2020 FC Cincinnati season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
General managerGerard Nijkamp
Head coachJaap Stam
StadiumNippert Stadium
MLSConference: 12th
Overall: 26th
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) | ||
|
| |||
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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 |  Rey Ortiz |
Forward | Portland | |
| 3 | 53 |  Joris Ahlinvi |
Midfielder | Indiana | From Inter Miami FC, did not sign |
Player movement
In
| Number | Position | Player | Transferred from | Fee/notes | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | FW |  Brandon Vazquez | Nashville SC | $150K in TAM | November 20, 2019 | [8] |
| 6 | MF |  Haris Medunjanin | Philadelphia Union | Selected #1 in 2019 MLS Waiver Draft | November 25, 2019 | [9][10] |
| 12 | DF | Saad Abdul-Salaam | Seattle Sounders FC | Selected #1 in Stage 2 of 2019 MLS Re-Entry Draft | December 3, 2019 | [11] |
| 16 | DF | Zico Bailey | LA Galaxy | Fourth-round 2020 MLS SuperDraft pick | December 12, 2019 | [12] |
| 3 | DF |  Tom Pettersson | Östersunds FK | Free transfer | December 17, 2019 | [13] |
| 7 | FW |  Yuya Kubo |  K.A.A. Gent | Transfer | January 9, 2020 | [14] |
| 1 | GK | Bobby Edwards |  Portadown FC | Free transfer | January 20, 2020 | [15] |
| 9 | MF |  Adrien Regattin |  Akhisar Belediyespor | Free transfer | February 5, 2020 | [16] |
| 11 | MF |  Siem de Jong | Ajax | Free transfer | February 20, 2020 | [17] |
| 15 | MF |  Kamohelo Mokotjo |  Brentford FC | Free transfer | August 20, 2020 | [18] |
| 31 | MF/FW |  Álvaro Barreal | Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield | Transfer | September 2, 2020 | [19] |
Out
| Date | Number | Position | Player | Transferred to | Fee/notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2019 | 7 | MF | Roland Lamah | Option declined | [20] | |
| October 9, 2019 | 19 | MF | Corben Bone | Louisville City FC | Option declined | [20][21] |
| October 9, 2019 | 32 | DF |  Justin Hoyte | Option declined | [20] | |
| October 9, 2019 | 5 | MF |  Nazmi Albadawi | North Carolina FC | Option declined | [20][22] |
| November 11, 2019 | 8 | MF | Víctor Ulloa | Inter Miami CF | $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 | Forrest Lasso | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Option declined | [24][25] |
| November 14, 2019 | 16 | MF |  Derrick Etienne Jr. | Columbus Crew | Option declined | [24] |
| November 19, 2019 | 92 | DF |  Alvas Powell | Inter Miami CF | Selected #3 in 2019 MLS Expansion Draft, $50K in GAM | [26] |
| January 13, 2020 | 6 | MF |  Leonardo Bertone | FC Thun | Undisclosed | [27] |
| January 18, 2020 | 9 | FW |  Fanendo Adi | Columbus Crew | Waived | [28] |
| January 18, 2020 | 13 | GK | Jimmy Hague | Memphis 901 FC | Waived | [28] |
| January 18, 2020 | 45 | MF | Emmanuel Ledesma |  SJK | Waived | [28][29] |
| January 29, 2020 | 21 | DF | Logan Gdula | Charleston Battery | Waived | [30] |
| August 17, 2020 | 31 | FW |  Kekuta Manneh | New England Revolution | Trade; received international roster slot | [31] |
| August 17, 2020 | 27 | MF | Fatai Alashe | Columbus Crew | Trade; acquired 2021 MLS SuperDraft second-round selection | [32] |
| September 11, 2020 | 9 | FW | Adrien Regattin | Altay | Mutually agreed to part ways | [33][34] |
Loans in
| Number | Position | Player | Loaned from | Loan start date | Loan end date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | FW | Jürgen Locadia | Brighton & Hove Albion | February 3, 2020 | July 30, 2021 | [35][36] |
| 21 | FW |  Franko Kovačević |  TSG 1899 Hoffenheim II | October 12, 2020 | June 30, 2021 | [37] |
Loans out
| Number | Position | Player | Loaned to | Loan start date | Loan end date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | GK | Ben Lundt | Louisville City FC | January 21, 2020 | November 30, 2020 | [38] |
| 47 | DF |  Hassan Ndam | Miami FC | February 1, 2020 | End of season | [39] |
| 25 | MF | Rey Ortiz | Charlotte Independence | February 28, 2020 | November 30, 2020 | [40] |
| 81 | FW | Rashawn Dally | Las Vegas Lights FC | July 2, 2020 | End of season | [41] |
| 16 | MF | Tommy McCabe | Memphis 901 FC | 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  22' (Ortiz)Gutman 42' (Ortiz)Gyau 53' |
Stadium: Kino Sports Complex |
| February 1, 2020 Preseason | FC Cincinnati | 0–4 | Sporting Kansas City | Casa Grande, Arizona |
| 1:00 p.m. EDT | Gyau  55'Stanko 62' |
Report | Sallói 11' (Lindsey), 27' Espinoza 44'Harris 65'Busio 80'Russell 82' (Harris) |
Stadium: Grande Sports World |
| February 5, 2020 Preseason | FC Cincinnati | 1–0 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Tucson, Arizona |
| 5:00 p.m. EDT | Alashe 81' |
Report | Makinde 24' Zola 71' |
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 61' |
Report | Maher 20' Ríos 64'Jones 83' (pen.) |
Stadium: IMG Soccer Complex |
| February 21, 2020 Preseason | FC Cincinnati | 3–3 | KR Reykjavik | Bradenton, Florida |
| 12:00 p.m. EDT | Cruz 12', 55' McLaughlin 28' |
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 |
Source: MLS
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.
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 |
Source: MLS[43]
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 |
Source: MLS
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.
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 16' Kaku 27'White 30'Royer 70'Cásseres 89' |
Report | Cruz 46' Locadia 83' |
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 21' Hyndman 55'Rossetto 75' |
Report | Waston 4' Garza 34'Amaya 53'Kubo 64'Cruz 89' |
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 12'  26' Barco 43' Escobar 88' Robinson 90+5' Williams  90+10' |
Report | Deplagne 48' Amaya 76', 86' Stanko 90+12' |
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 39' Kubo 43' Valot 57' (o.g.) |
Report | Pendant 60' |
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 13' Stanko 37' |
Report | Canouse 35' Flores 88' Abu 90+1' |
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 2' Medrán 10', 61' Aliseda 67' |
Report | Pettersson 36' Amaya 63' |
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 4' Gyau 11' Kubo 89' |
Report | Artur 43' Williams 74' |
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 90+6' |
Report | Bornstein 90+7' |
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 52' Zardes 64', 71', 82' |
Report | Amaya 39' van der Werff 70' Waston 90' |
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 39' Tinnerholm 55' Sands 78' Chanot 84' |
Report | Waston 52' Vázquez 74' Deplagne 90+5' |
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 8' Nealis 22' Cásseres Jr. 55' |
Report | Medunjanin 85' Stanko 90+2' |
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 19' Waston 47' Medunjanin 63' Amaya 90+3' |
Report | Bedoya 59' Przybylko 79' |
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 1', 43' Tinnerholm 25'Callens 34'Matarrita 61'Castellanos 78'Medina 88' |
Report | Waston 64' Medunjanin 71' |
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 16' (pen.) Gasper 50' Molino 69' Lod 76' |
Report | Deplagne 15' Cruz 47' |
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 40', 73' Ilsinho 59'McKenzie 66'Elliott 80'Mbaizo 90+3' |
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 66' Hagglund 67' |
Report | Gonzalez 9' Osorio 21'Mullins 29'Ciman 72' |
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 7' Kubo 17' (pen.)Hagglund 49' |
Report | Alashe 31' Mensah 37'Santos 45' (pen.)Boateng 45+2'Morris 90+3' |
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 66' |
Report | Asad 27' Nyeman 32' Pines 36' Odoi-Atsem 78', 90+3' |
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 81' |
Report | Alonso 66' Gasper 82'Schoenfeld 90+2' |
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  63' |
Report | Espinoza 57' Punčec 60' |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Referee: David Gantar |
| November 1, 2020 22 | Atlanta United FC | 2–0 | FC Cincinnati | Atlanta, Georgia |
| 7:00 PM EST | Jahn 8', 22' Moreno 26' (pen.) |
Report | Amaya 45+3' Gutman 90+3' |
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 19' Pirez 23'Reyes 62' 88' |
Report | Gyau 4', 66' Hagglund 21' |
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 18' Villafaña 29' Niezgoda 67' |
Report | 30' Gutman 46' Gyau 81' (pen.) Locadia 90' Alashe |
Stadium: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Attendance: closed match Referee: Armando Villarreal |
| Penalties | ||||
Valeri  Mora Blanco Niezgoda |
de Jong Cruz Locadia Waston |
|||
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]