CONCACAF Champions Cup: Kevin Denkey, FC Cincinnati jump on Tigres

Field Level Media|published: Thu 12th March, 23:37 2026

Mar 12, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; FC Cincinnati forward Kevin Denkey (9) controls the ball against Tigres UANL in the first half at TQL Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Kevin Denkey scored early and late as FC Cincinnati rolled to a 3-0 win over visiting Tigres UANL on Thursday in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champion Cup round-of-16 series.

The two-game, total-goal matchup will conclude on March 19 in San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico. The victorious team will advance to oppose the Vancouver Whitecaps or the Seattle Sounders in the quarterfinals.

Cincinnati needed less than six minutes to jump on top. Ender Echenique squared a pass from the right side of the 18-yard box to Denkey, wide open 8 yards in front of the net for an easy putaway.

Tom Barlow completed an end-to-end team counterattack to double the lead in the 53rd minute.

Denkey capped the scoring in the 83rd minute. Gerardo Valenzuela split the defense with an excellent long-range pass, and Denkey blasted a low right-footed shot from just outside the box past Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman.

--Field Level Media

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