Brandon Vazquez scores for FC Cincinnati in 3-1 preseason loss to Philadelphia Union

CLEARWATER BEACH, Florida − The final score wasn't flattering but FC Cincinnati got enough accomplished during its 120-minute scrimmage against the Philadelphia Union to mostly feel good about its day's work.

Playing Friday at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex in midday, Gulf Coast winter heat, FC Cincinnati lost to the Union, 3-1. Brandon Vazquez provided Cincinnati's lone score in the second half of a match that marked 15 days until FC Cincinnati kicks off the 2023 Major League Soccer season at TQL Stadium against Houston Dynamo FC.

The loss, which won't be too much of a concern for FCC, was the club's first loss of the preseason.

Two matches remain on the club's preseason slate: a Tuesday meeting with New England Revolution and a Feb. 17 date with Nashville SC. FC Cincinnati returns to the Cincinnati region following the Nashville match.

More:Here's why Brenner has been missing from FC Cincinnati's 2023 MLS preseason

Pat Noonan's analysis

FC Cincinnati head coach came away from Friday's game pleased with the opportunity for his players to coalesce and build fitness. He said there would be plenty of useful game footage to evaluate and build on, too.

But relative to the final outcome, which wasn't the primary objective on the day, Noonan wasn't thrilled.

"I think, overall, too many below-average performances. It was hot. The conditions were challenging, but we were, I think, lacking patience to find more quality, a better rhythm to the game," Noonan said. "Played too direct when we, maybe, could have just moved the ball. We got stretched out and had to chase the game a little bit.

"Having said that, we still created two or three good looks to get our goal. We conceded a penalty in the end, and a goal off a turnover in a bad area, so those are the ones where you look at and say 'we can do better.' ... A lot of good things to look at from the game, both good and bad."

How the goals were scored

The Union's Joaquin Torres opened the scoring in the 10th minute, calmly depositing past starting FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Alec Kann. That goal was the only one of the first half. It preceded an eventful second half.

Come the 49th minute, Julian Carranza crept through FC Cincinnati's back line untouched and doubled the Union's lead at 2-0 with a volleyed goal off an Olivier Mbaizo cross.

Noonan suggested the play might have been offside but that his primary concern in conceding the Carranza goal was that multiple Union players broke in on goal without much resistance.

Veteran FC Cincinnati center back Nick Hagglund told The Enquirer afterward it was far from a perfect day for Cincinnati in all aspects of the game.

"Philly – they’re a good team. This is a team people are considering the best," Hagglund said. "That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be competing. Again, long stretches of the game I thought we were doing really well. There were a couple mistakes, a couple things that happened and then the ball’s in the back of the net. It’s a preseason game. Things are going to happen at this point. I think I’m happy with where we’re at… No one likes losing. I hate losing but we’ll go back to the drawing board and get things right for the next game."

Eight minutes later, Vazquez scored his first goal of any kind in 2023 for FCC. It was his second including his debut score for the USMNT in January, and he slotted the ball past Union goalkeeper Andre Blake after a short run-up.

But Cincinnati center back Ian Murphy was quick to concede a penalty to Philadelphia as he pushed through the back of Daniel Gazdag, a contender for the league's Most Valuable Player honor in 2022.

Gazdag took the kick and scored it in the 60th minute for 3-1.

The clubs then made wholesale changes to their on-field personnel. There were no further goals through the first 90 minutes. FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Evan Louro had one save and saw the ball hit his crossbar twice, but no goals were scored through the 120th minute.

"We’re still in preseason. I still think we need some time to mesh," Louro told The Enquirer of the final 30-minute segment of the match. "I think a lot of guys are playing together for the first or second time, and against a really good team, but I think we did well with the time we had. The heat is definitely a thing down here but we’re all really happy with the performance for sure.

"The thing that Philly does really well is they keep a good core of their guys every year and maybe add a couple pieces. I think that’s kind of what we did. We got a lot of new guys in last year so this season it’s not all new faces and stuff like that. It’s not teaching stuff to people for the first time. I think that helps for sure and I think we’re gonna be in a good way when the season starts."

Moment of the match

There was some noticeable chippiness between Cincinnati and Philadelphia, and it seemed like both sides were aware of their ultra-competitive season series in 2022.

The most forceful reminder that there's a budding rivalry between these clubs was a thunderous but clean tackle by FC Cincinnati's Obinna Nwobodo just prior to mass substitutions for both teams.

The power of Nwobodo's tackle blew Philadelphia's Kai Wagner off the ball and left him assessing his right leg and knee for a possible injury. The punishing tackle took place right in front of Union coach Jim Curtin, who didn't protest for a foul.

It's safe to say Nwobodo appears ready for the 2023 MLS season.

Personnel updates

FC Cincinnati center back Matt Miazga continues to progress well from his offseason surgery, Noonan confirmed during his remarks after the scrimmage and will be available for the club's final two preseason contests.

Miazga will play with a minutes restriction.

The newly-signed Santiago Arias was unavailable to play Friday. That prompted concern during the game because of Arias' history of recent injuries, but Noonan confirmed Arias didn't play as a precaution.

Arias missed training sessions all week while away obtaining his work visa and is not injured.

Next up ...

FC Cincinnati is off Saturday and returns to training Sunday and Monday. The club will play New England Revolution Tuesday at Walter Campbell Park in Clearwater. The match, which won't be televised or streamed, is tentatively scheduled for a noon kickoff.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Brandon Vazquez scores for FC Cincinnati in 3-1 loss to Union