2020 FC Cincinnati season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Overall: 26th
| 2020 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| General manager | Gerard Nijkamp | ||
| Head coach | Jaap Stam | ||
| Stadium | Nippert Stadium | ||
| MLS | Conference: 12th Overall: 26th | ||
| MLS Cup Playoffs | Did not qualify | ||
| U.S. Open Cup | Cancelled | ||
| MLS is Back Tournament | Round of 16 | ||
| Biggest win | 2–0 (July 22 vs. RBNY) | ||
| Biggest defeat | 0–4 (July 11 vs. Columbus) (Sep 26 vs. NYCFC) | ||
|
| |||

The 2020 FC Cincinnati season was the club's second season in MLS, and the fifth season of a team playing under the FC Cincinnati brand after three years in the lower-division USL Championship. The club finished with a league worst 6–22–6 record in their inaugural MLS season in 2019, setting a league record for the most goals given up with 75.[1] The 2020 season was the final year that FC Cincinnati played home matches at Nippert Stadium, as their new West End Stadium is scheduled to open in March 2021.[2]
FC Cincinnati's offseason transfers and preseason training were executed under head coach Ron Jans. However, Jans resigned on February 17, amidst an investigation into his alleged use of a racial slur. Assistant coach Yoann Damet took over as interim head coach two weeks before FC Cincinnati's first regular season match.[3] On May 21, 2020, Jaap Stam was named head coach—the fourth in the team's history.[4] Said Bakkati, who had worked on Stam's staff in the past, was also named new assistant coach.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MLS suspended play after two weeks in March and resumed with the MLS is Back Tournament four months later. The tournament was played within a bio-secure bubble near Orlando, Florida, and was followed by the resumption of the regular season with a modified schedule to reduce travel.[5] FC Cincinnati played all of their home matches behind closed doors with no public spectators in attendance.[6]
Roster
- As of November 9, 2020[7]
2020 MLS SuperDraft picks
| Round | Pick # | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 29 | Forward | Portland | ||
| 3 | 53 | Midfielder | Indiana | From Inter Miami FC, did not sign |
Player movement
In
| Number | Position | Player | Transferred from | Fee/notes | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | FW | $150K in TAM | November 20, 2019 | [8] | ||
| 6 | MF | Selected #1 in 2019 MLS Waiver Draft | November 25, 2019 | [9][10] | ||
| 12 | DF | Selected #1 in Stage 2 of 2019 MLS Re-Entry Draft | December 3, 2019 | [11] | ||
| 16 | DF | Fourth-round 2020 MLS SuperDraft pick | December 12, 2019 | [12] | ||
| 3 | DF | Free transfer | December 17, 2019 | [13] | ||
| 7 | FW | Transfer | January 9, 2020 | [14] | ||
| 1 | GK | Free transfer | January 20, 2020 | [15] | ||
| 9 | MF | Free transfer | February 5, 2020 | [16] | ||
| 11 | MF | Free transfer | February 20, 2020 | [17] | ||
| 15 | MF | Free transfer | August 20, 2020 | [18] | ||
| 31 | MF/FW | Transfer | September 2, 2020 | [19] |
Out
| Date | Number | Position | Player | Transferred to | Fee/notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2019 | 7 | MF | Option declined | [20] | ||
| October 9, 2019 | 19 | MF | Option declined | [20][21] | ||
| October 9, 2019 | 32 | DF | Option declined | [20] | ||
| October 9, 2019 | 5 | MF | Option declined | [20][22] | ||
| November 11, 2019 | 8 | MF | $50K in GAM, a 2020 SuperDraft third-round selection, 26th pick of the 2019 Re-Entry Draft (Stage 1) | [23] | ||
| November 14, 2019 | 3 | DF | Option declined | [24][25] | ||
| November 14, 2019 | 16 | MF | Option declined | [24] | ||
| November 19, 2019 | 92 | DF | Selected #3 in 2019 MLS Expansion Draft, $50K in GAM | [26] | ||
| January 13, 2020 | 6 | MF | Undisclosed | [27] | ||
| January 18, 2020 | 9 | FW | Waived | [28] | ||
| January 18, 2020 | 13 | GK | Waived | [28] | ||
| January 18, 2020 | 45 | MF | Waived | [28][29] | ||
| January 29, 2020 | 21 | DF | Waived | [30] | ||
| August 17, 2020 | 31 | FW | Trade; received international roster slot | [31] | ||
| August 17, 2020 | 27 | MF | Trade; acquired 2021 MLS SuperDraft second-round selection | [32] | ||
| September 11, 2020 | 9 | FW | Mutually agreed to part ways | [33][34] |
Loans in
| Number | Position | Player | Loaned from | Loan start date | Loan end date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | FW | February 3, 2020 | July 30, 2021 | [35][36] | ||
| 21 | FW | October 12, 2020 | June 30, 2021 | [37] |
Loans out
| Number | Position | Player | Loaned to | Loan start date | Loan end date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | GK | January 21, 2020 | November 30, 2020 | [38] | ||
| 47 | DF | February 1, 2020 | End of season | [39] | ||
| 25 | MF | February 28, 2020 | November 30, 2020 | [40] | ||
| 81 | FW | July 2, 2020 | End of season | [41] | ||
| 16 | MF | August 28, 2020 | End of season | [42] | ||
Competitions
Win Draw Loss
Preseason
| January 29, 2020 Preseason | Phoenix Rising FC | 0–3 | FC Cincinnati | Tucson, Arizona |
| 5:00 p.m. EDT | Report | McCabe Gutman Gyau |
Stadium: Kino Sports Complex |
| February 1, 2020 Preseason | FC Cincinnati | 0–4 | Sporting Kansas City | Casa Grande, Arizona |
| 1:00 p.m. EDT | Gyau Stanko |
Report | Sallói Espinoza Harris Busio Russell |
Stadium: Grande Sports World |
| February 5, 2020 Preseason | FC Cincinnati | 1–0 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Tucson, Arizona |
| 5:00 p.m. EDT | Alashe |
Report | Makinde Zola |
Stadium: Kino Sports Complex |
| February 12, 2020 Preseason | FC Cincinnati | 1–0 | Philadelphia Union | Bradenton, Florida |
| 4:00 p.m. EDT | Report Report |
Stadium: IMG Soccer Complex |
| February 16, 2020 Preseason | FC Cincinnati | 1–3 | Nashville SC | Bradenton, Florida |
| 6:00 p.m. EDT | Amaya |
Report | Maher Ríos Jones |
Stadium: IMG Soccer Complex |
| February 21, 2020 Preseason | FC Cincinnati | 3–3 | KR Reykjavik | Bradenton, Florida |
| 12:00 p.m. EDT | Cruz McLaughlin |
Report | Stadium: IMG Soccer Complex |
Major League Soccer
League tables
Eastern Conference
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Inter Miami CF | 23 | 7 | 13 | 3 | 25 | 35 | −10 | 24 | 1.04 | MLS Cup Play-in Round |
| 11 | Chicago Fire FC | 23 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 33 | 39 | −6 | 23 | 1.00 | |
| 12 | Atlanta United FC | 23 | 6 | 13 | 4 | 23 | 30 | −7 | 22 | 0.96 | |
| 13 | D.C. United | 23 | 5 | 12 | 6 | 25 | 41 | −16 | 21 | 0.91 | |
| 14 | FC Cincinnati | 23 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 12 | 36 | −24 | 16 | 0.70 |
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) total wins per match played; 3) total goal differential per match played; 4) total goals scored per match played; 5) fewest disciplinary points per match played; 6) away goal differential per away match played; 7) away goals scored per away match played; 8) home goal differential per home match played; 9) home goals scored per home match played; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots.
MLS is Back – Group E
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus Crew SC | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 9 | Advanced to knockout stage |
| 2 | FC Cincinnati | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 6 | |
| 3 | New York Red Bulls | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 3 | |
| 4 | Atlanta United | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 0 |
Overall
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Chicago Fire FC | 23 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 33 | 39 | −6 | 23 | 1.00 | |
| 23 | Atlanta United FC | 23 | 6 | 13 | 4 | 23 | 30 | −7 | 22 | 0.96 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 24 | D.C. United | 23 | 5 | 12 | 6 | 25 | 41 | −16 | 21 | 0.91 | |
| 25 | Houston Dynamo | 23 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 30 | 40 | −10 | 21 | 0.91 | |
| 26 | FC Cincinnati | 23 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 12 | 36 | −24 | 16 | 0.70 |
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) total wins per match played; 3) total goal differential per match played; 4) total goals scored per match played; 5) fewest disciplinary points per match played; 6) away goal differential per away match played; 7) away goals scored per away match played; 8) home goal differential per home match played; 9) home goals scored per home match played; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots.
Results
| March 1, 2020 1 | New York Red Bulls | 3–2 | FC Cincinnati | Harrison, New Jersey |
| 1:00 p.m. EST | Duncan Kaku White Royer Cásseres |
Report | Cruz Locadia |
Stadium: Red Bull Arena Attendance: 15,703 Referee: David Gantar |
| March 7, 2020 2 | Atlanta United FC | 2–1 | FC Cincinnati | Atlanta, Georgia |
| 7:00 p.m. EST | Barco Hyndman Rossetto |
Report | Waston Garza Amaya Kubo Cruz |
Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium Attendance: 69,301 Referee: Robert Sibiga |
| July 11, 2020 3 MLSiBT GS | FC Cincinnati | 0–4 | Columbus Crew SC | Bay Lake, Florida |
| 10:30 p.m. EST | Report | Stadium: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Attendance: 0 (closed door) Referee: Ismail Elfath |
| July 16, 2020 4 MLSiBT GS | Atlanta United FC | 0–1 | FC Cincinnati | Bay Lake, Florida |
| 9:00 a.m. EST | Mulraney Barco Escobar Robinson Williams |
Report | Deplagne Amaya Stanko |
Stadium: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Attendance: 0 (closed door) Referee: Victor Rivas |
| Note: MLS is Back Tournament Group stage matches will count toward the MLS Regular Season Standings[citation needed] | ||||
| July 22, 2020 5 MLSiBT GS | FC Cincinnati | 2–0 | New York Red Bulls | Bay Lake, Florida |
| 8:00 p.m. EST | Deplagne Kubo Valot |
Report | Pendant |
Stadium: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Attendance: 0 (closed door) Referee: Marcos de Oliveira |
| August 21, 2020 6 | FC Cincinnati | 0–0 | D.C. United | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 7:30 p.m. EST | Deplagne Stanko |
Report | Canouse Flores Abu |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 0 (closed door) Referee: Rubiel Vazquez |
| August 25, 2020 7 | Chicago Fire FC | 3–0 | FC Cincinnati | Chicago, Illinois |
| 7:30 p.m. EST | Herbers Medrán Aliseda |
Report | Pettersson Amaya |
Stadium: Soldier Field Referee: Elton García |
| August 29, 2020 8 | FC Cincinnati | 0–0 | Columbus Crew SC | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 7:30 p.m. EST | van der Werff Gyau Kubo |
Report | Artur Williams |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Referee: Ted Unkel |
| September 2, 2020 9 | FC Cincinnati | 0–0 | Chicago Fire FC | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 7:30 p.m. EST | Deplagne |
Report | Bornstein |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Referee: Marcos de Oliveira |
| September 6, 2020 10 | Columbus Crew SC | 3–0 | FC Cincinnati | Columbus, Ohio |
| 7:30 p.m. EST | Santos Zardes |
Report | Amaya van der Werff Waston |
Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Guido Gonzales, Jr. |
| September 12, 2020 11 | New York City FC | 2–1 | FC Cincinnati | Harrison, New Jersey |
| 7:00 p.m. EST | Ring Tinnerholm Sands Chanot |
Report | Waston Vázquez Deplagne |
Stadium: Red Bull Arena Referee: Rubiel Vazquez |
| September 19, 2020 12 | New York Red Bulls | 0–1 | FC Cincinnati | Harrison, New Jersey |
| 7:00 p.m. EST | Long Nealis Cásseres Jr. |
Report | Medunjanin Stanko |
Stadium: Red Bull Arena Referee: Robert Sibiga |
| September 23, 2020 13 | FC Cincinnati | 0–0 | Philadelphia Union | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 7:30 p.m. EST | Gyau Waston Medunjanin Amaya |
Report | Bedoya Przybylko |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Referee: Guido Gonzales, Jr. |
| September 26, 2020 14 | New York City FC | 4–0 | FC Cincinnati | Harrison, New Jersey |
| 7:00 p.m. EST | Mitriță Tinnerholm Callens Matarrita Castellanos Medina |
Report | Waston Medunjanin |
Stadium: Red Bull Arena Referee: Armando Villarreal |
| October 3, 2020 15 | Minnesota United FC | 2–0 | FC Cincinnati | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| 8:00 p.m. EST | Kamara Gasper Molino Lod |
Report | Deplagne Cruz |
Stadium: Allianz Field Referee: Marcos de Oliveira |
| October 7, 2020 16 | Philadelphia Union | 3–0 | FC Cincinnati | Chester, Pennsylvania |
| 7:30 p.m. EST | Bedoya Ilsinho McKenzie Elliott Mbaizo |
Report | Stadium: Subaru Park Referee: Jon Freemon |
| October 11, 2020 17 | FC Cincinnati | 0–1 | Toronto FC | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 7:30 p.m. EST | Gutman Hagglund |
Report | Gonzalez Osorio Mullins Ciman |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Referee: Robert Sibiga |
| October 14, 2020 18 | FC Cincinnati | 2–1 | Columbus Crew SC | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 7:30 p.m. EST | Gutman Kubo Hagglund |
Report | Alashe Mensah Santos Boateng Morris |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Referee: Rubiel Vazquez |
| October 18, 2020 19 | FC Cincinnati | 1–2 | D.C. United | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 7:30 p.m. EST | Vázquez |
Report | Asad Nyeman Pines Odoi-Atsem |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Referee: Rosendo Mendoza |
| October 24, 2020 20 | FC Cincinnati | 0–1 | Minnesota United FC | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 7:30 p.m. EST | Bailey |
Report | Alonso Gasper Schoenfeld |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Referee: Malik Badawi |
| October 28, 2020 21 | FC Cincinnati | 0–1 | Sporting Kansas City | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 7:30 p.m. EST | de Jong |
Report | Espinoza Punčec |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Referee: David Gantar |
| November 1, 2020 22 | Atlanta United FC | 2–0 | FC Cincinnati | Atlanta, Georgia |
| 7:00 PM EST | Jahn Moreno |
Report | Amaya Gutman |
Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium Referee: Alan Kelly |
| November 8, 2020 23 | Inter Miami CF | 2–1 | FC Cincinnati | Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| 3:30 p.m. EST | Ambrose Pirez Reyes |
Report | Gyau Hagglund |
Stadium: Inter Miami CF Stadium Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr. |
MLS is Back Tournament
| July 28, 2020 Round of 16 | Portland Timbers | 1–1 (4–2 p) | FC Cincinnati | Orlando, Florida |
| 19:30 PST | Blanco Villafaña Niezgoda |
Report | Stadium: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Attendance: closed match Referee: Armando Villarreal | |
| Penalties | ||||
| Valeri Mora Blanco Niezgoda |
||||
U.S. Open Cup
Due to their final position in the 2019 MLS standings, FC Cincinnati would enter the competition in the Third Round, which was scheduled for April 19–21. However, the tournament was suspended and eventually cancelled on August 17, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[45]