FC Cincinnati’s first starting lineup as an MLS club is here. Here’s the inaugural starting XI:
The club will use a 4-2-3-1 formation for the first time in 2019. The club used a back three during the majority of preseason.
Tytoń starts in goal
Przemysław Tytoń gets his first start with the Orange and Blue after joining the club in the offseason.
Throughout preseason, Tytoń was the first-choice keeper — especially when Spencer Richey was injured — and that carried into the regular season.
This is the Polish goalkeeper’s first competitive start since Oct. 26, 2017. Then, he played in Spain for Deportivo La Coruña in La Liga.
Richey, who is from Seattle, starts on the bench.
One change from the CCC
Last Saturday, Head Coach Alan Koch said he wanted the friendly match with Columbus Crew SC to resemble a regular-season game. The lineup from then to now reflects that.
Koch only made one change from last Saturday’s preseason finale: Corben Bone replaces Justin Hoyte in the starting lineup. Hoyte is injured and didn’t travel to Seattle.
Speaking of Bone
Bone became the first player from FC Cincinnati’s USL stint to play for the club in MLS. Overall, this is the midfielder’s 103 competitive appearance for the Orange and Blue, which ties him with Jimmy McLaughlin for most in the club’s all-time history.
Bone will play as the center-attacking midfielder — a role he played at the start of 2018.
Bone and McLaughlin are the only players remaining from the inaugural 2016 season.
About the subs
Kekuta Manneh is on the bench for the first time as an FCC player. Manneh, who joined the club in preseason, was injured and failed to make an appearance. If he plays against Sounders FC it’ll be his club debut — preseason and regular season included.
Also, four players from the 2018 USL squad are on the bench. Including Richey, Forrest Lasso, Blake Smith and Emmanuel Ledesma are substitutes against Seattle.
