FC Cincinnati Cruise to 4-0 Win in Concacaf Champions Cup Opener

Ayoub Jabbari's brace leads FCC to dominant victory in the Dominican Republic

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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FC Cincinnati opened their 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup campaign with an emphatic 4-0 win over Dominican side O&M FC at Estadio Cibao in Santiago De Los Caballeros. Tom Barlow, Kévin Denkey, and a brace from Ayoub Jabbari secured the victory for the MLS club, who controlled possession and the tempo throughout the match despite a raucous home crowd.

Why it matters

This dominant road win positions FC Cincinnati well to advance to the next round of the prestigious Concacaf Champions Cup, a tournament that provides valuable experience and exposure for MLS clubs on the international stage. The victory also builds confidence for FCC ahead of their upcoming MLS season opener.

The details

FC Cincinnati opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Tom Barlow scored on his club debut, cleaning up a rebound. Kévin Denkey then made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute with a powerful shot that went through the O&M FC goalkeeper. Ayoub Jabbari missed a penalty kick but made up for it with a brace in the 86th and 92nd minutes to seal the 4-0 victory.

  • FC Cincinnati opened the scoring in the 12th minute.
  • Kévin Denkey scored in the 33rd minute.
  • Ayoub Jabbari scored in the 86th and 92nd minutes.

The players

Ayoub Jabbari

The Moroccan striker was named man of the match after scoring a brace to seal the 4-0 victory for FC Cincinnati.

Obinna Nwobodo

The FC Cincinnati midfielder had two assists on the night and played all 90 minutes.

Tom Barlow

The FC Cincinnati debutant scored the opening goal of the match in the 12th minute.

Kévin Denkey

The FC Cincinnati forward scored the second goal of the match in the 33rd minute.

Andrei Chirila

The 18-year-old FC Cincinnati Academy graduate made his first team debut, starting at center back and helping the defense keep a clean sheet.

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What they’re saying

“It's always good to play in different conditions, whether the pitch, the weather, the atmosphere, it's always experiences. No matter where we play, no matter the atmosphere, we know for sure we're not gonna get the same as we get in TQL Stadium. So, going outside we know that we are going to expect something different.”

— Obinna Nwobodo, FC Cincinnati Midfielder (fccincinnati.com)

“You could see after the first couple missed opportunities, and then a couple moments where he was struggling to control the ball, that he was frustrated with himself, which is, it's natural, and it's important that in those moments you figure out how to move on. I think it was nice for him to get the two goals, because his first thought after the game was, 'I should have had five.' And, you know, it's probably accurate, but it's important to know how to – especially for a striker – move on when you don't capitalize on an opportunity.”

— Pat Noonan, FC Cincinnati Head Coach (fccincinnati.com)

What’s next

FC Cincinnati will host the second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup tie against O&M FC next Wednesday at TQL Stadium, looking to secure their place in the next round of the competition.

The takeaway

FC Cincinnati's dominant performance on the road in the Concacaf Champions Cup opener demonstrates their ability to succeed in different environments and against unfamiliar opponents, building momentum ahead of their MLS season opener this weekend.