Pre-match: Fire at second worst team in oHIo, Cincinnati (Pig City) FC 4.18.26 6:30 pm Apple TV

Agree in general…but at the end the no card for choking Borso and the card given to TLB for the shoulder to shoulder were really frustrating

 

9.3 seems awful generous.

 

I saw him throw an elbow. I am not sure if it connected or not, but I knew the card was coming when that elbow came up.

Pete (apologizes for sounding impartial because he isn't)

 

Felt like the players did well in restraining themselves considering all the violence on the field.

 

VAR had a vote on it too.

 

I think the card was for objecting. What's the first word people learn when English is their second language? I'm not hinting he said it, but he was pissed.

 

First to Jack then to TLB

But yes, Gutman gave him an earful first.

At this point in the game, with all the physicality going on, it was a tight call. Shoulder to shoulder, some arm fighting, and the hip check was ‘too far’ this time….Zinck was hammered much harder 4 or 5 times with no call.

 

Depends what Jack said, as captain he should be given some latitude.

And minutes later this happens, and Borso was the one carded

 

Lovely play

The set up! The finish! @ChicagoFire take the lead! 🔥

📺 Apple TV: https://t.co/YZUXNszfN9 pic.twitter.com/szeE2cdTtl

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 19, 2026

I especially love to see the run Cuyper's makes that sets it up, to the CB it doesn't seem 'dangerous' but he stops in the pocket, and Zinck pings a dart to him...Zinck had to be actively looking for him to be able to deliver it on that timing.
Players actively working for each other like that makes for fun to watch soccer.

 

I had a fairly busy Saturday. Went to the Incheon Derby (Incheon blew their 2-0 lead at halftime to let Bucheon claw back to a 2-2 draw; probably should've gotten a gamewinner later on), then went for drinks with some of the other foreign Incheon support, then to a different bar cause I promised people I'd be there. So I figured it'd be healthier to just turn on the game at 8:30, but sleep through the next two hours. Woke up in the 85th to a lot of angry people. I'll get the rewatch while I'm prepping my lunch for the week later.

 

Match thoughts:
- Man, the MLS broadcast is annoying. They keep throwing down to Weibe when that sort of broadcast style doesn't make sense in soccer. That's a football thing. Also, the "Evander Cam" is so annoying.
- Just, even at the 20th minute, I feel like the ref doesn't really have a proper handle on the game. The two early yellows is rough.
- It's pretty clear to me in the first half hour that the Fire are the better team here. Cuypers is absolutely trying to make up for lost time.
- Tough break for Brady on the Barlow goal, but he does need to get his ass down.
- Cincy's taking more control later in the first half and that's not exactly what you wanna let your opponent do when you've just conceded.
- I don't like the late whistle on this penalty here at the end of the first. I also don't like the MLS broadcast watching that knee in Cuyper's back and saying "I don't see a handball here." stfu
- Third Fire goal and I love Cuypers. I love Big Penny, too, but I think Cuypers should've gotten the chance at the spot.
- I mean, TLB does only "foul" by falling onto Valenzuela, but you call that a foul in the middle of the pitch and that means it's a foul in the box.
- Yes, that was basically the soccer equivalent of an onside kick in the box there, but Brady does choose the wrong direction to move on his initial step. I'll admit, this was a tough game for him. Small things, but overall he did well. Just two really small moments shook him and the game up.
- Disappointing that it happened, but I don't think this being a draw is a total disaster.

 

"Dude?"
"Malört?"
"Hamburger Sandwich?"
I give up....

 

Starts with an M, ends with an ucker

 

You guys.

 

Here’s a clip showing Davilla and Lod ‘close Evander down’…kinda like Puebla closing down Guti

Still re-watching last night’s @fccincinnati match — this ball from Evander that leads to the penalty is so, so good: pic.twitter.com/6eDqViXd49

— CHIEF, THE (@WarPigsChief) April 19, 2026

Serioulsy, in a very physical game, *the* most dangerous player on the field has to be closed down with some urgency and authority, like they were doing to Zinck. Davilla and Lod moved to Evander somewhere between a stroll and a mosey…we essentially let Evander take over the game.

 

At least they moved.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

Not good enough...
FCC made both Zinck and Hugo play through muggings and grappling...we 'moved a little' towards Evander

 

We had two players closing in on Evander, one from each side. He was moving laterally and at a great distance from goal. They may have underestimated Evander’s ability but the effort they showed wasn’t out of the ordinary. What was out of the ordinary was that pass.