Laurel Pfahler
@laurelpfahler.bsky.social
Covering #FCCincy at Queen City Press; freelance #Bengals writer for the Dayton Daily News. Past: The Athletic, WCPO, TCPalm.com, etc. ✝️ wife, mom, Ohio U alum, PFWA & NSRA member.
"It's as good as it gets in Major League Soccer. ... It is the best atmosphere, the best stadium, if not 1A, then 1B." - MLS on Apple TV analyst Taylor Twellman on #FCCincy's TQL Stadium in a media roundtable to preview next week's conference semi vs. Miami.
November 14, 2025 at 3:01 PM
"It's as good as it gets in Major League Soccer. ... It is the best atmosphere, the best stadium, if not 1A, then 1B." - MLS on Apple TV analyst Taylor Twellman on #FCCincy's TQL Stadium in a media roundtable to preview next week's conference semi vs. Miami.
Chilly training session for #FCCincy. Lot of guys gone for the international break. Matt Miazga still off to the side, Lukas Engel inside today. Was on a minutes limit Saturday and likely getting some extra recovery time.
November 12, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Chilly training session for #FCCincy. Lot of guys gone for the international break. Matt Miazga still off to the side, Lukas Engel inside today. Was on a minutes limit Saturday and likely getting some extra recovery time.
Lukas Engel back in the starting XI at LWB and Nick Hagglund is back at RCB after missing last game as a precaution for a knock in Game 1. #FCCincy
November 8, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Lukas Engel back in the starting XI at LWB and Nick Hagglund is back at RCB after missing last game as a precaution for a knock in Game 1. #FCCincy
Matchday minus-2. Three TV stations present for training, plus the two of us regulars. And everyone in training (Matt Miazga still off to the side). I think there’s a big game ahead. #FCCincy
November 6, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Matchday minus-2. Three TV stations present for training, plus the two of us regulars. And everyone in training (Matt Miazga still off to the side). I think there’s a big game ahead. #FCCincy
A couple changes from Decision Day. Kevin Denkey back in as expected, Sami Gidi replaces Obinna Nwobodo, Yuya Kubo and Ender Echenique replace Alvas Powell and Dom Marczuk on the wings. #FCCincy
October 27, 2025 at 9:56 PM
A couple changes from Decision Day. Kevin Denkey back in as expected, Sami Gidi replaces Obinna Nwobodo, Yuya Kubo and Ender Echenique replace Alvas Powell and Dom Marczuk on the wings. #FCCincy
MLS announces that Columbus Crew midfielder Derrick Jones (and LAFC’s Yaw Yeboah) is on administrative league and cannot participate in team activities during a pending review of potential violations.
October 25, 2025 at 11:48 PM
MLS announces that Columbus Crew midfielder Derrick Jones (and LAFC’s Yaw Yeboah) is on administrative league and cannot participate in team activities during a pending review of potential violations.
No real surprises here but Obinna Nwobodo starting is nice to see. First action for him since his June 25 quad tear. Lots of injuries and Denkey out on suspension left fewer options available. #FCCincy
October 18, 2025 at 9:16 PM
No real surprises here but Obinna Nwobodo starting is nice to see. First action for him since his June 25 quad tear. Lots of injuries and Denkey out on suspension left fewer options available. #FCCincy
Will share more later, but I participated in a virtual Q&A with MLS Season Pass analysts Sacha Kljestan, Dax McCarty and Bradley Wright-Phillips yesterday. McCarty came on my pod earlier this season and still stands by his "#FCCincy wins MLS Cup" prediction w/ one stipulation.
October 16, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Will share more later, but I participated in a virtual Q&A with MLS Season Pass analysts Sacha Kljestan, Dax McCarty and Bradley Wright-Phillips yesterday. McCarty came on my pod earlier this season and still stands by his "#FCCincy wins MLS Cup" prediction w/ one stipulation.
#FCCincy’s new academy player Jack Mize, set to play for FCC2 next year, is in first-team training today. Recently arrived out of Dortmund’s academy.
October 15, 2025 at 2:22 PM
#FCCincy’s new academy player Jack Mize, set to play for FCC2 next year, is in first-team training today. Recently arrived out of Dortmund’s academy.
OTD in 2022, I ate a microwaved media meal for the first and hopefully last time, watched Brenner score a hat trick to help FC Cincinnati make the playoffs for the first time and then made it up to Baltimore just in time for Sunday Night Football and a disappointing Bengals loss. Where were you?
October 9, 2025 at 7:13 PM
OTD in 2022, I ate a microwaved media meal for the first and hopefully last time, watched Brenner score a hat trick to help FC Cincinnati make the playoffs for the first time and then made it up to Baltimore just in time for Sunday Night Football and a disappointing Bengals loss. Where were you?
Look who’s back!
Obinna Nwobodo and Matt Miazga are at least in the group to start training. Noonan had said the plan was for Nwobodo to be back partial to full this week and the hope was that Miazga would be back for RBNY this week as well. #FCCincy
Obinna Nwobodo and Matt Miazga are at least in the group to start training. Noonan had said the plan was for Nwobodo to be back partial to full this week and the hope was that Miazga would be back for RBNY this week as well. #FCCincy
September 30, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Look who’s back!
Obinna Nwobodo and Matt Miazga are at least in the group to start training. Noonan had said the plan was for Nwobodo to be back partial to full this week and the hope was that Miazga would be back for RBNY this week as well. #FCCincy
Obinna Nwobodo and Matt Miazga are at least in the group to start training. Noonan had said the plan was for Nwobodo to be back partial to full this week and the hope was that Miazga would be back for RBNY this week as well. #FCCincy
Fulltime: #FCCincy 1, Orlando City SC 1.
Heartbreaking way to drop points, giving up the equalizer in the 96th minute. Evander's final attempt on the free kick sails over the crossbar. Here's the Supporters' Shield standings with two matches left.
Heartbreaking way to drop points, giving up the equalizer in the 96th minute. Evander's final attempt on the free kick sails over the crossbar. Here's the Supporters' Shield standings with two matches left.
September 29, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Fulltime: #FCCincy 1, Orlando City SC 1.
Heartbreaking way to drop points, giving up the equalizer in the 96th minute. Evander's final attempt on the free kick sails over the crossbar. Here's the Supporters' Shield standings with two matches left.
Heartbreaking way to drop points, giving up the equalizer in the 96th minute. Evander's final attempt on the free kick sails over the crossbar. Here's the Supporters' Shield standings with two matches left.
No changes from last week's 3-2 win at L.A. Galaxy. #FCCincy need a win to keep its Supporters Shield chances up after Philadelphia won last night. Miami/SD/Vancouver dropping points helps but Philadelphia and Miami can both finish above FCC if they all win out.
September 28, 2025 at 10:09 PM
No changes from last week's 3-2 win at L.A. Galaxy. #FCCincy need a win to keep its Supporters Shield chances up after Philadelphia won last night. Miami/SD/Vancouver dropping points helps but Philadelphia and Miami can both finish above FCC if they all win out.
A couple changes with Sami Gidi getting his first start in place of Brian Anunga and Ender Echenique replacing Dom Marczuk, in addition to necessary change with Matt Miazga out and Nick Hagglund starting in his place. Evan Louro remains in goal for injured Roman Celentano. #FCCincy
September 21, 2025 at 1:37 AM
A couple changes with Sami Gidi getting his first start in place of Brian Anunga and Ender Echenique replacing Dom Marczuk, in addition to necessary change with Matt Miazga out and Nick Hagglund starting in his place. Evan Louro remains in goal for injured Roman Celentano. #FCCincy
New addition to the press box. Monitors for media to be able to watch replays more closely. They just turned on at halftime. Nice touch. #FCCincy
September 14, 2025 at 12:43 AM
New addition to the press box. Monitors for media to be able to watch replays more closely. They just turned on at halftime. Nice touch. #FCCincy
Ayoub Jabbari gets his first start with Kevin Denkey on the bench after one day of training following international duty. Evan Louro replaces injured Roman Celentano and Alec Kann is on the bench. Miles Robinson and Luca Orellano back in the XI. #FCCincy
September 13, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Ayoub Jabbari gets his first start with Kevin Denkey on the bench after one day of training following international duty. Evan Louro replaces injured Roman Celentano and Alec Kann is on the bench. Miles Robinson and Luca Orellano back in the XI. #FCCincy
I wondered why Roman Celentano still wasn’t training Thursday after being back Wednesday. Surprised this didn’t get out sooner if it was why he wasn’t on the bench with the #USMNT in Columbus on Tuesday.
September 12, 2025 at 9:59 PM
I wondered why Roman Celentano still wasn’t training Thursday after being back Wednesday. Surprised this didn’t get out sooner if it was why he wasn’t on the bench with the #USMNT in Columbus on Tuesday.