CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP
Brandon Vazquez apologises to Cincinnati crowd after scoring on return
The USMNT striker is Cincy’s record scorer and has been in fine form since making the move to Mexican side Monterrey in January.
Brandon Vazquez made a scoring return to former club FC Cincinnati in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, finding the back of the net for new side Monterrey.
The 25-year-old USMNT striker helped Cincinnati to the Supporters’ Shield in 2023 and was named in the MLS Best XI a year earlier. He opted for a move to Liga MX in January and his new club were drawn against Cincinnati in the Round of 16 of the CONCACAF competition.
He needed less than half an hour to open the scoring against his former side. The ball was worked to Vazquez in the Cincy box and he fired a low shot past the grasping dive of Roman Celentano to nudge Rayados ahead.
Vazquez refused to celebrate against his former club, holding his hands up in prayer while his celebrating teammates mobbed him. The Cincinnati fans in attendance booed loudly, upset at seeing their former star come back to haunt them.
Ahead of the game Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga had spoken about the return of Vazquez. The two players were key in the team’s progression under head coach Pat Noonan but Miazga insisted that there would be no friendly face on the field.
“He’s a good friend of mine. In Cincinnati, in the soccer world, but also in life. We spent some good time together,” Miazga said ahead of kick-off game.
“In soccer it’s easy to make friends, but people come and go so quickly. So there’s certain guys you make lifelong friends with and I think he’s one of them for me, and I like to think the same with him,” he continued. “But on the field, we’re not going to be friends at all. I won’t talk to him before we get on to the pitch.”