Kévin Denkey made an immediate impact in his MLS debut, scoring the only goal of the match to lead FC Cincinnati to a 1-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls in their season opener on Saturday night. The Togolese forward, who joined from Cercle Brugge for an MLS-record $16.2 million transfer fee, wasted no time proving his worth.
Denkey found the back of the net in the 70th minute, connecting on a well-placed header off a pinpoint assist from veteran DeAndre Yedlin. The goal secured three crucial points for Cincinnati and signaled Denkey’s arrival as a key figure in the club’s attack.
Celentano stands tall in goal
While Denkey provided the offensive spark, goalkeeper Roman Celentano was equally vital to the victory. The Cincinnati shot-stopper made three key saves in the second half to preserve the clean sheet. Celentano’s first major test came in the 66th minute when he denied a powerful header from Red Bulls newcomer Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
Two minutes later, he stopped another header from Alexander Hack. His final save, an 82nd-minute effort against Choupo-Moting’s long-range shot, sealed the win.
The Red Bulls, last season’s Eastern Conference champions, struggled to create chances throughout the match. Despite their dominance in previous visits to Cincinnati (4-0-1 all-time in regular-season play), they failed to break through against a well-organized Cincinnati defense.
Cincinnati’s new era begins
FC Cincinnati enters the 2024 season looking to build on last year’s campaign and replace the production of former league MVP Luciano Acosta, who now plays for FC Dallas. Denkey’s arrival, along with the presence of Evander Da Silva Ferreira, who scored 24 goals over the past two seasons for the Portland Timbers, gives Cincinnati hope for a strong attacking season.
For the Red Bulls, the defeat is a tough start to a year in which they hope to bounce back after finishing the 2023 regular season with just 47 points-the fewest ever for an MLS Cup finalist. They will look to rebound in their home opener against Nashville SC on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati will aim to continue its momentum when they face the Philadelphia Union on the road next weekend.
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