FC Cincinnati returned to action on Friday night after 48 days away from game action, hosting Burnley FC at TQL Stadium in a summer friendly that gave Pat Noonan’s side a fresh live test after a long pause. It was also the club’s first European friendly since 2018, adding another layer of interest to a match that mattered for more than just the scoreline.
Noonan said he was excited to be back in front of FC Cincinnati supporters and competing at TQL Stadium. For him, the friendly was about more than a preseason feel: it was a chance for his players to show they could carry the work of the past three weeks of training into a real match environment.
Why this match mattered
The FIFA World Cup summer break had put Major League Soccer on hiatus, leaving FC Cincinnati with time to reset and train meticulously. That made the Burnley FC fixture an important marker, especially for a team looking to improve after a mixed bag of performances in the first half of the season.
Burnley FC brought a different kind of test. Known for their Claret and Blue kits and over 140 years of history competing at the highest levels of English football, they arrived with the edge of an English club preparing for a new season. Their own campaign begins on August 7, which only added to the sense that this was a serious workout rather than a casual exhibition.
Noonan's message: be professional
Noonan made it clear that the setting did not change the standard required from his side. As he put it, it does not matter whether it is a friendly, a league opponent, or an out-of-league opponent: the team has to be professional and understand where it is in the process.
That message fits the stage FC Cincinnati are at. After three weeks of focused training, the coaching staff wanted to see whether the group had improved in specific areas, whether those relationships were developing, and whether the team could be more efficient and more active with its movements on and off the ball.
He also said the energy from the supporters would matter, adding that for players and coaches it is always better to be in front of the fans. He hoped those in attendance would get a glimpse of what it looks like as the team returns, and believed that atmosphere would be good for everybody.
The next checkpoint for FC Cincinnati
For FC Cincinnati, this friendly was less about the label attached to it and more about what it revealed. After 48 days without game action, a home match against Burnley FC offered a useful measure of fitness, sharpness and connection.
If the performance matched the work done in training, it would give Noonan a clearer sense that the group is moving in the right direction. If not, it would still provide a valuable reference point as FC Cincinnati head back into a busier stretch.
