2021 Match Reports

Harris (and Fans) Caught Napping, FC Cincinnati Fall Again

FC Cincinnati fall to Inter Miami CF on rainy September night. Brek Shea once again with the goal to leave Cincinnati empty handed.

FC Cincinnati end of match breakdowns continue, Inter Miami CF take 3 points. They now have 6 at TQL, FCC has 5.

Off and On Again

Both the rain and the run of play started and stopped at TQL stadium. FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami CF started the match playing safe and slow. Without a true out-side back in the line-up, fans wondered how exactly FC Cincinnati would position themselves. Barrell started, oddly in a LB role with Hagglund as the RB in what looked to be a traditional back four setup but shifted at times into a 5-3-2. Miami CF seemed content to play FCC’s game, keeping their lines high and tight and not pressing. This resulted in FCC playing with a bit more possession, after some early turnover trouble, but struggling to do much with it in the midfield.

Act One: Up and Over

When Miami decided to play that defense strategy, Cincinnati was going to test it. This came primarily in several early long kicks to circumvent the midfield altogether. There were several but the main target was Atanga and a couple of times he did, in fact, beat his defender. Atanga got one cross off but it went into the keeper. Marsman easily handled another. Although Atangan did have success beating Miami’s backline, Atanga just couldn’t catch that solid first touch to put him in a solid position. Martialing Leerdam and Shea both ended up with the heavy-duty of covering these up and over balls for Miami.

Act Two: Left to Right, Right to Left

Shots were hard to come by and shots on goal even harder.

Barrell shifted from defender to midfielder to attacker on that left side. Often he was left with lots of space as FC Cincinnati preferred to work on the right. At the half, FCC has only one shot and Inter Miami still had yet to find one. FC Cincinnati opted to press and back up Miami while Miami took the midfield away from FCC. Both clubs seemed to work left to right and back looking for openings that were hard to find. What was odd is how alone Barreal seemed to be. At times on his own island, ignored but both the opposition and his team in the first half. Once the ball was kicked in the second he did get more active. His one early spot on the ball created a chance for the Orange and Blue.  Coach Gough put it best when he said, “It’s hard to imagine a team playing with two out-and-out wingers as wingbacks playing conservatively, but FCC has managed it. Team looking worried to take chances going forward, need to show some composure in the middle and final thirds”

Act Three: Subs, Stalemates and Snoozing

Thrilling football was out the window after that first half, The second was more of the same with Miami tapping into their bench early and FCC waiting until later in traditional Stam fashion. The sub-strategy did change with a two by two approach. First in were Vasquez and Harris (Brenner and Atanga) and later Kamohalo Mokotjo and Florian Valot (Medunjanin and Cruz). There was a slight surge in momentum after that second set and the best ten minutes of soccer in an otherwise boring match sprung forth. Despite the extra effort, the stalemate looked locked in and the headline was going to read, “Stam plays it safe, slowly plays his way to a Home point.” Unfortunately, FC Cincinnati end of match breakdowns continue. Shae had the ball on the edge of FCC’s final third and with nowhere to go passed it out. It looked like they would again go around the pitch looking for an opening. Harris must have thought so too because he drifted away Shea, then he drifted further away. Instead of kicking it right, he was spotted and by the time Harris turned around, there was no way to get back in time. Miami didn’t have many chances but as the visitors, they only needed one.

After the match Acosta said, “I believe in this group. I believe in this team. They’re a great group of guys. It’s a great team and we’re just going to attack this moment that we’re in. It’s obviously a bad moment but we’re going to attack this moment that we’re in together and move forward together.” Stam also said no more help is coming. FC Cincinnati will need to find a way to win with what they have.

FC Cincinnati will stay at home at play Toronto next weekend Saturday, September 11th 8:00 PM

Matchday 21 – FC Cincinnati vs Inter Miami CF
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Attendance: 22,234
Result: FC Cincinnati 0, Inter Miami CF 1.

BOX SCORE

FC Cincinnati Starting XI (5-3-2):

Kenneth Vermeer (GK), Nick Hagglund, Geoff Cameron, Gustavo Vallecilla, Isaac Atanga, ( Calvin Harris 75′) Allan Cruz (Florian Valot 84′), Haris Medunjanin (Kamohelo Mokotjo 84′) Yuya Kubo , Alvaro Barreal, Luciano Acosta, Brenner (Brandon Vasquez 75’),

Bench: Zico Bailey,  Edgar Castillo, Avionne Flanagan, Arquimedes Ordonez, Przemyslaw Tyton

Inter Miamai CF XI (3-5-2):

Nick Marsman (GK), Christian Makoun, Jorge Figal, Leandro González Pírez, Brek Shea, Lewis Morgan, Blaise Matuidi, Gregore de Magalhães da Silva, Kelvin Leerdam, Gonzalo Higuaín, Indiana Vassilev

Bench:John McCarthy, Víctor Ulloa, Jay Chapman, Robbie Robinson, Julián Carranza, Edison Azcona, Sami Guediri

Scoring Summary:
MIA – Shea 90’

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