Fire fall to Cincinnati in home opener

Wearing red kits Saturday night for the first time since Sept. 29, 2019, the Fire looked the best they have at home in almost five years.

The result, however, looked pretty similar.

Miles Robinson’s 68th-minute goal off a corner kick gave FC Cincinnati a 2-1 win over the Fire, who are still waiting for their first victory. In front of an announced crowd of 26,582, the Fire only mustered one shot on target.

Yet coach Frank Klopas didn’t sound too downbeat about what he saw, though he bemoaned how Cincinnati scored its goals.

“You have one home opener, and I think it was important for us to come out in a positive way,” Klopas said. “We’re disappointed, obviously, with the result, but when you look at the game as a whole, I saw a lot of good things from our team out there today against a very good team.

“When you play a team like this, you make two mistakes, and we paid for it.”

Facing the team that had the best record in Major League Soccer last year, the Fire fell behind in the 39th minute on an uncharacteristic error by one of their most dependable players. Defender Rafael Czichos, who resigned the captaincy before the season, had the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box and sent an aimless pass into the middle of the field. Cincinnati’s Aaron Boupendza took advantage of the miscue, slotting the ball past Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady.

The Fire didn’t stay down for long, and they equalized before halftime.

After review, a challenge in the box by Cincinnati’s Obinna Nwobodo on the Fire’s Brian Gutierrez was deemed a foul. Xherdan Shaqiri, the replacement for Czichos as captain, beat goalie Roman Celentano on the penalty kick to tie the game in the 45th minute and score the Fire’s first goal in red since Fabian Herbers’ late second-half tally against -Toronto in the 2019 home finale in Bridgeview.

Unfortunately for the Fire, that goal didn’t start an offensive onslaught or keep Cincinnati from taking all three points. Robinson’s winner was practically uncontested, which stung the Fire more considering how scoring opportunities were at a premium.

“It was a difficult game,” Shaqiri said. “We matched up most of the time. It was not like crazy, big chances for them.”

Perhaps the Fire should get used to difficult games like this one.

They opened the season last week at Philadelphia, one of the league’s best clubs. Cincinnati won the Supporters’ Shield in 2023 for having the league’s best record. And the Fire travel next week to play the reigning MLS Cup champion Crew, who have always been tough to beat in Columbus.

While they navigate this schedule, Klopas and the Fire are also acclimating new players to a roster that experienced significant upheaval since the final whistle of 2023. Designated player Hugo Cuypers and marquee signing Kellyn Acosta joined the team during training camp, adding another layer of difficulty to the Fire’s early task.

“This was only the second game of the season,” Acosta said. “As the games go on, we’ll have a more cohesive team unit. As we’re getting to know each other’s tendencies, it will be a lot better.”

NOTES: Left back Andrew Gutman (upper leg) was not part of the gameday roster. Gutman, a former member of the Fire youth system who was acquired from Colorado this offseason for Miguel Navarro, left in the fifth minute of last Saturday’s game.

• Winger Chris Mueller replaced Shaqiri in the 86th minute to make his first appearance since May 20, 2023. Mueller underwent season-ending hip surgery six days later.