FC Cincinnati returns to the pitch Wednesday night, taking on Dominican side O&M FC in the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup matchup.The Orange and Blue won the first leg, 4-0, which means they’d have to lose by five goals Wednesday to not advance to the Round of 16. Wednesday night will also mark FCC’s second game at TQL Stadium this season, following their 2-0 win over Atlanta United on Saturday.Despite the win, 2025 MLS MVP candidate Evander exited the pitch just 10 minutes in with a non-contact hamstring injury.Head coach Pat Noonan says scans came back positive for the Brazilian midfielder, and he could return to the lineup as soon as this weekend.”We can’t replace Evander, but we also feel very confident in guys being ready to step in and help us move forward. And you saw that with Dado . If it wasn’t Dado, it’s the next guy,” Noonan said. “We have enough pieces where we feel confident that we can still be a strong team. In Evander’s absence, Cincinnati’s other key attacking player, Kevin Denkey, and Cincinnati native Nick Hagglund scored, with both goals coming in the final 10 minutes.”We’ll make sure that we progress the right way to get him out there as soon as possible and eliminate the risk of that being too soon.”Wednesday night’s match kicks off at 7 p.m. The winner of the series will move on to face Mexican side Tigres UANL in the Round of 16. The FC met Tigres in the Round of 16 last year, falling 4-2 on aggregate, including playing them to a 1-1 draw at TQL Stadium in March.FCC will head to the Twin Cities to take on Minnesota United on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is slated for 4:30 p.m.
FC Cincinnati returns to the pitch Wednesday night, taking on Dominican side O&M FC in the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup matchup.
The Orange and Blue won the first leg, 4-0, which means they’d have to lose by five goals Wednesday to not advance to the Round of 16.
Wednesday night will also mark FCC’s second game at TQL Stadium this season, following their 2-0 win over Atlanta United on Saturday.
Despite the win, 2025 MLS MVP candidate Evander exited the pitch just 10 minutes in with a non-contact hamstring injury.
Head coach Pat Noonan says scans came back positive for the Brazilian midfielder, and he could return to the lineup as soon as this weekend.
“We can’t replace Evander, but we also feel very confident in guys being ready to step in and help us move forward. And you saw that with Dado [Valenzuela]. If it wasn’t Dado, it’s the next guy,” Noonan said. “We have enough pieces where we feel confident that we can still be a strong team.
In Evander’s absence, Cincinnati’s other key attacking player, Kevin Denkey, and Cincinnati native Nick Hagglund scored, with both goals coming in the final 10 minutes.
“We’ll make sure that we progress [Evander] the right way to get him out there as soon as possible and eliminate the risk of that being too soon.”
Wednesday night’s match kicks off at 7 p.m. The winner of the series will move on to face Mexican side Tigres UANL in the Round of 16.
The FC met Tigres in the Round of 16 last year, falling 4-2 on aggregate, including playing them to a 1-1 draw at TQL Stadium in March.
FCC will head to the Twin Cities to take on Minnesota United on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is slated for 4:30 p.m.
</div>


