FC Cincinnati continued to show signs of improvement but was unable to find the score sheet falling 1-0 to Sporting Kansas City in the home finale at Nippert Stadium. Roger Espinosa found the back of the net in the 57th minute for the away side. Siem de Jong had a golden opportunity to bring FC Cincinnati even but his 62nd-minute penalty hit the goalpost.
Check out Cincinnati Soccer Talk’s post-match report here for more details.
Rules:
- Each player starts off with a 6 as a 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 statistics and the Audi Player Index (API), Who Scored, and Stats Zone 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 onto the ratings:
GK – Spencer Richey: (5.5)
Tough break on the goal being slightly late to the shot that found the net. He made three other saves including a tough shot off a corner in the 72nd minute to keep the game tight.
RB – Zico Bailey: (6.5)
A really promising night for Zico Bailey. Nice emergency defending in the 28th minute after Pettersson’s mistimed tackle left FCC exposed at the back and he created a great chance just before the half to Locadia. Bailey had to be more conservative with the addition of Gerso at half for SKC. FC Cincinnati has to be happy they’ve found a domestic bench piece for 2021
CB – Tom Pettersson: (6)
TP did have the issue mentioned above but honestly, he has been FC Cincinnati’s best defender this season. Sporting KC didn’t get many chances and when they did, he was disruptive. Wish his cracker of a shot late in the second half could have gone in!
CB – Nick Hagglund: (6)
I think it was a message sent that Hagglund got the start over Kendall Waston. Hagglund has played well and I think has a place at this club going forward. I really like how he stepped up into possession several times. His distribution has really improved, especially his long passing.
LB – Andrew Gutman: (6.5)
Believe it or not, Gutman created two chances in open play for FC Cincinnati and did well to overlap with Locadia on the left. Still question his final ball but when FC Cincinnati is able to control the ball in midfield, he has more freedom to get forward.
CM – Kamohelo Mokotjo: (5.5)
Same story for me with Mokotjo. He is so quick with the ball and I like how he and Medunjanin rotate between possession and defense. He lost the ball a couple of times for me in dangerous positions that knocks him down a .5 point.
CM – Haris Medunjanin: (6)
I think I’ve come around to the fact that FC Cincinnati needs to bring Haris back for 2021. With Mokotjo alongside, Medunjanin has more freedom to get into the attack. He was 88 of 94 in passing and either created or started the build-up in play that led to several chances.
AM – Frankie Amaya: (5.5)
What hustle to draw that penalty. It was like it brought some fire and assertiveness that had been lacking offensively the last game and a half. Maybe Amaya is “too nice” and we need to see that cutthroat instinct that we see when he plays defense.
RW – Joseph-Claude Gyau: (5.5)
Maybe it’s mean but some of Gyau’s shininess is starting to wear off. You can never question his effort but his final ball and creativity with his teammates are sorely lacking.
ST – Siem de Jong: (5)
Carlos Dunlap is more popular in Cincinnati right now. For the life of me, I don’t know why Locadia, who needs a confidence boost, doesn’t take the PK. If you want to take one positive from his missed penalty is that I didn’t know the shooter couldn’t touch the ball off the post. Honestly, he had a nice first half but tailed off in the second. He needs to get his shots on target!
LW – Jurgen Locadia: (5.5)
Wednesday night was Locadia’s first start on the left-wing this season. He had more time and space on the ball but was unable to find the back of the net once again. I’m just not sure of the point here. I get that he played well in the past on the wing but if that’s the plan going forward, count me out. Long term, I think there are more dynamic and cost-effective players out there that can give FC Cincinnati a better rate of return. In MLS, you have to be strategic with your assets and I feel FC Cincinnati would be better served to allocate the money used on Locadia elsewhere.
SUB- Yuya Kubo (77th Minute): (5)
Kubo came in on the left wing for Locadia
SUB- Saad Abdul-Salaam (77th Minute): (N/A)
Abdul-Salaam was inserted for Zico Bailey. Didn’t have much of an effect as FC Cincinnati was sending everyone forward for a goal.
SUB- Brandon Vazquez (80th Minute): (6)
The young forward came in for Mokotjo but played as the striker. Nearly put the Orange & Blue level with a nifty turn but Tim Melia made a great last-ditch save.
SUB- Jimmy McLaughlin (90th Minute): (N/A)
It was fitting that Jimmy McLaughlin made an appearance in the final game in Nippert Stadium for FC Cincinnati. The last “OG” from 2016 took the field after missing most of the last two seasons to injury.
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