Head Coach Alan Koch made a season-high six changes to the FC Cincinnati starting lineup ahead of Wednesday night’s match at the Philadelphia Union.
Up front, Darren Mattocks and Allan Cruz replace Emmanuel Ledesma and Kenny Saief. In the midfield, Eric Alexander and Caleb Stanko are in for Victor Ulloa and Kekuta Manneh. Defensively, Alvas Powell will play for Justin Hoyte, while Spencer Richey returns to goalkeeper for Przemysław Tytoń.
Mathieu Deplagne will play left back – where Hoyte played last match – and Alvas Powell will drop in at right back.
In terms of the midfielders, Cincinnati will have one holding mid: Alexander. Bertone and Stanko will play in a more advanced position.
About those changes
Alexander returns to the starting lineup for the first time since the season opener in Seattle. Then, he played as a right midfielder. He’ll play centrally against Philadelphia, which is his natural position.
Stanko also makes his second start this season. His last was the April 13 match at LAFC.
All told, four players who started for Cincinnati against Real Salt Lake on April 19 start once more after being substitutes this past Saturday at New York Red Bulls: Powell, Richey, Mattocks and Cruz.
Notes from the bench
Koch has a duo of attacking options to choose from with Ledesma and Manneh on the bench.
The others are Fatai Alashe, Hoyte, Tytoń, Lasso and Ulloa.
Greg Garza (calf) and Corben Bone (shoulder) are in Cincinnati recovering from injuries.
Fanendo Adi (ankle) is not fully sharp to play, while Saief (leg) picked up a knock in training on Tuesday and is day-to-day. Neither are in the 18.
