FC Cincinnati salvages Leagues Cup point against FC Juárez

FC Cincinnati was on the brink of a detrimental loss as the second half progressed against FC Juárez. Squandering their occasional chances and trailing by two goals, the Orange and Blue couldn't seem to find their usual rhythm against the Mexican side.

In a Leagues Cup format in which only four of 18 MLS sides advance, every point mattered, and FC Cincinnati stood to take away none.

Then, Evander's magic struck.

Despite collecting the ball well outside the opponent's box, the midfielder dribbled a few steps forward and fired a curling shot into the near corner to pull a goal back in the 71st minute. Just a few minutes later, the Brazilian delivered a corner kick into a dangerous position, resulting in a Juárez own goal.

Tie game.

With a rotated squad, FC Cincinnati's 2-2 comeback on August 3 salvaged their Leagues Cup dreams as they added a point to their tally despite losing in penalty kicks, 4-3. Still, the result could put them in striking distance of advancing in their final match.

At the time of the match's conclusion, the Orange and Blue were tied with four other teams at four points, with only two teams earning more.

"Hopefully, it is an important point where we know our fate and a win can put us through (Thursday)," said coach Pat Noonan.

Juárez the more dangerous side early

Juárez produced more potent chances in the first half, but FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano dealt with most of them. Notably, he made a pair of critical saves in the 10th minute, diving to stop a shot from outside the box and dealing with a rebound chance.

But eventually, a header from Juárez's Ricardinho beat the outstretched arms of Celentano, putting Juárez up 1-0 in the 39th minute.

FC Cincinnati gained steam out of the break, almost equalizing in the 47th minute, but wing back DeAndre Yedlin failed to finish a point-blank header from wing back Lukas Engel, skying it over the bar.

Then, Juárez pounced in the 63rd minute when Guilherme Castilho doubled his team's lead.

But it was only a matter of time before Evander, who produced the most chances in the match with four, ignited FC Cincinnati.

In the penalty shootout, defender Matt Miazga and Evander missed their penalty kicks.

"We didn't start strong enough," Noonan said. "We respect the opponent and the challenges that were ahead of us, and didn't handle it well enough for those early stages of the game. Part of it was the quality of the opponent. Part of it was the lack of quality from us."

FC Cincinnati provides opportunities to fresh faces

FC Cincinnati's starting group amid a four-game, 11-day stretch featured Gerardo "Dado" Valenzuela in the midfield over Pavel Bucha, playing with a lone striker, Kei Kamara, instead of two players up top, among other moves.

Venezuelan attacker Ender Echenique came on for his FC Cincinnati debut alongside midfielder Stiven Jimenez, making his first appearance of the season, in the 64th minute as the team trailed 2-0.

Echenique won two of three duels, made two recoveries and had an interception. Meanwhile, Jimenez made one pass into the final third, 12-of-13 accurate passes and two-of-two tackles.

"I thought both were excellent," Noonan said. "Stiven was excellent as far as reading the game, some of the pressing moments, the intensity of closing the ball, connecting with passes and positionally did a good job. Ender provided us with the ability to stretch the field."

FC Cincinnati will close out their first phase matches against Chivas Guadalajara on August 7 before returning to league play versus Charlotte FC on August 10.