Let’s look at where your favorite FCC players ranked for this match.

Check out Cincinnati Soccer Talk’s post-match report HERE for more details.

RULES:

• Each player starts off with a six 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 and statistics from websites like FB Ref, Who Scored and FOTMOB.
• All statistics used will be taken from fbref.com when possible.
• A player may receive a N/A if they are subbed on/off before any quantifiable statistics are available.

Expected Goals (xG): FC Cincinnati – 1.04, CF Montreal – 1.12, per fotmob.com

Formation: 3-5-2

Now, onto the ratings:

Manager – Pat Noonan – 5.5

Any time your team loses, it is going to be tough for you to earn more than the “average” score of 6 as a manager. So, let’s talk about why Noonan might have deserved that score. First off, it appears that the gaffer took Lucho Acosta off of corner kick duty. And, while Luca Orellano didn’t fare much better in that department, I think I speak for many of you when I say we couldn’t bear any more Acosta corners that hit the first defender or the near side-netting as he attempted yet another Olimpico. Second, I think Noonan intentionally asked Pavel Bucha to play a more active role in the offense. And, while it didn’t directly lead to any goals, he helped to set up one gilt-edged chance and played a part in the build-up to his side’s only goal.

Now, let’s talk about why I scored Noonan where I did. For me, like Mike below, this is all about substitutions.

Sorry for the spoiler, but we are 66 minutes into a dreadful performance and have made no subs. This is hard to understand.

— Mike Prentiss (@mwprentiss) April 14, 2024

As Mike stated, in a match where his team looked outpaced, outmanned and out of sorts, Noonan didn’t make his first substitute until the 72nd minute. Then, he brought in Dado Valenzuela just six minutes later meaning that he used two windows when one would have sufficed. In the end, Noonan only ended up making four of his allotted five changes.

GK – Alec Kann – 5.5

Do you believe the stats, or do you believe your eyes? Neither of the CF Montreal goals that Kann gave up looked particularly saveable. However, their PSxG was just 0.37 and 0.28, respectively, which indicates they absolutely were. Maybe Kann needed better footwork and anticipation on the first. Maybe he needed quicker reflexes on the second. Either way, he gave up two goals on a total PSxG of just 0.8, which means he was negative overall in the shot-stopping department.

Kann looked pretty decent in possession, which was a noticeable difference from both Evan Louro and Roman Celentano. Overall, I don’t think he did a lot to hurt his chances to start the next match, even if he didn’t cement himself as the locked-in second-choice goalkeeper.

RWB –  DeAndre Yedlin – 4.5

DeAndre Yedlin typically doesn’t add enough going forward to be a truly effective right wingback. This match was no exception, as he didn’t log a shot-creating action, a cross or a pass into the penalty area. His one progressive action (a carry) was far from enough to consider him an effective force progressing the ball, and his three progressive receptions were half of his per-90 average.

Typically, we can overlook his lack of offensive thrust because he is pretty excellent defensively. However, in this match, he was dribbled three times. One of those times was by a center back, Joaquin Sosa, who had wandered forward into the attack. Sosa beat Yedlin with a simple cut-move that created a dangerous moment in transition. One thing you can never fault Yedlin for is his effort, and in this match, he led the team with five tackles, even though he won possession with only two of them.

RCB – Miles Robinson – 5.5

Miles Robinson continued his concerning run of lackluster performances in this match. He wasn’t terrible by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, he was one of the only center backs that acquitted himself well in possession, logging four progressive passes and four passes into the final third while maintaining a decent overall passing percentage (88.3 percent).

However, the entire back line struggled all night trying to determine who was to cover which Montreal forward that was dropping off the back line to connect. Miles had the fewest recoveries of any of the center backs with three while logging only one each of tackles, blocks, and interceptions. To make matters worse, he was dribbled once and shares a bit of the blame for allowing Ariel Lassiter to score the game-winning goal (see Bucha below).

CB – Matt Miazga – 5

Matt Miazga had the worst performance of his FCC career in this match, outside of off-field incidents. He was woeful in possession, logging a far-too-low 77.5 percent passing that included moments like at the 14th-minute mark when he played the ball straight out of bounds trying to find Yedlin on the touchline. In the end, he only completed four of his 11 long pass attempts.

Furthermore, as the central defender and de facto captain of the defense, it is Miazga’s responsibility to get his central defenders organized. And, as mentioned above, they were not. Miazga’s lone saving grace was his three blocked shots, which were needed in large part due to the defense’s disorganization. I expect Matt to bounce back with a vengance after watching the film of this match.

LCB – Ian Murphy – 4

Ian Murphy was at odds with himself all match, not knowing whether to “stick or twist,” as they say. He fell asleep in the 10th minute, allowing right back Ruan to get behind him and rattle the far post with a shot. Then, it looked to me as if he grabbed the lion’s share of the blame for Montreal’s opening goal when he followed the run of Lassiter when it appeared that Miazga was trying to get him to pick up Josef, as seen in this video:

Le premier but au Stade Saputo de Josef Martínez

Josef Martínez scores our first goal against FC Cincinnati#CFMTL pic.twitter.com/OYtN7jWTiw

— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) April 14, 2024

Murphy led the team in fouls with three, recorded zero progressive passes and his only defensive stat was a blocked shot. He also got badly turned in the open field by Bryce Duke and had to grab the attacker, earning a yellow card. Murphy did have a shot-creating action and a key pass, however, so I guess that’s something. I remain a Murphy believer, but I think he has a lot of work to do to figure out how and when to mark attackers that play within fluid offenses.

LWB – Luca Orellano – 6.5

Luca Orellano is trying to make things happen. In this match, he led the team with 11 progressive receptions and tied for the lead with seven progressive carries. He also led the team in attempted dribbles, a stat line that is nearly always Lucho Acosta’s, and also contributed eight crosses. However, the young Argentinian continues not to have much to show for his efforts. For all his ball progression, he still managed only 70.5 percent passing, including completing a mere one of seven long balls. Out of his six dribble attempts, he only completed three. Finally, only two of his eight crosses found a target. Emblematic of his lack of end product was the moment in the sixth minute when he blazed a shot well over the bar from a poor angle when he had targets in the box to aim for, ending a promising counterattack.

Defensively, Orellano is further along in his progression than Álvaro Barreal was at this stage in his MLS career. Luca had two tackles, winning possession on both. He also led the team with seven ground duels won. He did, however, commit a bad tackle in the 18th minute, earning himself a yellow card while giving away a free kick in a dangerous area.

DCM – Pavel Bucha – 7.5 (Man of the Match)

I have to be honest with this one: I wrestled over whether to give Bucha my man-of-the-match award. I mentioned on this week’s Talking Tactics that I loved how involved he was in the offense. He was more involved in the attacking third in this match than he’s been all season. He had a lovely pass to send Acosta through in the 53rd minute, setting up a great chance for Kubo. He ended the match with three shot-creating actions. Even with his more advanced role, however, he also contributed in a major way in ball progression. Not only did he tie for the team lead with five progressive passes, he added two progressive carries while leading the team with a 92.3 percent passing rate.

Bucha’s defensive stats were also pretty impressive, considering his more attacking role. He logged three tackles and an interception and also led the team with 10 ball recoveries. So, where did my trepidation in naming him man-of-the-match come from? Bucha’s defensive shifting was a problem all night. He often failed to drop back defensively when Obi Nwobodo pushed forward, allowing Montreal midfielders to get behind the FCC midfield unit time after time. This played a part in both goals. Just watch how Bucha fell asleep in the transition leading to the game-winner, allowing Lassiter to run by him en route to scoring his banger:

Le but gagnant

Tonight’s winning goal by Ariel Lassiter #CFMTL pic.twitter.com/uqGuHVQTS8

— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) April 14, 2024

This team needs Pavel Bucha to be part of the offense if it is to start scoring goals at anything resembling a championship rate. However, it can’t be at the expense of rest defense or allowing huge transition opportunities. Whether that means Bucha flawlessly shifting forward and backward or Obi simply sitting as a more traditional #6, Pat Noonan will have to decide.

DCM – Obi Nwobodo – 4

“Obinna Nwobodo just doesn’t look right.”

That is a quote that I could attribute to a bunch of different fans. It is so odd to see FCC’s holding midfielder, whom we often hold up as one of the best in the league, look so helpless. To my eye test, he doesn’t look slower or off the pace. I just feel like he is constantly chasing the ball and getting out of position. And the numbers back up the fact that he is chasing the game to no avail. In this match, Obi had only three ball recoveries and didn’t log a tackle. He averages nearly six and nearly four, respectively. He also only got into two ground duels. That means he wasn’t close enough to the ball on most occasions to make an impact. This photo sums up his undisciplined ball-chasing:

As Raheem Edwards makes a run to the corner (blue arrow), Obi leaves the midfield to follow, creating a huge passing window. That meant that Bucha was left to figure out whether to deny Josef Martinez the entry pass or stay in the passing window to deny Bryce Duke the cross-field ball (both circled in red). The cascading effect of this was that Orellano had both Duke and Ruan to cover on the weak side. This is one example of a problem that happened all night.

Obi also wasn’t great in possession. His 81 percent passing was a fine rate, but he didn’t log a key pass or a pass into the final third and added only two progressive passes in total. That means he was passing mostly sideways and backward. Obi did, however, somehow log four interceptions.

CAM – Luciano Acosta – 7

For all the talk of Lucho Acosta playing hero ball, he was rather calm in this match. I mentioned above how he didn’t lead the team in attempted dribbles. He still managed to lead them in shot-creating actions with four. His 58th-minute assist was a moment of calmness where he didn’t overthink things and simply turned and played Kubo in on goal. Lucho also added 12 progressive actions (five passes, seven carries). However, Montreal was able to effectively limit Lucho from receiving the ball between the lines. He logged only two progressive receptions while he averages over six per 90 minutes. He also wasn’t clean on the ball, tallying five mistouches and being dispossessed once.

After watching this match, my question is: Did Montreal effectively limit Lucho’s production or is he just tired? Supporting the latter conclusion was his lack of defensive contribution. Lucho is usually the player that keys FCC’s press. Because of this, he usually racks up recoveries, tackles and even fouls. In this match, he logged only one recovery, while failing to log a tackle or interception. He did, however, win four of his eight ground duels.

ST – Yuya Kubo – 7.5

Justin Hoyte and I talked on Talking Tactics last week about Yuya Kubo’s movement being the best thing that he is bringing to the FCC front line. His slightly curled run off the shoulder of the defender to score his goal is a perfect example:

Needed this. Need another one. pic.twitter.com/eQ8LIwrhNN

— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) April 14, 2024

It is a small thing, but players like Baird, Boupendza and Santos have all been in that position and stood still, waiting on Lucho’s pass before trying to make the run. This means that the defender gets to run even with them and narrow their angle or block their shot. Yuya’s run wasn’t direct, so he stayed onside. His finish was also pretty classy. Kubo also took up good positions throughout the match, coming in second on the team with four progressive receptions. Finally, he wasn’t dispossessed and didn’t have a mistouch.

So, why isn’t Kubo man-of-the-match? Even though he scored the game’s only goal, he also had the biggest missed chance in the 53rd minute when Lucho found him with a cutback and he sent his shot straight at the goalkeeper. Futhermore, he attempted three dribbles and didn’t complete any of them. Lastly, and most incredibly, he managed only 13 offensive third touches. That was fewer than Pavel Bucha and only two more than late-game substitute Dado Valenzuela.

ST – Aaron Boupendza – 2

I really wish I could rate Aaron Boupendza “N/A,” even though he played 71 minutes. His lack of involvement isn’t entirely his fault, as it seems like his teammates don’t always spot him when he’s open. However, the DP #9 had only five attacking third touches on the night, tying him for eighth place on the team with center back Miles Robinson. Consequently, Boup had no shot-creating actions. His lone shot was so tame it was logged at zero xG (rounding down from its paltry 0.02).

Part of me wonders whether Boupendza’s teammates aren’t passing him the ball because he takes so little care of it. In this match, his 62.5 percent passing was the worst on the team. He didn’t complete either of his two dribble attempts. Lastly, he added three mistouches, which is three too many when you are touching the ball so few times. So why did I rate him a “2?” I gave him a full point for his excellent turn in the 29th minute that left center back Joel Waterman in his wake and another full point for the yellow card that Waterman picked up on the play. Call me generous.

SUBS

Corey Baird (72nd minute) – 3

Corey Baird had only five touches in 19 minutes, plus stoppage time, of play. One of those five touches was a mistouch. He completed only two of his three passes. Furthermore, in a match where his team needed to win the ball back and score, he got into only one ground duel and one aerial duel. His only defensive stat was a blocked pass. Baird’s best role is not as a starter on this team. He is going to have to figure out how to provide a spark off the bench if he is to play any role at all.

Nick Hagglund (72nd minute) – 6

The Cincinnati Kid entered the match when his team was already trailing 2-1. Therefore, he had very little to do on the defensive side of the ball. He was able to grab two interceptions to win possession back for his team. In terms of offense, he added two progressive passes which is a good tally for his limited minutes. However, he wasn’t able to tally a pass into the final third.

Gerardo Valenzuela (78th minute) – 6.5

Dado Valenzuela looked crisp on the ball and worked hard defensively in his limited minutes. He had an impressive 11 attacking third touches despite playing so little. Before you stand up to clamor for additional playing time for the academy product, however, keep in mind that he wasn’t able to add a shot-creating action and had only one pass into the penalty area with those touches. He also had two mistouches. Overall, I think Dado deserves more time, but he probably isn’t a full-time starter just yet.

Sergio Santos (89th minute) – N/A

Availability Notes: Roman Celentano (ankle)

DEFINITIONS:

• xG – Expected goals (or xG) measures the quality of a chance by calculating the likelihood that it will be scored from a particular position on the pitch during a particular phase of play
• xA – Expected assist (or xA) is directly related to the xG of a shot that the pass creates.
• Post-Shot xG (PSxG) – Post-Shot xG is calculated after the shot has been taken, once it is known that the shot is on-target, taking into account the quality of the shot.
• Progressive Pass – A pass that advances toward the opponent’s goal where the distance between the starting point and the next touch is:
  • at least 30 meters closer to the opponent’s goal if the starting and finishing points are within a team’s own half
  • at least 15 meters closer to the opponent’s goal if the starting and finishing points are in different halves
  • at least 10 meters closer to the opponent’s goal if the starting and finishing points are in the opponent’s half
• Progressive Carry – Carries that move the ball toward the opponent’s goal at least 5 yards or any carry into the penalty area. Excludes carries from the defending 40% of the pitch.
• Dribble – Moving past the opposing player while maintaining possession of the ball. When a player shields the ball or otherwise uses physical strength to maintain possession, this is not a dribble.
• Key Pass – A pass that immediately creates a clear goal scoring opportunity for a teammate. A key pass does not have to lead to a shot, and thus is different than a shot-creating action.
• Long Pass – Definition depends on the site being used. Typically, a pass that travels a distance greater than 30 yards.
• Mistouch – When a player fails when trying to gain control of the ball without a defender earning a tackle or a ground duel.
• Ground Duel – A challenge between two players to gain control of the ball, progress with the ball, or change its direction.
• Dispossessed – The times a player loses control of the ball after a tackle from an opponent, not including attempted dribbles.
• Recovery – Any action that ends the possession of the opponent without the ball going out of bounds. Recoveries are typically duels (44%) or interceptions (16%), but can happen without any specific action from the player doing the recovery (positioning himself correctly or simply collecting the ball).

The post Player Ratings: FC Cincinnati 1, CF Montreal 2 appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Highlights from this week’s show.

Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte break down FC Cincinnati’s 2-1 loss at home to the New York Red Bulls. What went wrong with the FCC midfield? How can this offense be fixed?

The guys also talk about the wonders of Yuya Kubo, Lucho Acosta’s set pieces, and much more!

Follow Coach

On Twitter @FCCincyTacTalk

On Threads @FCCincyTacTalk

On Instagram @FCCincyTacTalk

Support Talking Tactics and CST!

Want to help the Talking Tactics Podcast grow? Leave a rating and a review! Want to help support Cincinnati Soccer Talk? Become a supporter today!

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The show’s RSS feed is https://fcctactalk.libsyn.com/rss

The post Midfield Woes, Transition Turnovers, and What Can’t Yuya Kubo Do appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Highlights from this week’s show.

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The show’s RSS feed is https://cincinnatisoccertalk.libsyn.com/rss

The post Episode 359 – Playing with the Boys appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Highlights from this week’s show.

Talking Tactics is back for 2024! Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte talk about the 2024 preseason. What should we be taking from these results and lineups? How are new players integrated into the team? 

The guys also talk about what it is like to watch former players walk out the door, and much more!

Follow Coach

On Twitter @FCCincyTacTalk

On Threads @FCCincyTacTalk

On Instagram @FCCincyTacTalk

Support Talking Tactics and CST!

Want to help the Talking Tactics Podcast grow? Leave a rating and a review! Want to help support Cincinnati Soccer Talk? Become a supporter today!

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The show’s RSS feed is https://fcctactalk.libsyn.com/rss

The post Justin Hoyte Gets No Preseason appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Highlights from this week’s show.

This week, Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte end 2023 on a high note. They give out end-of-season awards and answer listener questions like whether or not Pat Noonan will change formations for 2024.

The guys also play buy-or-sell, talk about which of Justin’s former professional friends will join the podcast, and much more!

Follow Coach

On Twitter @FCCincyTacTalk

On Threads @FCCincyTacTalk

On Instagram @FCCincyTacTalk

Support Talking Tactics and CST!

Want to help the Talking Tactics Podcast grow? Leave a rating and a review! Want to help support Cincinnati Soccer Talk? Become a supporter today!

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The show’s RSS feed is https://fcctactalk.libsyn.com/rss

The post 2023 Season Awards and Much More appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Let’s look at where your favorite FCC players ranked for this match. And, as a bonus, I decided to add a note on each player looking toward next season.

Check out Cincinnati Soccer Talk’s post-match report HERE for more details.

RULES:

• Each player starts off with a six 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 and statistics from websites like FB Ref, Who Scored and FOTMOB.
• All statistics used will be taken from fbref.com when possible.
• A player may receive a N/A if they are subbed on/off before any quantifiable statistics are available.

Expected Goals (xG): FC Cincinnati – 1, Columbus Crew – 2.7, per mlssoccer.com

Formation: 3-5-2

Now, onto the ratings:

Manager – Pat Noonan – 6

I really don’t want to pick on Pat Noonan here. His Coach of the Year honor was well-deserved, and he has this team well ahead of schedule in their development. Furthermore, his hands were tied by injuries and a suspension in this match, yet he nearly guided his team to a win. However, I have to do the ratings, and as such I would be remiss if I didn’t mention where I thought the gaffer could have done better. To start, he set his team up to get numbers behind the ball, frustrate the Crew and go forward when possible. This worked to good effect in the first half, even if FCC was a bit fortunate to be up by two heading into the break.

Then, in the second half, it looked like he may have over-emphasized the need to slow down and keep the ball to players like Brandon Vazquez, who cut the ball back with the chance for a 3v3 runout in the 60th minute. His team continued to give the ball away cheaply at times, and at others pull back and try to keep it even when it looked like they might have an advantage to go forward. Then, in my opinion, he was quick to pull players like Santiago Arias, removing him in the 65th minute though he had just burst forward to intercept a pass on the press moments before. He took off Aaron Boupendza in the 73rd minute even though the Gabonese looked the most likely FCC player to score. Even if this was the right play, it might have suited him better to add a player to the midfield rather than using Dom Badji as a like-for-like replacement. 

This loss was not Noonan’s fault. Could he have made a few different choices? Certainly. Would those choices have guaranteed, or even made a win more likely? Perhaps not. However, I think he’d be the first to admit that he’d have done things a bit differently if he had the chance. Two semi-final losses this season will have been a very good experience for a relatively new manager.

GK – Roman Celentano – 7

Roman Celentano didn’t have a poor match, but he also wasn’t a game-changer like his opposite number. When he was called into action, he mostly did what was expected. He did well to push a Cucho Hernandez shot well out of the box in the 37th minute when it was struck with real pace and could have caused some problems. He was also quickly off his line to gather a Cucho through ball before Alexandru Matan could run onto it in the 60th minute, and again to rob Christian Ramirez of a chance in the 75th. Roman was also more than adequate when asked to take part in possession. A lot has been made of his inability to accurately hit long balls. In the 58th minute, he failed to clear the edge of the box with a simple Arias back pass, gifting the ball back to Columbus in the attacking third. In stoppage time at the end of the match, he put a goal kick directly out of bounds. However, in all, he completed 14 of 24 long passes, which is well above league average for goalkeepers.

Celentano’s one big blemish in this match came on Columbus’s opening goal. When Julian Gressel crossed toward Ramirez, Roman threw himself toward the ball but got nowhere near it. This added to the confusion as the ball found its way through and struck Powell, while also leaving no doubt as to whether or not Powell’s touch would wind up in the back of the net. For the Crew’s other two strikes, there really isn’t anything the young shot-stopper could have done.

Roman continues to impress in moments, but doesn’t make enough “big-time” saves to be considered among the league’s elite shot-stoppers. However, he’s done nothing but improve so far, and I don’t expect that to stop next season.

RWB –  Santiago Arias – 7

Santi Arias looked up for this match and was a constant nuisance down the right side until he was removed in the second half. He passed at a 76 percent rate, had four progressive passes, and created a shot. However, he continued to show an inexplicable lack of quality in possession in this match, as he had all year. None of his three crosses found a target. Particularly, he wasted a gorgeous pass from Acosta down the line in the sixth minute of the match, having his cross blocked before hitting the ball out for a goal kick. It’s plays like these that leave me scratching my head and wondering what could have been.

However, defensively he was quite good all season, and this match was no different. He read a free-kick routine from the Crew like a book in the 42nd minute, clearing the danger easily and making the visitors look silly. He ended the match with three tackles, a block and three interceptions while also winning three of his five ground duels. While I don’t think he ever hit “former Athletico Madrid” defender form for the Orange and Blue this season, he has been more than serviceable as a right wingback in MLS. Going forward, if FCC brings him back and can provide a bit more balance to the attack down the right, he can be a key part of another championship-level team.

RCB – Alvas Powell – 6

Had the match ended at the 75th-minute mark, I would have said that Powell had a very good game. Though he got beat by Cucho in the 17th minute, allowing the Columbian to come inside and find Diego Rossi, who eventually cut it back to Cucho for an open shot, he kept his wits about him enough to block that shot off the line when it looked destined for the far corner of the goal. He ended the match with two tackles, four blocks,and an interception, and looked like a capable starter for the most part. Offensively, it looked like he may have created the game-winning goal when he strode forward and forced Schulte into a diving save in the 69th minute, the rebound of which was bundled over the line by Aaron Boupendza before it was called back for handling. 

However, soccer is played for 90 minutes… and this match was 120 minutes long. Though I don’t fault Powell for having the ball strike him and end up in the back of the net for the Crew’s first goal, he did lose Ramirez in the run-up. It almost looked like he was expecting the striker to be offside, even though he was well behind the ball. This left him chasing when the ball was struck allowing for the misfortune that credited him with an own goal. He also failed to track Ramirez on his delayed run to the top of the box leading to the Crew’s 85th-minute goal, then tried to close late, meaning he was too far away from the striker to affect his layoff but too close to prevent Diego Rossi from getting the next touch. He lost Cucho on a corner kick in the 101st minute, resulting in a diving header that nearly led to Amundsen bundling the ball into the back of the net. Then, in the 109th minute, he drifted under the ball allowing Ramirez to attempt an acrobatic volley that Celentano was able to keep out.

Powell is not a center-back. He has proven that he can play there in a pinch to good effect. However, the Eastern Conference Final against the best offensive team in the league looked like a bridge too far. I think Powell’s days as an MLS starter are over, but as a backup outside defender and emergency center back, he will be a key depth piece for this team in 2024.

CB – Yerson Mosquera – 7.5

I slagged a bit on Yerson Mosquera last match, even failing to acknowledge his game-winning goal in this column. I thought he was really good against the Crew on Saturday. He had three tackles and seven recoveries while winning both of his aerial duels. However, where I really thought he excelled was in his reading of the game. Against the Union, I thought he was too aggressive, and went looking to win challenges in midfield when he should have stayed home. Against the Crew, he was patient, took up good positions and looked to read where the play was headed (see image below). This played out with him leading the team with five blocks.

However, the youngster wasn’t Matt Miazga, and it showed. Particularly, he lost five of his nine ground duels. Finally, I thought he got caught in no-man’s land, unable to defend the cross that resulted in Powell’s own goal.  Mosquera has shown an ability to learn, adapt and grow in his short time in the United States. I think it would behoove him to continue to put in some time in MLS, learning the language and fine-tuning his game before returning to England, but I’m not sure his parent club (Wolves) would agree.

LCB – Ian Murphy – 8

I thought Ian Murphy was awesome in this match, putting a nice cherry on top of an inconsistent season of a sundae. His defensive angles were on all night, allowing him to easily defend several Crew crosses at the near post. He ended the match with four blocks and an interception. He also showed what an asset his closing speed could be on several occasions, tracking runners and intervening when they looked in on goal. In the first half, he made an excellent recovery run to block Cucho’s shot when he was in on goal in the right channel. He did so again in the 59th minute to stop an early Yaw Yeboah cross from finding Alexandru Matan in on goal.

I will also continue to bang the drum for Ian Murphy being the best passing central defender on this team. In this match, he had four progressive passes and led his compatriots with four passes into the final third. Other than a few errant passes late in the game when his targets were tiring, he didn’t put much of a foot wrong on the ball.

For Ian Murphy, the question remains whether he can become a full-time starter next season. If he plays like he did in the Eastern Conference Final, I have few doubts that he can. However, he needs to play this well more consistently.

LWB – Álvaro Barreal – 6.5

Álvaro Barreal had a roller coaster of a match, following brilliant moments with moments of real struggles. He led the team with five tackles but also got dribbled four times. He had two key passes and nine passes into the final third, but also only connected with only one of his four crosses. He had an outstanding opening 20 minutes but faltered and cramped up in the final 20 minutes of the match.

Early on, it was Barreal’s quick pressure that forced Mo Farsi into his mistake for FCC’s opening goal. He also made a key tackle on Matan in the center of the field then recovered and blocked a shot from the corner of the box on the same play in the 20th minute. Offensively, he cut onto his right in the 17th minute, forcing Patrick Schulte into a diving save. He had a poor turnover in the 23rd minute trying to play a one-touch long ball with his right foot when FCC had easy possession. Later, he got cooked by Farsi in the 29th minute, then made a dangerous challenge that drew shouts for a penalty. Then, in the 41st minute, he fell for the same move and brought the wingback down at the edge of the box for a dangerous free kick. However, it was also his lovely cut inside and outside-of-the-foot pass through to Vazquez that generated the set-piece that led to FCC’s second goal, on which he earned an assist.

Álvaro Barreal proved that he can be a top-notch chance-creator from the wingback position in MLS. However, his defensive frailties were badly exposed once Ian Murphy began starting full-time on his side. I think he’s good enough defensively to be a best-XI MLS defender so long as the defense behind him is solid enough to cover up for his occasional lunges at the ball or failure to track back. I think a European team that sees the chance to develop him might take the chance on buying him, but I struggle to see him making any real contributions in a top-five league next season.

DCM – Junior Moreno – 8 (Man-of-the-Match)

Nobody has been harder on Junior Moreno than me. At times this season, it has seemed like he couldn’t keep up with the game. However, in this match, without Obi and against the most potent offense in MLS, he was fantastic. Defensively, his one tackle and three blocks were solid, if unspectacular. However, he also led the team with five interceptions and contributed six ball recoveries. He seemed to cover ground tirelessly and was in a position to limit Crew attacks in wide areas on numerous occasions.

Offensively, he was his typical self. He rarely lost the ball, leading all starters by passing at a 90.2 percent rate. However, often this means he is passing backward and sideways, but in this match, he added five progressive passes and four passes into the final third.

My knock on Junior Moreno continues to be the fact that he is always solid, but rarely changes the game. I think he can be a solid rotation piece, coming in to lock down games defensively or help keep the ball and see matches out. That’s why he was an integral part of a Supporters’ Shield-winning season that saw FCC go 15-2-9 in games decided by one goal or fewer. However, I don’t think Moreno should be a full-time starter for a team that has its sights set on winning silverware in a knockout competition.

DCM – Yuya Kubo – 7.5

The play that epitomizes Yuya Kubo for me happened in the 38th minute, when he chased Cucho down from behind, dispossessed him then played a perfect long ball to release Brandon Vazquez down the right side. His defensive mobility and ability on the ball could make him a fantastic MLS midfielder. However, he is simply too inconsistent during matches, floating in and out of them and going long periods without making an impact.

Yuya Kubo had three shot-creating actions and completed 81 percent of his passes. However, his 37 touches were the least of any starter other than Aaron Boupendza, who played 14 fewer minutes. He also managed just two progressive passes. Yuya also led the team with seven tackles and won nine of his 15 ground duels. However, he wasn’t able to get a block or an interception, indicating that he was probably chasing the game a bit.

Overall, I thought Kubo had some impressive matches this season. I continue to wonder what he could do if he were allowed to play alongside Obi game in and game out. I’m not sure he has best XI midfielder in his future, but I think he could be top 10 at his position if he was given the time and trust. I’m in favor of bringing him back next season and giving him a bigger role.

CAM – Luciano Acosta – 7

The MLS MVP finished this match with a goal, while also leading his team with 0.4 xA. He created three shots and led the team with seven progressive passes. His set-piece goal might have been a bit fortunate, but he found the space to curl his shot through traffic and on target. In the first half, in particular, he played several nice through balls that could have led to chances if his teammates were a bit sharper on the night.

However, I’m not sure if it was because of his tiring legs, or maybe he was still carrying a knock, but he was dreadful down the stretch when FCC really needed him to step up. In the 61st minute, he turned the ball over, trying to dribble through three Crew defenders. In the 66th minute, he took a free kick in the middle of the field and tried to fit it into Vazquez, turning the ball over when his team was still up 2-0 and could have continued to kill the game off. He again turned the ball over on the dribble in the 72nd minute before hacking down Darlington Nagbe and earning a yellow card. Then, he lost the ball again, deep in the corner in the 82nd minute, with his team clinging to a slender one-goal lead. Lastly, in the 114th minute, playing on one leg, he tried to flick a ball up and backheel it up the touchline in his defensive third, turning the ball over and leading to the possession from which the Crew scored their game-winner. In the end, he led the team with 11 combined mistouches (seven) and dispossessions (four). He also led the team with duels lost (17) and had the worst duel percentage by far of any starter for either team (19 percent).

With Lucho Acosta, you take the good with the bad. Any player who creates by carving up defenders on the dribble is going to turn the ball over a lot. My question for 2024 is, if Lucho plays 500 fewer minutes will he be more consistent down the stretch, or will his influence diminish? His 2,605 league minutes is not an eye-popping number, but the way he wore down late in the season and failed to impress in the playoffs has me concerned.

ST – Aaron Boupendza – 5.5

Aarong Boupendza continues to be the best and worst player on the pitch. He has moments of brilliance, like in the 51st minute when he did well to cut onto his left foot inside the box, beating Malte Amundsen, and hitting a shot that drew an excellent save out of Patrick Schulte. The quickness with which he found Brandon Vazquez after Farsi’s turnover was key to the American’s opening goal. He also had several nice turns under pressure in transition, adding to the threat that FC Cincinnati can pose going forward. He contributed the most xG of any player by far at 0.7 and was successful with three of his four take-ons.

However, it is the moments of sheer audacity when it is warranted, and his utter lack of concentration in simple moments throughout the game that will continue to define him until he gets it straightened out. He tried an ill-advised 52-yard shot in transition in the 24th minute, during a moment of the match where FCC needed a spell of possession. After one of his gorgeous turns in transition in the 29th minute, he left Rudy Camacho in his dust only to under-hit the through pass to Acosta to give it right back to Columbus. In all, he had five mistouches and passed at the lowest rate of any player to play in the match for either team, at 58.8 percent. Finally, and most damningly, he had no fewer than three opportunities to put the game to rest by scoring a third goal, not even counting the excellent Schulte save mentioned above.  First, he skied a shot over the bar from the top of the box in the 59th minute after a promising transition started by Yuya Kubo. Then, he strayed needlessly offside in the 67th minute when Vazquez nutmegged Camacho sending him in on goal. Finally, even though he did well to react first to a rebound on an Alvas Powell shot in the 69th minute, he couldn’t finish his first strike and the rebound off of Schulte struck his arm before ending up in the back of the net.

Considering how hard it is for players to succeed in MLS right away, I consider his five goals in just over 600 minutes to be an excellent return. If you remember how frustrating it was to see Lucho try to play hero ball all the time his first season, I trust Pat Noonan to get through to Boupendza and get him playing within the game model. I am nothing but optimistic about the Gabonese’s future with the Orange and Blue, even though I am supremely frustrated by his performance in this match.

ST – Brandon Vazquez – 6

Discussion of Brandon Vazquez’s performance has to start with him putting the home side ahead in the 14th minute. Despite not having the cleanest of touches on Boupendza’s cross, he was able to stay with the ball and finish to the back post out of sheer determination. He also had some other nice offensive moments, including a great run in the second minute of first-half stoppage that forced Moreira to foul him and created the set-piece that allowed Lucho to score FCC’s second. His match could have looked very different but for two mistakes from his teammates. He could have gotten an assist on FCC’s game-sealing goal had Boupendza not strayed offside in the 67th minute. Finally, his excellent headed finish in the 79th minute could have restored FCC’s two-goal lead but for Sean Zawadski baiting Mosquera into pushing him before flinging himself wildly to the ground.

However, those chances didn’t come to count on the scoresheet, and the big American also had a few rough spells in this match. He wasn’t the cleanest passer, including when he missed Lucho with a return pass in transition in the 28th minute when the Captain was busting a gut to get forward and create a chance. He had five mistouches and was dispossessed five times. Finally, even though he led FCC with 11 duels won, he also was near the top in duels lost with 11.

Brandon Vazquez has made no bones about the fact that he hopes to not be back in the Orange and Blue again. It’s not that he doesn’t love FCC, but that he hopes to get a European move this winter. I think he has the size and speed to make some European teams salivate at his prospects. His touch and passing have greatly improved over the last few seasons, and at 25 years of age, there is hope that he can continue to make strides. I don’t think he has “starter on a Champion’s League team” in his future, but he could certainly make a solid go of being a key player for a mid to low-tier team in a top-five league.

SUBS

Ray Gaddis (65th minute) – 6

Ray Gaddis did what Ray Gaddis does for 56 minutes in this match. He didn’t make a tackle but was well-positioned and defensively sound enough to log three blocks and an interception without getting dribbled. He also took care of the ball, passing at a 78.3 percent rate while not having a mistouch or a dispossession. However, he also didn’t add any value to the attack, failing to log a progressive pass and having his lone cross blocked by the first defender.

You could do much worse than Ray Gaddis as a backup defender in MLS. However, his limited upside means he has to be used only in matches where other players will carry the offensive load or where FCC is already holding a lead. Because he is, by all accounts, a great locker room guy, I think Ray will be around for another season unless he chooses to hang up his cleats.

Dominique Badji (73rd minute) – 6

Dom Badji had an excellent appearance as a substitute but for one missed chance. His poor first touch on a give-and-go in the 106th minute squandered any chance of him getting a shot off when he looked in on goal (see image below). Outside of that, he completed all but one pass, battled for 50/50 balls and worked hard defensively. The problem with Badji continues to be that he just isn’t much of a value-add off the bench outside of his incredible work rate. 

Badji won only three of his seven duels (2/5 ground and 1/2 aerial). Despite him basically playing as a midfielder for 40+ minutes due to Lucho’s cramping, he failed to log a tackle. Finally, he was not able to log a shot or a shot-creating action.

Dom Badji is a good kind of player to have around a team. He works tirelessly, has good athleticism and, by all accounts, is a good teammate. However, he doesn’t add enough when he comes onto the field to be a game-changing sub. Similar to Gaddis, Badji needs to only be played in certain matches, which makes him a tough player to keep on this roster.

Obinna Nwobodo (85th minute) – 6

Obinna Nwobodo’s low score is not his fault. He looked like a driver trying to win a race with a flat tire. I have to believe that Noonan put him into the match expecting his team to be able to close the door on the Crew in regulation. Despite Obi’s clear injury limitation, he still managed to log a tackle and an interception. He passed at a capable 80 percent rate and added four ball recoveries. He wasn’t able to help the team by progressing the ball, but overall it looked like he played as well as we could expect.

I don’t need to say anything about Obi’s prospects for next season. He is inarguably one of FC Cincinnati’s most important players. The question that I have is, can he turn his excellent ball-winning and defensive play into more chances going forward? If he can develop the ability to dribble forward and create or hit dangerous passes in transition after winning the ball, he has the ability to be one of the few defensive midfielders in the conversation for league MVP.

Sergio Santos and Marco Angulo (106th minute) – N/A

I’m not grading Sergio Santos and Marco Angulo on their overall play. Instead, these substitutes receive an “N/A” for not making any kind of impact despite being substitutes in an overtime period when the rest of their team was severely gassed. The players had a combined 11 touches. Even though Angulo completed all five of his passes, neither of these players recorded a progressive action or a progressive reception. Both players looked to me like they were running around aimlessly like fans who won the chance to take the field for their teams in some kind of charity game.

Both of these players will be back on the roster in 2024 unless FCC finds a way to sell, trade, or buy one of them out. Angulo is young, new to America and highly-rated. I am hopeful that, with a full off-season of coaching and integration he will be able to contribute more next season.

I struggle to find a scenario in which Santos plays meaningful minutes in the Orange and Blue. He has speed and athleticism, but his injury record means that he never has time to shake off his rust or round into any sort of form.

Availability Notes: Matt Miazga (suspension); Nick Hagglund (injury)

DEFINITIONS:

• xG – Expected goals (or xG) measures the quality of a chance by calculating the likelihood that it will be scored from a particular position on the pitch during a particular phase of play
• xA – Expected assist (or xA) is directly related to the xG of a shot that the pass creates.
• Post-Shot xG (PSxG) – Post-Shot xG is calculated after the shot has been taken, once it is known that the shot is on-target, taking into account the quality of the shot.
• Progressive Pass – A pass that advances toward the opponent’s goal where the distance between the starting point and the next touch is:
  • at least 30 meters closer to the opponent’s goal if the starting and finishing points are within a team’s own half
  • at least 15 meters closer to the opponent’s goal if the starting and finishing points are in different halves
  • at least 10 meters closer to the opponent’s goal if the starting and finishing points are in the opponent’s half
• Progressive Carry – Carries that move the ball toward the opponent’s goal at least 5 yards or any carry into the penalty area. Excludes carries from the defending 40% of the pitch.
• Dribble – Moving past the opposing player while maintaining possession of the ball. When a player shields the ball or otherwise uses physical strength to maintain possession, this is not a dribble.
• Key Pass – A pass that immediately creates a clear goal scoring opportunity for a teammate. A key pass does not have to lead to a shot, and thus is different than a shot-creating action.
• Long Pass – Definition depends on the site being used. Typically, a pass that travels a distance greater than 30 yards.
• Mistouch – When a player fails when trying to gain control of the ball without a defender earning a tackle or a ground duel.
• Ground Duel – A challenge between two players to gain control of the ball, progress with the ball, or change its direction.
• Dispossessed – The times a player loses control of the ball after a tackle from an opponent, not including attempted dribbles.
• Recovery – Any action that ends the possession of the opponent without the ball going out of bounds. Recoveries are typically duels (44%) or interceptions (16%), but can happen without any specific action from the player doing the recovery (positioning himself correctly or simply collecting the ball).

The post Player Ratings: FC Cincinnati 2, Columbus Crew 3 appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Highlights from this week’s show.

This week, Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte talk about FC Cincinnati’s heartbreaking defeat in the Eastern Conference Final. Did a lack of depth kill the team? What changes did Pat Noonan get wrong that could have made the difference?

The guys also ask whether or not Matt Miazga will draw the ire of referees in 2024, what can be learned from a match like that, and much more!

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The post It’s the Hope that Kills You appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Highlights from this week’s show.

This week, Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte talk about FC Cincinnati advancing to the Eastern Conference final with a 1-0 win over the Union of Philadelphia. How did the back line limit the Union’s attacking threats? How good were Ray Gaddis and Alvas Powell?

The guys also ask whether or not Aaron Boupendza needs to play a different style, what happened in the second half that made FCC struggle, and much more!

Follow Coach

On Twitter @FCCincyTacTalk

On Threads @FCCincyTacTalk

On Instagram @FCCincyTacTalk

Support Talking Tactics and CST!

Want to help the Talking Tactics Podcast grow? Leave a rating and a review! Want to help support Cincinnati Soccer Talk? Become a supporter today!

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The show’s RSS feed is https://fcctactalk.libsyn.com/rss

The post Reserves Rise to the Occasion for FCC appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Let’s look at where your favorite FCC players ranked for this match.

Check out Cincinnati Soccer Talk’s post-match report HERE for more details.

RULES:

• Each player starts off with a six 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 and statistics from websites like FB Ref, Who Scored and FOTMOB.
• All statistics used will be taken from fbref.com when possible.
• A player may receive a N/A if they are subbed on/off before any quantifiable statistics are available.

Expected Goals (xG): FC Cincinnati – 0.8, Philadelphia Union – 1, per mlssoccer.com

Formation: 3-5-2

Now, onto the ratings:

Manager – Pat Noonan – 7.5

The gaffer made his grade this week in preparation. Without three defensive starters at his disposal, he prepared Ray Gaddis, Alvas Powell and Yuya Kubo to be ready to step in and contribute. His team dominated the first half, pressing the Union and shutting them down defensively, even though FCC couldn’t quite find the breakthrough.

To start the second half, however, it looked to me like Philadelphia moved their line of confrontation forward. Noonan had clearly sent his team out to push the wingbacks high and play a bit more direct, but the Union’s altered game plan made this more difficult. He was a bit slow to adjust, but his team eventually figured it out and stayed plugged in enough to get away with the 1-0 victory.

GK – Roman Celentano – 7.5

Roman Celentano did everything asked of him in this match. His four saves only amounted to 0.6 PSxG, so he didn’t have to come up huge. That said, his save off Nathan Harriel’s 86th-minute shot was easy enough, but he got great distance on the punch, sending the ball well out of harm’s way.

Celentano also didn’t give the ball away as he has in the past. He wasn’t asked to contribute as much in possession, but when he had the ball at his feet he found a teammate every time, going a perfect 25 for 25. A solid score for a solid outing.

RWB –  Ray Gaddis – 8

Ray Gaddis had me the most worried of any player on the pitch. He has been incredibly efficient at times but has also struggled a bit this season keeping up with the pace of the match. He showed none of that against his former team on Saturday. 

Incredibly, Ray led the team with seven progressive passes and chipped in with three passes into the final third. He also achieved top marks in tackles (four) and blocks (five), while not being dribbled at all. For me, his night was encapsulated by a play at the 28-minute mark, when he did really well to use his body to nudge Dániel Gazdag off the ball and win it back in a moment when the Union looked to have sustained possession in the final third.

RCB – Alvas Powell – 8.5 (Man of the Match)

Maybe I’m grading on a curve here, but I couldn’t find a player that impressed me more than Alvas Powell. Offensively, he showed some real ability to carry the ball forward and break lines. In the ninth minute, he broke pressure and was fouled, setting up a set-piece opportunity. In the 11th minute, he avoided a tackle on the right touchline, moving the ball out of pressure and eventually leading to Damion Lowe’s yellow card challenge on Lucho Acosta. His fantastic pass in the 26th minute found Aaron Boupendza in space, leading to a Brandon Vazquez chance that was blocked for a corner. In the 72nd minute, he singlehandedly broke pressure on the dribble before finding Barreal open on the left flank, only to see the Argentinian have his cross blocked.

He was awesome on the defensive side of the ball as well. He got a vital touch on a ball in behind for Mikael Uhre, allowing Celentano to come and collect an otherwise very dangerous ball. He also had a last-ditch tackle to send the ball out for a corner when it looked like Uhre had gotten behind him on the dribble in the 31st minute. In all, he led the team by winning nine of ten ground duels and also drew seven fouls. He also tied for the team lead with 10 ball recoveries. If I hadn’t watched FCC play all year, I’d have assumed Powel was the day-in and day-out starter based on his performance in this match.

CB – Yerson Mosquera – 6.5

Yerson Mosquera had a solid, if unspectacular, match filling in for the suspended Matt Miazga. Playing in the center of a back three, his stats weren’t flashy. He ended the night with two tackles, a block and an interception. He was asked to track Gazdag as he roamed into midfield all night, and was on point enough to limit the Hungarian’s influence.

Mosquera didn’t make any big mistakes, and he seemed to do a good job keeping the defense organized around him. However, he was only able to win one of three aerial duels and was dispossessed twice.

 LCB – Ian Murphy – 6

Ian Murphy had some very nice moments in this match. His nice pass in the seventh minute sent Boupendza down the left channel, though Lowe was able to nudge the big Gabonese striker off the ball before he could get a shot away. Then, of course, his excellent cushioned header earned him the assist on Mosquera’s game-winning goal in second-half stoppage time. He was also solid defensively for the most part, ending the match with three blocks and an interception while not getting dribbled. On one play in the second half, he showed his speed by tracking Uhre all the way across the box in transition, then snuffed out the danger by making a great individual defensive play.

However, Murphy once again had some very nervy moments as well. Twice he was caught from behind and dispossessed. He was also credited with four mistouches, which led the team. Defensively, he managed to win seven of his 10 aerial duels but didn’t win a single ground duel. Hopefully, there was enough good in this match to give the youngster some confidence heading into a very tricky match against Columbus next week.

LWB – Álvaro Barreal – 6

Álvaro Barreal had a very quiet match by his standards. Amongst others, he had a really poor turnover in the 70th minute after Celentano rolled the ball out to him, keeping his team under sustained pressure when it looked like the counterattack might have been on. In all, he was credited with two mistouches.

Outside of his cross to Murphy that set up FCC’s goal, the young Argentinian also didn’t contribute much offensively either. He had zero key passes on the night. He got forward and pumped six crosses toward the box, but none of them found a target. Let’s hope that this was a rare off-night and not a sign of a long season wearing the youngster down.

DCM – Junior Moreno – 6

Junior Moreno was incredibly lively in this match, covering a ton of ground with his usual running mate, Obi Nwobodo, out due to injury. He ended the match with seven ball recoveries, two tackles, a block and an interception. 

Because of that liveliness, I thought he got pulled out of position at times as well. Perhaps he was over-eager, or perhaps he was overcompensating without Obi in the match, but either way, it looked like Yuya Kubo didn’t quite know where to go when Moreno tracked into his space.

DCM – Yuya Kubo – 7.5

Kubo did a more than adequate job filling in for the injured Nwobodo in this match. Offensively, he kept the ball moving quickly and even drove the ball forward on the dribble at times. He led the team with four progressive carries and two shot-creatin actions. In one nice moment in the 15th minute, he did really well to skip by a Harriel challenge before finding Boupendza at the top of the box, whose return pass didn’t have the quality needed to create a shot.

He wasn’t quite as comprehensive defensively, but still managed to tie for the team lead in ball recoveries with 10 while contributing three blocks. However, he only managed to win one of three ground duels and failed to record a tackle or an interception.

CAM – Luciano Acosta – 6

The newly named 2023 MLS MVP might not have been as effective or influential as he typically is on Saturday, but he did enough to help his team win. Despite passing at only 66 percent and turning the ball over in transition with some pretty terrible passes, Lucho still led the team with five shot-creating actions. Despite only having one key pass on the night, he still led the team with 0.3 xA. 

Where the captain really turned up the intensity for his team was on the defensive side of the ball, where he had two tackles and five ball recoveries. He also led the team with four fouls, which isn’t a bad thing for a player in his position. Overall, I’m happy that FCC won this game with their most important player not playing great. But, I’m worried that we haven’t seen Lucho play great in quite some time.

ST – Aaron Boupendza – 6.5

I have no idea what to make of Aaron Boupendza. He is clearly one of the most talented players on the pitch. He had a lovely flick off the touchline to send Acosta off and running in transition in the 60th minute. When he nicked the ball on the counter press in the 67th minute, he used some fancy footwork to draw a foul. Then, in the 81st minute, he used a lovely turn to play Vazquez down the right channel, though the American’s attempted cross was blocked. 

However, Boupendza also leaves me clutching my head on so many occasions. He wasted a chance to play a give-and-go with Kubo after the Japanese international made a really good run, popping the ball up harmlessly into the path of Andre Blake. He had a woeful pass in transition in the 32nd minute, giving the ball away when Acosta was wide open on the right side of the defense. In the 34th minute, he showed quality by spinning out of pressure in transition and carrying forward but elected to hit a shot from 33 yards instead of finding a teammate. The shot was well-hit and forced Blake to put it out for a corner, but would have had to be really special to beat the Jamaican goalkeeper. Overall, when a striker contributes three shots on target, five shot-creating actions, and six progressive receptions, I suppose we’ll all just have to live with the rest.

ST – Brandon Vazquez – 6

Brandon Vazquez does a lot of dirty work that he doesn’t get much credit for from the fanbase when he isn’t scoring. He led the team with seven progressive receptions. He also managed to win four of five aerial duels. However, he also has really struggled of late to make a big impact in key moments. 

Early in the match, Vazquez failed to make good contact with a bouncing ball in the box, allowing Blake to push it out for a corner kick. In the 27th minute, he elected to take an extra touch in the box, making his shot more difficult and allowing it to be blocked out for a corner when he might otherwise have scored. In all, he led the team with 0.4 xG despite not scoring and passed at only a 56 percent rate. Those are numbers I can live with when Acosta and Barreal are clicking, but leave me shaking my head when they aren’t.

SUBS

Dominique Badji (88th minute) – N/A

Marco Angulo (90th minute +8) – N/A

Availability Notes:

Suspension: Matt Miazga; Injury: Obinna Nwobodo

DEFINITIONS:

• xG – Expected goals (or xG) measures the quality of a chance by calculating the likelihood that it will be scored from a particular position on the pitch during a particular phase of play
• xA – Expected assist (or xA) is directly related to the xG of a shot that the pass creates.
• Post-Shot xG (PSxG) – Post-Shot xG is calculated after the shot has been taken, once it is known that the shot is on-target, taking into account the quality of the shot.
• Progressive Pass – A pass that advances toward the opponent’s goal where the distance between the starting point and the next touch is:
  • at least 30 meters closer to the opponent’s goal if the starting and finishing points are within a team’s own half
  • at least 15 meters closer to the opponent’s goal if the starting and finishing points are in different halves
  • at least 10 meters closer to the opponent’s goal if the starting and finishing points are in the opponent’s half
• Progressive Carry – Carries that move the ball toward the opponent’s goal at least 5 yards or any carry into the penalty area. Excludes carries from the defending 40% of the pitch.
• Dribble – Moving past the opposing player while maintaining possession of the ball. When a player shields the ball or otherwise uses physical strength to maintain possession, this is not a dribble.
• Key Pass – A pass that immediately creates a clear goal scoring opportunity for a teammate. A key pass does not have to lead to a shot, and thus is different than a shot-creating action.
• Long Pass – Definition depends on the site being used. Typically, a pass that travels a distance greater than 30 yards.
• Mistouch – When a player fails when trying to gain control of the ball without a defender earning a tackle or a ground duel.
• Ground Duel – A challenge between two players to gain control of the ball, progress with the ball, or change its direction.
• Dispossessed – The times a player loses control of the ball after a tackle from an opponent, not including attempted dribbles.
• Recovery – Any action that ends the possession of the opponent without the ball going out of bounds. Recoveries are typically duels (44%) or interceptions (16%), but can happen without any specific action from the player doing the recovery (positioning himself correctly or simply collecting the ball).

The post Player Ratings: FC Cincinnati 1, Philadelphia Union 0 appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Highlights from this week’s show.

This week, Coach Gough is joined by Bryan Weigel as they record a special episode of Talking Tactics LIVE. How will the long break affect FC Cincinnati and the Philadelphia Union? Which team will be hurt more by injuries and suspensions?

The guys also ask the question as to who should replace Matt Miazga in the lineup, what they keys are to the FCC press and press break, and much more!

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The post Who Replaces Matt Miazga? appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.