FC Cincinnati earned a point and another clean sheet in Saturday night’s latest edition of the #HellisReal Derby: a scoreless draw against Columbus Crew SC at Nippert Stadium.
It was a display that saw FCC play well defensively, but also create the match’s best scoring opportunity. Here are the takeaways from the derby:
Stam: “We make progress”
The Orange and Blue entered this match four days after an “eye opening” 3-0 loss at Chicago Fire FC. After weeks of positive performances – and Frankie Amaya saying it felt like a 2019 game – was the loss an outlier or the new normal?
It appears to be the former.
FCC responded to the Fire loss by earning a third clean sheet in their last four league matches. More impressively, Cincinnati rallied from a disappointing 4-0 loss to Columbus in July to a match that saw the Orange and Blue nearly grab the game winner in the 53rd minute when Eloy Room’s spectacular save denied Maikel van der Werff.
“We make progress and we know it as well,” head coach Jaap Stam said following the draw. “We had a couple of moments as well that were very close. That is very positive and sometimes people say you have to defend. You’re defending, but sometimes you have to defend to make that next step going forward to attack.
“At least, we’ve got a point, which is very good, against a very good side. It’s a very good thing. I think everybody can be happy with that.”
When Cincinnati first played Columbus on July 11 in the MLS is Back Tournament, the Crew resembled a well-oiled machine that knew the sum of its parts and its qualities. That was Stam’s debut and the match arrived three weeks after he met his team in person.
Seven weeks removed from that lopsided affair, FCC now have a style, a preferred playing system and an important trait: keeping opponent’s scoreless.
“We’re hard to beat,” said Stam.
FCC started the match lively and in control
The club’s two previous matches saw the Orange and Blue slowly work their way into the game.
Against D.C. United in the home opener, that meant building toward Jürgen Locadia hitting the post in the 84th minute. Against Chicago, FCC were always a step behind – and two goals behind – after 10 minutes.
That wasn’t the case against Columbus, when Cincinnati sat deep defensively, but comfortably worked the ball forward.
“In the first half we had a lot more possession,” Stam said. “We could go forward a lot more. We try to keep that up, of course, but we need to be realistic as well. You’re playing against a very good side as well, very good players. For us, a very important thing is to close it down, not give too many opportunities or goals and then try to go forward and pick that goal. Unfortunately, we couldn’t score, although we were very close and the goalie made a fantastic save.”
FCC have an identity they’re comfortable playing
The performances between this #HellisReal Derby and the meeting in July couldn’t be more opposite.
When they last met, FC Cincinnati played well before finding themselves down multiple goals and uncertain how to continue moving forward. The response was adding another defender into a backline.
The progress can’t be understated. The newfound 5-3-2 gave stability to a side that leaked nine goals from their first three 2020 league games. Since, they’ve earned a clean sheet in three of their last four MLS matches.
“It’s important to get clean sheets, especially for a defender,” Maikel van der Werff said. “It gives you confidence, and for the goalkeeper, and of course, for all the other guys on the team, but especially for defenders. It feels good. That’s what we’re trying to do, and what we’re saying to each other when we start the game. ‘Let’s go for the clean sheet and let’s score and make the goals,’ and then we all do our job.”
What’s more important than just the results, though, is that the players are embracing their new playing style.
When Stam arrived, Joseph-Claude Gyau was one of the coach’s key attacking pieces – a winger with explosive speed and impressive dribbling ability in the final third. However, he’s been the addition to the back five and already looks like an experienced wingback – not someone who’s played in that role only a handful of times.
“When we have the ball on offense, my job is to give the team width and some depth also and be dangerous on the wings,” Gyau said. “When we don’t have the ball, on defense my job is to guard their winger and guard their wing back. I definitely take pride in not letting anything come through on my side.
“It’s been a cool transition to go from more of a playing further up the pitch and now I am playing a bit deeper, but it’s good. I have the game in front of me and am enjoying the transition.”
What comes next
The Orange and Blue are officially halfway through “Phase One” of MLS’ continuation of the regular season.
FC Cincinnati will return to Nippert Stadium on Wednesday night when they host Chicago Fire FC. That match will be the second time the clubs meet in eight days after FCC lost, 3-0, this past Tuesday at Soldier Field.
As for the #HellisReal Derby, the rivalry returns next Sunday when the Orange and Blue play at MAPFRE Stadium. The clubs drew, 2-2, in the last matchup in Columbus with goals from Darren Mattocks and Emmanuel Ledesma.
