Saturday night, FC Cincinnati dropped a close 2-0 match on the road to Los Angeles FC. Former Louisville City FC midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye put the home team ahead in the 32nd minute, and Carlos Vela sealed the win in the 93rd. In addition to our Match Report, we will recap each individual player performance for the match.
Rules:
- Each player starts off with a 6 as the standard rating. Six signifies an “average performance” for the match.
- Players will receive additions or subtractions to their score based on individual moments and the overall team performance.
- We’ll look at multiple criteria such as stats and the Audi Player Index (API) to assess a player’s rating.
- A player may receive an N/A if they are subbed in/off before any quantifiable statistics are available.
Now on to the ratings:
GK- Spencer Richey: (6.5), Audi Player Index: 510
After last Sunday’s gaffe against Sporting KC, some questioned if Spencer Richey should start with week one starter Przemysław Tytoń finally cleared to play after sitting out a month with an injury. Richey for the time being silenced the critics with another quality performance. He kept FC Cincinnati in the match all night, and frankly the club would have been out of the match early without his exceptional last minute reactionary saves. Credit Richey for standing strong while being under pressure all night, facing 22 shots from LAFC.
RB- Justin Hoyte: (6), Audi Player Index: 255
The former Arsenal man made his MLS debut after late-week injuries to Alvas Powell and Greg Garza. Hoyte acquitted himself well, avoiding any real big issues. While he doesn’t possess the speed to get forward consistently, he did make a couple of smart runs into the attacking third to keep the LAFC defense honest. Diego Rossi’s speed caused him some trouble as expected, but Hoyte utilized his high soccer IQ to frustrate Rossi.
CB- Nick Hagglund: (6), Audi Player Index: 325
Really don’t have much to complain about Nick Hagglund on the night. He did a much better job distributing from the back and was solid on the defensive side of the ball. Some were worried about his athleticism coming into the club, but his speed as the last defender bailed FC Cincinnati out several times Saturday night.
CB- Kendall Waston: (6), Audi Player Index: 255
Waston had a solid night again, making things difficult centrally for opponents. To lead a team and defense into the 90th minute with a chance to get a result showed this team will be a tough out all season. He almost put FC Cincinnati equal in the 80th minute but put his shot just wide. Unfortunately, he was responsible for the second LAFC goal in the 93rd minute. Carlos Vela’s speed was too much for the Costa Rican and got a step past Waston to get enough space off for a shot into the net.
LB- Mathieu Deplagne: (6), Audi Player Index: 364
Deplagne was active all night as the LAFC attack went up his side of the field. With that said, he did get into the attack trying to get the ball up the field to Kekuta Manneh while completing 87.9% of his passes. LAFC’s speed was a problem at times for Deplagne, most notably when he got burned by Latif Blessing in the ninth minute, giving away a dangerous free kick. Overall though, he continues to make things difficult for opponents. He won’t provide the speed going forward like Garza, but he’s done almost everything Alan Koch has asked of his through seven matches.
CDM- Caleb Stanko: (5.5), Audi Player Index: 152
Caleb Stanko had an average night in his first start of the season. There were times that he and Leonardo Bertone were out of sync with their positioning, which is understandable when they haven’t paired much. Often both left too much room in between the back line, leaving space for Vela and Rossi to exploit. I was surprised by his ability to get into the final third, completing 7 of 8 passes. He was also solid getting back with six tackles.
CDM- Leonardo Bertone: (5), Audi Player Index: -273
It’s been hit or miss for Bertone for much of the season. Some matches he does a nice job holding on to the ball, and then there was Saturday night. Bertone had 73.2 passing percentage, but he was 7 of 16 in the final third (43.75%). He can not continue to be as careless with the ball. That is unacceptable and leaves the defense open to the counter.
MF- Kekuta Manneh: (5), Audi Player Index: 160
Manneh brings the speed for the club, but his inability to hold possession was the pitfall for the offense on the night. He completed just 57.7% of this passes and was especially inept in the middle of the field. Manneh really has struggled with opponents high defensive pressure this year and has to improve if FC Cincinnati will succeed early this year.
MF- Allan Cruz: (5), Audi Player Index: -116
The Costa Rican was invisible for the match. He did create one chance but was pretty much a nonfactor with just eight pass attempts on the night. Cruz is clearly out of position and has been inserted to help on the defensive side of the ball, but if he disappears like this, coach Alan Koch will have to consider playing Lamah and Manneh on the wings once everyone’s health returns.
CAM Kenny Saief: (6), Audi Player Index: 145
With little support outside of Darren Mattocks, Kenny Saief continues to carry FC Cincinnati’s offensive burden. Saief created three scoring chances and completed an impressive 12 of 14 passes in the attacking third. He consistently has the mind to go forward with the ball and does a nice job in the interplay with Mattocks. I worry about teams figuring him out. This isn’t a judgment on him as much as commenting on the lack of support around him. LAFC put two or three players around Saief at times limiting his effectiveness, and you wonder if this isn’t going to be the strategy for every team going forward until someone else proves a threat for FC Cincinnati.
FW- Darren Mattocks: (5.5), Audi Player Index: 486
A 5.5 might be a tough score for Darren Mattocks as he was active on the night, creating chances for FC Cincinnati, but his inability to finish in front of the goal cost his team a point. He nearly put the away side ahead in the 10th minute, but in a hurry, he put his shot on an exposed net wide. Mattocks’ only shot on target of the evening forced a terrific diving save from Tyler Miller just before the half. You can see his quality on the pitch creating chances for himself and his teammates, but if his finishing doesn’t improve, Koch has to seriously consider inserting Fanendo Adi back into the starting lineup when available.
SUB- Roland Lamah (66th min.): (5.5), Audi Player Index: -13
Koch brought Roland Lamah into the match on the wing for Cruz to try to support Saief and Mattocks in the attack. He brought a little more going forward that Cruz but was similarly a nonfactor.
SUB- Victor Ulloa (76th min.): (6), Audi Player Index: 86
Saturday night was Victor Ulloa’s first substitute appearance after starting six matches to begin the season. Once he was inserted, FC Cincinnati was able to control a large amount of the possession for 15 of the last 20 minutes. He created one chance in his short time, but you could see once he was inserted, he brought a sense of calm to the squad.
SUB- Frankie Amaya (83rd min.): (N/A), Audi Player Index: 131
Amaya made his second appearance in Orange & Blue and was active in a late appearance. Though he doesn’t have the size compared to his peers, he doesn’t back down to any challenges. He is quick and caused a pair of LAFC turnovers to spur the counter. In his limited sample size, you can see he is a pesky player that can frustrate opponents.
COACHING- Alan Koch: (6)
Coach Alan Koch was put behind the eight ball in the toughest match of the season, missing several key contributors in Adi, Garza and Powell. He questionably set up his squad to have a higher line that gave LAFC some room to move the ball, but sharp goalkeeping from Richey kept FC Cincinnati in the match. The partnership of Saief and Mattocks created enough chances to pull out a result, but their shoddy finishing was unable to get the visitors on the board. In the end, his club was in the match the entire night, and if you would have given Koch a chance for his club to pick up a result in the 90th minute he would have taken the opportunity.
@bradleysweigel for @CincySoccerTalk
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