Allentown native Andrei Chirila made FC Cincinnati debut in Champions Cup

Allentown, Pa. native Andrei Chirila made his first team debut for FC Cincinnati, starting and playing 90 minutes in their 4-0 win over O&M FC in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday night.

Chirila, who is on a second team contract with FC Cincinnati, is just 17 and is the younger brother of FC Cincinnati forward Stefan Chirila. Both brothers spent time with Lehigh Valley United and the Philadelphia Union Academy prior to joining the FC Cincinnati organization.

“He’s been very consistent with his play, I think you see tonight, his ability to play forward,” FC Cincinnati head coach and former Union assistant Pat Noonan said post-game. “He’s got something about him, and so he was out on the field because he’s been performing strong through preseason.”

The 19-year-old Stefan Chirila made his first team debut for FC Cincinnati last February and has logged 5 appearances and 122 minutes in all competitions.

First team debut for Andrei Chirila. ⚽🔸🔹#AllForCincy | #FCCvOYM | pic.twitter.com/piYb7eaMwd

— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) February 19, 2026

Matthew Ralph

Matthew Ralph is the managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now. He's covered soccer at all levels for a decade in the Philadelphia region and has also written for TheCup.us, NPSL, PrepSoccer and other publications. He lives with his wife and two young children in Broomall, Pa., but grew up in South Jersey and is originally from Kansas.

See Full Bio