US PRE-SEASON MATCH REPORT: FC CINCINNATI 3

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US PRE-SEASON MATCH REPORT: FC CINCINNATI 3 – 1 BURNLEY

Narrow defeat in first pre-season fixture

2026-07-11T04:17+01:00

US PRE-SEASON MATCH REPORT: FC CINCINNATI 3 – 1 BURNLEY

Narrow defeat in first pre-season fixture

2026-07-11T04:17+01:00

US PRE-SEASON MATCH REPORT: FC CINCINNATI 3 – 1 BURNLEY

Burnley completed their first pre-season fixture of the 2026 summer schedule on Friday evening, as the Clarets suffered a 3-1 defeat to MLS side FC Cincinnati at the TQL Stadium.

It was a useful first workout of the pre-season tour in the US, under the interim guidance of Mike Jackson on the night, with new Head Coach Nicky Hayen observing from the stands.

In the sweltering Ohio heat, Cincinnati opened the scoring in the 16th minute through striker Kevin Denkey with a well-worked finish, before the Clarets pulled the scores level just over 10 minutes later through Josh Laurent’s effort.

10 changes at the break saw the Clarets field a much younger side in the second-half, with Max Weiss, Joe Worrall and Oliver Sonne the only senior players alongside eight U21 players.

Despite the youngsters keeping the home side at bay and matching them for over 30 minutes, the MLS club were then back in front in the 74th minute, as Ayoub Jabbari glanced home Alvas Powell's cross into the area.

Deep into stoppage time, the home side were then awarded a penalty and Kristian Fletcher stepped up to the spot to slam home the third of the evening.

The first real opportunity of the game fell to the hosts, as Evander picked out Kenji Mboma Dem with a dinked ball over the top of the Clarets defence, with the forward forcing Weiss to get down low and deny the opening goal in the 7th minute.

However, Cincinnati did break the deadlock shortly after that chance, as Evander provided another through ball, this time for Denkey, who made no mistake slotting it home from inside the area to put the MLS side ahead.

Following the first-half hydration break, Burnley came out on the front foot and drew the scores level on the half-hour mark.

Mike Tresor broke down the left side of the area, before pulling it back for Laurent inside the area to slam home into the back of the net with a first-time finish.

Laurent then came close to putting the Clarets ahead and grabbing his second of the night shortly after that, after seeing his initial strike blocked, the midfielder followed up with an effort over the target.

Both teams were limited to any clear-cut opportunities within the final 10 minutes of the half, with the two sides heading into the break level.

Burnley made 10 changes at half-time, with Worrall and Sonne introduced alongside eight academy players from the U21s.

The youngsters started bright and nearly carved open an early goal, as Ellis Clark picked out Kian McMahon-Brown inside the area with a lovely cross, with the forward laying it off for Oluwaseun Adewumi to strike just wide of the post.

In a much quieter second-half, Adewumi came close again in the 68th minute, this time the forward's effort sailed just wide of the target from a cross on the left.

Despite the young XI limiting the hosts to any real efforts on goal in the second 45, with just 15 minutes left on the clock, Cincinnati were back ahead through Jabbari's header, as the forward connected onto Powell's cross into the box.

With only two minutes left of stoppage time to play, the US side doubled their advantage from the penalty spot through Fletcher, after Worrall had collided with Jabbari.

The Clarets now head to Columbus on Saturday, before facing another MLS opposition in Columbus Crew on Sunday at 4pm local time (9pm UK time).

Burnley: Weiss, Walker (Worrall HT), Humphreys (Campbell HT) , Roberts (Sonne HT), Pires (Pimlott HT), Florentino (Clark HT), Laurent (Brierley HT), Tresor (Adewumi HT), Banel (Pouani HT) (Mellon 87), Koleosho (Masara HT), Hountondji (McMahon-Brown HT)

Unused substitutes: Savage, Cooney, Edwards

FC Cincinnati: Celentano, Chirila, Hagglund, Gidi, Bucha, Valenzuela, Nwobodo, Echenique, Mboma Dem, Evander, Denkey