Scouting Report: FC Cincinnati

Likely starting 11

After the 4-0 defeat to Columbus Jaap Stam (still feels weird to say) shuffled things on the backline and in midfield. Now it appears he has opted for a backline of three with wing backs Andrew Gutman and Joe Gyau bombing forward. Kendall Waston is as experienced as almost anybody in MLS and has anchored their backline since joining the club. The Costa Rican is no stranger to Timbers supporters having played in Vancouver for a large part of his career.

Joining him on the backline are Tom Petterson, a center back on loan from Swedish club Ostersunds FK and Mathieu Deplagne, a Frenchman who has been with the club since 2018.

Andrew Gutman was a standout left back at Indiana University who astonishingly, scores 11 goals his senior season even though he was a left back. After completing all four years of college, he signed with Scottish giants Celtic but has since been loaned out to USL side Charlotte Independence and now Cincinnati.

On the other side of defense is Joe Gyau. A 27-year-old American who has spent his entire career in Germany before moving to Cincinnati. Having played as a striker for most of his career, he likes to get forward more than he likes to defend...

In midfield, experienced player Siem De Jong has been dropped in favor of Bosnian Haris Medunjanin. Also, Kekuta Manneh started their first game against Columbus but was subbed in the 53rd minute and hasn’t seen the field of ever since.

Partnering Medunjanin in midfield is rookie Frankie Amaya, fresh from being drafted first overall from UCLA. He scored the first goal of his career with a 20 yard bender against Atlanta which would prove to be the game-winner. Then there’s Caleb Stanko. Another American who spent the first part of his career in Germany.

In attack, Cincinnati will be missing Jürgen Locadia through injury but Japanese striker Yuya Kubo will be the most dangerous man for the blue and orange. Beside him we should see Adrien Regattin, another French player who has been a bit of a travelsman.

One thing is for certain, the attack of Cincinnati, on paper at least, is not nearly as potent as Portland’s. If we stick to whatever game plan Gio has, we should be through to the quarters in a few hours time!