Kévin Denkey, Evander debut with FC Cincinnati win in Honduras | OneFootball

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – FC Cincinnati earned a 4-1 win against FC Motagua in the first leg of their Round One series as the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup continued Wednesday at Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Midfielder Pavel Bucha netted a brace while offseason signing Kévin Denkey got his debut goal with FC Cincinnati.

Bucha scored his first in the 28’ after Yuya Kubo’s shot ricocheted off a defender and landed perfectly to his feet for a strong finish into the top corner.

The hosts found an equalizer in the 42’ off a great header from Rodrigo Auzmendi. Auzmendi also won six of his 10 aerial duels on the night, the most aerial duels won by any player in a match so far in this season’s Concacaf Champions Cup.

FC Cincinnati ramped up the press, and five minutes into the second half, the newcomer Denkey found the back of the net after a brilliant turn and finish in the box.

Pavel Bucha smashed a shot from outside of the box for his second of the match in the 78’, becoming the first FC Cincinnati player to score multiple goals in a Concacaf Champions Cup match.

Evander, another new addition to the Cincy squad, assisted that goal and then got his own in the 87' with a volley to put the stamp on the victory in his debut.

Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano also played a significant role, registering five saves.

FC Cincinnati is the first MLS team to win a Concacaf Champions Cup match in Honduras since Sporting Kansas City recorded a 2-nil win against Olimpia in Tegucigalpa in August 2013. MLS clubs had gone winless in their previous eight CCC encounters in Honduras (D5, L3).

All three of FC Cincinnati’s wins in the Concacaf Champions Cup have been by multi-goal margins: 4-1 tonight against Motagua plus 2-nil and 4-nil wins over Cavalier FC in last season’s tournament.

FC Cincinnati is the first visiting team to score multiple goals against Motagua in the Champions Cup since Morelia in September 2011. Motagua had not allowed more than one goal in its previous seven home matches in the competition (1-3-3).

The MLS side will take the 4-1 lead back home to TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, for leg two of the series next Wednesday.