FC Cincinnati’s Champions Cup Run Ends in Heartbreak
An intense and ultimately brutal round of 16 in the Concacaf Champions Cup concluded with a painful outcome for Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs. Despite holding a commanding 3-0 advantage heading into the second leg against Tigres UANL, FC Cincinnati experienced a sensational collapse in Mexico on Thursday night. A late goal from Fernando Gorriarán in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time sealed their fate, sending the Liga MX side through on a 5-4 aggregate scoreline after a 5-1 victory on the night.
Even after initially surrendering their aggregate lead, Cincinnati briefly regained the upper hand through Kevin Denkey’s 65th-minute header, pulling ahead on the away-goal tiebreaker. However, Tigres persevered, securing a dramatic winner that completed a quarterfinal lineup entirely comprised of MLS versus Liga MX matchups.
A Dramatic Finish
The decisive moment arrived courtesy of a clever layoff from the 40-year-old André Pierre-Gignac to Gorriarán. The Uruguayan’s low, powerful shot beat U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Roman Celentano, whose diving effort proved insufficient. This heartbreaking loss marks a significant setback for FC Cincinnati and their aspirations in the tournament.
MLS vs. Liga MX: The Quarterfinal Picture
Tigres will now face the Seattle Sounders in one quarterfinal clash, while Nashville SC will battle Club América on the same side of the bracket. The other matchups pit the LA Galaxy against reigning Liga MX champion Toluca, and LAFC against reigning Champions Cup winner Cruz Azul.
The round of 16 results suggest MLS teams face a formidable challenge against their Liga MX counterparts. Alongside Cincinnati’s elimination, the Philadelphia Union were defeated by América, and San Diego FC fell to Toluca. The only MLS teams to advance did so by overcoming other MLS opposition (Seattle defeated Vancouver, Nashville stunned Inter Miami) or by beating non-Mexican teams (LAFC edged Costa Rica’s Alajuelense, and the Galaxy eased past Jamaica’s Mount Pleasant FA).
Inter Miami’s Disappointment
While Cincinnati’s collapse was the most shocking, Inter Miami’s exit arguably carried the most weight in terms of MLS’s ambitions in the competition. Owner Jorge Mas publicly expressed the club’s intent to win the Champions Cup following their 2025 MLS Cup victory. Significant offseason investments, including the acquisition of reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair and Mexico international forward Germán Berterame, failed to translate into success, as Nashville SC advanced on away goals after a 1-1 draw.
Looking Ahead: The FIFA Club World Cup
The Concacaf Champions Cup serves as the region’s pathway to the FIFA Club World Cup, scheduled for 2029. Only one MLS team, Seattle in 2022, has won a Concacaf title in the modern era. For the league to secure representation in the next CWC, a change in fortunes is crucial – either in the coming weeks or in subsequent seasons. The pattern is clear: Liga MX continues to dominate Concacaf competitions.
Source: The Athletic
