Kevin Denkey drew first blood in the 26th minute with a goal, and FC Cincinnati would maintain that lead the rest of the match for a 1-0 win Saturday night over the New England Revolution.
Cincinnati (10-5-3, 33 points) snapped its four-match winless streak and earned its first MLS regular-season sweep of New England (6-5-5, 23 points).
The Revs entered Saturday undefeated in their previous nine matches, with their last loss coming at FC Cincinnati on April 5.
Denkey, Cincinnati’s leading scorer, scored from the center of the box off a beautiful pass from the left side by forward Luca Orellano. It was Denkey’s 11th goal in MLS regular-season competition.
Despite a significant advantage in possession, New England could not find the net despite taking 10 shots, two on goal. The Revs led FC Cincinnati 559-313 on total passes, but Cincinnati’s 86.3 percent passing accuracy to New England’s 77.8 percent was a key difference in the match.
Both teams were aggressive offensively early in the first half, with Orellano’s 12th-minute shot on goal for Cincinnati scooting past New England goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic but hitting off the right post. New England midfielder Tomas Chancalay’s ensuing left-footed shot at the other end for New England was saved by Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano.
Celentano made two saves for Cincinnati, including one in the first half. Ivacic made two saves for the Revolution.
The Revs’ best chance to tie the match came in the second half in the 71st minute, but forward Maxi Urruti’s shot from the right side of the box hit the side net.
Cincinnati is on the road again in its next match on Wed., June 25, at CF Montreal.
New England is home again in its next match: Wed., June 25 against Nashville SC.
–Field Level Media
