BRADENTON, Fla. – FC Cincinnati defeated the Colorado Rapids, 1-0, today at the IMG Academy Soccer Complex. Forrest Lasso scored the lone goal of the match as the Orange and Blue kept their first clean sheet of preseason. The match was FC Cincinnati’s second preseason game of the 2019 Major League Soccer Preseason presented by Advocare.
After both sides traded chances in a scoreless first half, FCC opened the scoring in the 59th minute of the match. From the corner flag, Nazmi Albadawi sent a cross into the 18-yard box which met the head of a leaping Hassan Ndam. Ndam headed the ball back across the six-yard box, where Lasso cleaned up the attempt with a header of his own at the far post to beat Colorado goalkeeper Andre Rawls and give Cincinnati the lead.
FC Cincinnati’s first threatening opportunity came in the 14th minute. After Alvas Powell dribbled up the pitch and was fouled atop the 18-yard box, Emmanuel Ledesma curled a free kick to the inside of the near post. However, Tim Howard made the diving save to keep the scoreline level.
The match took a turn when Kendall Waston was booked for a red card in the 21st minute for a tackle just outside the penalty area. After playing down a man for nine minutes, Hassan Ndam entered the match to resume 11-on-11 play.
Colorado’s Benny Feilhaber took the ensuing free kick after the foul, however, his curling attempt struck the near post. The Rapids had another dangerous opportunity in the 32nd minute as Diego Rubio was alone on net, but he fired his shot wide.
The Orange and Blue will return to IMG Academy Soccer Complex for its third preseason match when it plays D.C. United at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 7.
FC Cincinnati’s debut MLS game will be at Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, March 2, at CenturyLink Field. The Orange and Blue will make its home debut as an MLS team at Nippert Stadium on Sunday, March 17, when the team hosts MLS Cup finalist Portland Timbers at 5 p.m. Season tickets, mini plans and individual-game tickets are on sale at fccincinnati.com/tickets or by calling 513-977-5425 (KICK).
For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati.
MLS Preseason
FC Cincinnati 1, Colorado Rapids 0
IMG Academy Soccer Complex | Bradenton, Fla.
Saturday, February 2, 2019
SCORING SUMMARY
CIN – Forrest Lasso (Hassan Ndam, Nazmi Albadawi) 59’
FC Cincinnati (First Half): Przemysław Tytoń, Blake Smith, Nick Hagglund, Kendall Waston © (Hassan Ndam 30’), Mathieu Deplagne, Alvas Powell, Victor Ulloa, Leonardo Bertone, Fatai Alashe, Fanendo Adi, Emmanuel Ledesma
FC Cincinnati (Second Half): Przemysław Tytoń (Jimmy Hague 75’), Roland Lamah, Forrest Lasso, Justin Hoyte, Hassan Ndam, Logan Gdula, Eric Alexander (Tommy McCabe 75’), Corben Bone, Nazmi Albadawi, Darren Mattocks, Rashawn Dally (Frankie Amaya 80’)
Bench: Ben Lundt
Colorado Rapids (First Half): Tim Howard, Dillon Serna, Tommy Smith, Axel Sjöberg, Sebastian Anderson, Kellyn Acosta, Benny Feilhaber (Cole Bassett 32’), Jack Price, Nicolás Mezquida, Andre Shinyashiki, Diego Rubio
Colorado Rapids (Second Half): Andre Rawls, Dillon Serna, Danny Wilson, Sam Raben, Marcello Borges, Shkëlzen Gashi, Cole Bassett, Jordan Schweitzer, Johan Blomberg, Matt Hundley, Niki Jackson
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – Kendall Waston (ejection) 21’
CIN – Forrest Lasso (caution) 52’
COL – Niki Jackson (caution) 62’
Weather: 73 degrees, sunny
GAME NOTES
- Today’s game featured FC Cincinnati preseason debuts for Eric Alexander, Frankie Amaya, Rashawn Dally, Logan Gdula and Tommy McCabe
- Forrest Lasso has been on the scoresheet for each of FC Cincinnati’s two goals this preseason … Lasso assisted Darren Mattocks’ goal in FCC’s preseason opener against the Montreal Impact on Jan. 30
- The Orange and Blue played in a 3-5-2 formation after playing their first preseason match in a 4-3-3
- Kendall Waston wore the captain’s armband in the first half, and handed it off to Fanendo Adi after his ejection. Following halftime, Justin Hoyte took over as captain in the second half after lineups changed.
- Three players were unavailable for precautionary reasons: Greg Garza, Spencer Richey and Emery Welshman
POSTGAME QUOTES
FCC Head Coach Alan Koch
On today’s match
“We break it down into two 45 minutes. I like the fact the first group dealt with some adversity. Obviously having a man sent off and having to play a man down in preseason and in this warm weather is not easy for those few minutes, so the guys dealt with that very, very well. I was also impressed with the shape of both groups. We got a shut out in the first 45 minutes and in the second 45 minutes. When you focus on a lot of the defensive work this week, I think that’s a huge positive.”
On cohesion in the midfield
“I think it helped us in possession. The biggest challenge the other day was when we were in possession we weren’t really getting on the ball as much. I think both groups did a much better job getting on the ball and having an understanding of where we expect each player to be within that system. We changed the formation today but the middle three were very, very consistent.”
On first-year players receiving first minutes of preseason
“To get lots of the draft picks out there was huge. It was awesome and I thought they all did well. The guys that played longer minutes had a couple tough challenges, but you expect them to have tough challenges. It’s how they respond to those challenges, which was a big positive.”
FCC Defender Alvas Powell
On today’s match
“It was good. A lot of energy from the boys. I think the team is getting comfortable with each other every day.”
On what he felt was different from FCC’s first preseason match
“The guys stuck together, worked for each other; understanding each other [better] day-by-day, so I think we take a lot from this game today. Not just the result. But to stick together.”
On what improvement he would like to see from the team
“We need to get the final passes right, the defense and midfield is coming together, we just need to get the final piece together.”
