FC Cincinnati have etched their name into the history books, after triumphing 3-2 over Toronto FC to capture the 2023 Supporters’ Shield.
The Eastern Conference team spent their first three seasons in MLS at the bottom of their division, struggling to make an impact on the field. But the 2023 season saw a change with Brandon Vazquez, Lucho Acosta and Aaron Boupendza on the attack and head coach Pat Noonan on the sidelines.
Acosta, who’s been in impeccable MVP form in 2023, has registered 15 goals, which lands him in a tie for first place in the Golden Boot race, and 10 assists. Brandon Vazquez and new signing Aaron Boupendza haven’t been too shabby, either. Vazquez has found the back of the net eigh times, while Boupendza has scored five since joining in the summer transfer window.
While Acosta has been star for Cincy up front, goalkeeper Roman Celentano has kept things in check at the back. The 23-year-old has kept 11 clean sheets this season, second most in MLS, while making 81 saves across the campaign to keep his team at the summit of the Eastern Conference.
Noonan has worked to turn the club around since joining in last year, propelling the side to qualify for the playoffs in his first season with a fifth place finish with 49 points. Now, the former Seattle Sounders player has led Cincy to new heights by delivering silverware with four games remaining in the regular season and clinching another postseason slot.
Prior to the 2022 season, Cincinnati’s most ever wins in a single season came in 2019, their first season in MLS, when they tasted victory just six times. In Noonan’s first campaign, however, they doubled that number by earning 12 wins and have gone a step further by winning 19 games in the current campaign.
Cincinnati have lost just four times in 2023 while making a deep run in the US Open Cup semi-finals before exiting at the hands of Inter Miami and Lionel Messi in penalty kicks. The Orange and Blue have earned wins over top sides around the league like Nashville SC, Atlanta United, Philadelphia Union and Columbus Crew to stake their claim as Supporters’ Shield champions.
Cincinnati will now shift their focus to locking up the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference ahead of MLS Cup playoffs, where they will be heavy favorites to take home their second trophy in 2023. Noonan and Cincinnati will be back in action on October 4 when they take on New York Red Bulls at TQL Stadium.
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