th minute of Thursday's CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16 opener between CF Monterrey and FC Cincinnati before a weeknight crowd of 21,175 was decisive. A 10-man Monterrey scraped out a 1-0 win. The strike could prove huge in the two-match, aggregate-score series, which concludes March 14 at BBVA Stadium.

While the goal by Vazquez was momentous, the win by Monterrey was hardly overwhelming. FC Cincinnati controlled possession and the majority of the match's close chances. All that was missing from the hosts' performance was at least one goal, and probably several.

"We played a really strong team and I thought we played them really well," FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said of the first-leg defeat. "The obvious was (our) play in front of goal. We just missed on some really good chances and credit to their keeper who made some saves as well but, you know, that was the deciding factor in the result. If we perform like that (in Monterrey), I think we'll be OK... The scoreline is the part hurts after that performance."

More: CF Monterrey's Brandon Vazquez: I wouldn't celebrate a goal vs. FC Cincinnati

In a week’s time, FC Cincinnati could be ruing the missed chances of Thursday at home. FCC out-shot Monterrey, the five-time Champions Cup winners and current Liga MX leaders, by a 7-4 margin.

Corey Baird had close chances on both sides of halftime, as well as a goal ruled out for offside in the first half. That would have made it 1-0 in the two-match, aggregate-score series.

Aaron Boupendza had his fair share of chances that went begging, too. The last of those was deep in second-half added time when his header missed the target wide off a feed from Bret Halsey.

FC Cincinnati played the final 20-plus minutes with a man advantage after Rodrigo Aguirre was issued a straight red card for striking Baird during a stoppage in play. FCC’s man advantage came to little, though.

Cincinnati has a tough task ahead of it next week. Monterrey is undefeated in Liga MX play, and a win in BBVA Stadium would be regarded in some circles as a stunning outcome. It wouldn't stun FC Cincinnati's players, though. They uniformly expressed confidence after Thursday's match, and perhaps rightfully so.

After all, FCC had gone toe-to-toe with the No. 1-ranked club in CONCACAF and only narrowly been defeated.

"We are so disappointed. Not just me (but) everyone in the team," FC Cincinnati midfielder Obinna Nwobodo said in a post-match mixed zone. "Especially this kind of game where we take so many chances to score. At least we could have tied but I think this gives us the confidence knowing full well that if we play the same way we played tonight in their home, definitely we're going to get something.

"We're creating the chances. Our strikers, our forwards are always in good positions. It's just the last touch... it's within us."

Even Monterrey's manager, Fernando Ortiz, conceded the two-leg series was far from over after his side prevailed on Thursday.

“Suffered. Although we obtained a minimal difference, we must not stop evaluating it, in the first minutes situations arose that we had to change, which led us to continue insisting, then the (red card)," Ortiz said via an interpretation of his remarks. "The boys understood that a sacrifice had to be made to the great game that Cincinnati had. Although I had studied it, today I was more surprised, (so) congratulating the club.

"It is a rival that you have to take precautions when you return... (our) advantage does not define anything”

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Job halfway done for Monterrey

It's a 1-0 final score at TQL Stadium. CF Monterrey is halfway done its job against FC Cincinnati and takes a lead into the second leg next week at BBVA Stadium.

Monterrey down to 10 men (69')

Rodrigo Aguirre was issued a straight red card for serious foul play. The card was confirmed via a video-assistant referee (VAR) review. Aguirre struck FC Cincinnati's Corey Baird during a stoppage in play prior to FCC taking a corner kick.

FC Cincinnati with nothing to show for its good play (65')

FC Cincinnati is probably, narrowly the better team tonight. The more impressive soccer has belonged to FCC, but chance after chance has gone begging. FCC is out-shooting Monterrey, 6-2, and has three corners to the visitors' one. Still looking for an opening goal for Cincy, though. It would be a real shame if they ended the night without one.

Monterrey on top at halftime

Think of this as the end of the first quarter of the Cincinnati-Monterrey series. Which is to say there's plenty of time left but FC Cincinnati is most definitely chasing as of now. Monterrey took a 1-0 lead through Brandon Vazquez (of course), whose goal was his seventh in 11 matches for his new club. Vazquez put all three of his first-half shots on-target. FCC had some threatening moments and can feel good about that, but it really needs to get on the board tonight. Going to Monterrey and hoping to advance in the Champions Cup becomes very challenging if Cincinnati is blanked tonight.

Check the Vazquez goal out

The return of Brandon Vazquez (24')

He did it. Brandon Vazquez scored on his return to FC Cincinnati. True to his word, he didn't celebrate. Monterrey leads, 1-0, on the night and has a huge away goal in the series. FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano got a hand on the shot but it dribbled over the line.

For Vazquez, this is just his latest tally and gives him seven goals in 11 matches for Monterrey.

FC Cincinnati has the momentum but no goals to show for it ('20)

Corey Baird is knocking on the door for Cincinnati. He's had one good chance saved at close range and another find the back of the net, although he was flagged for offside and it didn't count. FCC is pretty firmly in control at the moment but need to capitalize.

An early change for Rayados (10')

Captain Hector Moreno was subbed off due to an injury, which would be concerning for the visitors for tonight's match and going forward.

History awaits (1')

Is this a top 10 game in FC Cincinnati history? Top five? It's up there, that's for sure. And it's underway at TQL Stadium. Remember: The outcome of this match won't decide the series. These clubs will play again in a week in Monterrey. Tonight's result can do a long way to setting yourself up for success in Monterrey, though.

Starting lineups for FC Cincinnati, Monterrey

• FC Cincinnati starting XI: Roman Celentano (GK), Yuya Kubo, Ian Murphy, Matt Miazga, Miles Robinson, DeAndre Yedlin, Pavel Bucha, Obinna Nwobodo, Luciano Acosta, Corey Baird, Aaron Boupendza.

• Cincinnati bench: Evan Louro (GK), Alvas Powell, Nick Hagglund, Kipp Keller, Bret Halsey, Sergio Santos, Gerardo "Dado" Valenzuela, Malik Pinto, Quimi Ordonez, Isaiah Foster, London Aghedo, Stiven Jimenez.

More: CF Monterrey's Brandon Vazquez: I wouldn't celebrate a goal vs. FC Cincinnati

• Monterrey starting XI: Esteban Andrada (GK), Gerardo Arteago, Edson Gutierrez, Sergio Canales, Maximiliano Meza, Erick Aguirre, Hector Moreno (captain), Jesus Gallardo, Jordi Cortizo, Brandon Vazquez, Jorge Rodriguez.

• Monterrey bench: Luis Cardenas (GK), Cesar Ramos (GK), OMar Govea, German Berterame, Jesus Corona, Jaziel Martinez, Sebastian Vegas, Alfonso Gonzalez, Luis Romo, Rodrigo Aguirre, Stefan Medina, Victor Lopez.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Champions Cup round of 16 sees CF Monterrey outlast FC Cincinnati