FC Cincinnati’s new signings Kevin Denkey, Evander draw rave reviews in CONCACAF Champions Cup win against Motagua

FC Cincinnati's new signings Kevin Denkey and Evander made immediate impacts in their debuts, contributing to a 4-1 victory against FC Motagua in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One series. The match, played at Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, saw both players showcase their skills and goal-scoring abilities, leaving fans overjoyed. The duo signed for the club during the off-season with Evander filling the void left by the departed Luciano Acosta.

"We're nowhere near our best, but I think going into this game we had a confident group based on how we have gotten through the last month," Noonan said in his postmatch press conference.

"I think the character of the group is very strong, and that was evident when we were dealing with some challenging moments throughout preseason. When you see that behind the scenes and see how guys deal with difficult situations, that gives me plenty of hope for a high ceiling and expecting even more than what we saw tonight."

While FC Cincinnati went into the first half break level at 1-1 against Motagua, an impressive second half showing from the MLS side’s new stars turned the tide in their favor. Kevin Denkey scored three minutes after the second half began before Evander assisted the third goal, and Pavel Bucha’s second, in the 77th minute after walking on as a substitute. The attacker also managed to score a spectacular goal just before the full-time whistle to give the Orange and Blue a commanding lead going into the second leg.

Following their 4-1 win over Motagua in the first leg of their Round 1 CONCACAF Champions Cup clash, FC Cincinnati go into their MLS opener in high spirits. The club hosts the New York Red Bulls at the TQL Stadium on Feb. 22 before welcoming Motagua at home for the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup fixture.