SEATTLE – Despite an impressive volley from Leonardo Bertone for the club’s first-ever MLS goal, FC Cincinnati fell in their inaugural MLS game, 4-1, to Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on Saturday night.
Bertone opened the scoring for the Orange and Blue in the 13th minute of play. Following a partially cleared ball from Seattle’s Chad Marshall, Bertone took a right-footed volleyed shot from distance and beat an outstretched Stefan Frei.
The home side went on to score three times within the final 20 minutes of the first half to take a two-goal lead into the break. Kelvin Leerdam equalized for the Sounders, while Jordan Morris notched a brace within 10 minutes to give Seattle its two-goal advantage.
Raúl Ruidíaz scored Seattle’s fourth and final goal of the contest just prior to stoppage time to cement the victory for the Sounders.
FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Przemysław Tytoń made five saves – most among all MLS goalkeepers in week one – in his first MLS game.
FC Cincinnati will travel to Atlanta on Sunday, March 10, to face Atlanta United FC at 5 p.m. in a game that will be televised nationally live on ESPN, streamed on WatchESPN and on the radio on WDJO. The Orange and Blue will make their 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.
Seattle Sounders FC 4, FC Cincinnati 1
CenturyLink Field | Seattle, Wash.
Saturday, March 2, 2019
SCORING SUMMARY
CIN – Leonardo Bertone (unassisted) 13’
SEA – Kelvin Leerdam (unassisted) 27’
SEA – Jordan Morris (Nicolás Lodeiro) 33’
SEA – Jordan Morris (Víctor Rodríguez, Nicolás Lodeiro) 43’
SEA – Raúl Ruidíaz (Víctor Rodríguez) 87’
FC Cincinnati: Przemysław Tytoń, Mathieu Deplagne, Kendall Waston, Nick Hagglund, Alvas Powell (Caleb Stanko 86’), Victor Ulloa, Leonardo Bertone, Roland Lamah, Corben Bone (Kekuta Manneh 73’), Eric Alexander (Darren Mattocks 61’), Fanendo Adi
Bench: Spencer Richey, Forrest Lasso, Blake Smith, Emmanuel Ledesma
Stats: Shots 7, Shots on goal 3, Saves 6, Corner kicks 1, Offsides 1, Fouls 13, Possession 36.1%, Passes 374 (73%)
Seattle Sounders FC: Stefan Frei, Kelvin Leerdam, Kim Kee-hee, Chad Marshall, Brad Smith (Nouhou 83’), Gustav Svensson (Jordy Delem 90’+2’), Cristian Roldan, Jordan Morris (Harry Shipp 77’), Nicolás Lodeiro, Victor Rodríguez, Raúl Ruidíaz
Bench: Bryan Meredith, Will Bruin, Román Torres, Handwalla Bwana
Stats: Shots 24, Shots on goal 9, Saves 2, Corner kicks 6, Offsides 0, Fouls 6, Possession 63.9%, Passes 660 (85%)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – Fanendo Adi (caution) 46’
Referee: Christopher Penso
Assistant Referees: Jeff Hosking (AR1) and Nick Uranga (AR2)
Fourth Official: Victor Rivas
VAR: Hilario Grajeda
Weather: 42 degrees and mostly clear
Attendance: 39,011
HOW IT HAPPENED
- 3’ | Seattle’s Nicolás Lodeiro sent a cross into the middle of the 18-yard box where Raúl Ruidíaz got a head on the ball, but Przemysław Tytoń was able to record the save off the post.
- 13’ | CIN GOAL – Fanendo Adi sent in a cross from the left side of the 18-yard box to Mathieu Deplagne. After Deplagne chested the ball down, Seattle center back Chad Marshall cleared the ball to Leonardo Bertone who struck the ball with a right-footed volley from approximately 27 yards out to score FC Cincinnati’s first-ever MLS goal.
- 27’ | SEA GOAL – Victor Rodríguez’s through ball found Lodeiro inside the left side of the 18-yard box. After Przemysław Tytoń saved Lodeiro’s shot, Kelvin Leerdam finds the net after connecting with the rebounding ball.
- 33’ | SEA GOAL – Lodeiro sent a through ball that found Jordan Morris inside the left side of the 18-yard box. Morris’ left-footed shot took a slight deflection as the ball found its way to the lower right corner of the goal.
- 43’ | SEA GOAL – Lodeiro set off a counter-attack and Victor Rodríguez on the left flank. Rodríguez marched on towards goal and crossed the ball and found Jordan Morris inside the penalty box, who slotted the ball in the top left corner for Seattle’s third goal.
- 58’ | Lodeiro sends a cross to the near post off a corner kick. Gustav Svensson connected the cross, but the header went over the crossbar.
- 60’ | After Adi was fouled by Marshall just atop the 18-yard box, FC Cincinnati earned a free kick from a dangerous scoring position. Bertone stepped up to the ball and curled a free kick to the far post, however, Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei was able to make the diving save.
- 87’ | SEA GOAL – Rodríguez passed the ball over to Ruidiaz on a break, who utilized step-overs to find separation from Nick Hagglund before taking a shot. AlthoughPrzemysław Tytoń contacted the ball, Ruidíaz scored the fourth goal for Seattle.
GAME NOTES
- Tonight’s match was FC Cincinnati’s first-ever MLS match
- Leonardo Bertone scored FC Cincinnati’s first-ever MLS goal when he tallied in the 13th minute … the goal was the third-fastest goal by an expansion team in MLS history … Bertone led all FC Cincinnati players with three shots, including two shots on goal
- After playing in a 3-4-3 formation for the majority of preseason, FCC opened tonight’s match in a 4-2-3-1
- FC Cincinnati fell to 0-1-0 all-time against Seattle
- Przemysław Tytoń, Mathieu Deplagne and Leonardo Bertone made their MLS debuts in tonight’s match
- Fanendo Adi and Corben Bone were the lone two players from the club’s USL team to start tonight’s contest
- Przemysław Tytoń made six saves in tonight’s match … that is the most among all MLS goalkeepers in week one
- Kekuta Manneh made his first MLS appearance since Oct. 22, 2017 with Columbus at NYCFC … the midfielder spent 2018 in Mexico with Pachuca CF and in Switzerland with FC St. Gallen … Manneh did not feature in any of FC Cincinnati’s preseason matches while continuing to rehab a minor injury prior to his acquisition.
- The Orange and Blue made just one lineup change from the club’s preseason finale against Columbus on Feb. 23 … Corben Bone earned the start, while Justin Hoyte was not available for selection
- Corben Bone made his ninth career MLS start and his first since October 1, 2011 with Chicago at Houston … in addition, Bone’s 73 minutes on the pitch surpassed his total minutes played in 2014 (13), 2013 (3) and 2012 (26) combined (42)
- Corben Bone became the only player to play in both USL and MLS inaugural matches for FC Cincinnati … in 2016, Bone started and played 90 minutes in FC Cincinnati’s 1-0 loss to the Charleston Battery.
FCC Head Coach Alan Koch
On growth of the team
“I think the game was as difficult as we knew it would be. I don’t think Seattle were higher or lower than any level we thought they would be at. We thought they would be at a high level and they were at a high level. We knew it would be a tough place to come play and it was a tough place to come play. I was pleased to see the positives. I think when our players were calm and confident, we possessed the ball. I thought we looked very, very good, but those were only short little spurts during the course of the game. I think at times we gave the ball away way too easily. That is what allowed Seattle to punish us a few times. So, the positives are when we are calm and composed and we take care of the ball we look like a very, very good team. We’ve also got to stretch those moments and make them longer. But, if you make mistakes and you give the ball away to a team as quality as Seattle they are going to hit you, obviously, and it is how you respond to those situations. A good positive start to go a goal up. It's almost the worst possible thing sometimes to do in a game, to score on the road too early against a good team. Because, obviously, they came to life and they kept on coming at us. I thought the second half was better. We managed the game well. It was just disappointing to concede the goal at the end because it would’ve been nice to get a shutout from the second 45 minutes.”
On what was different defensively in both halves
“The game is different. Both 45’s are completely different. You start the first at 0-0 so you how you approach that game is different for us and for Seattle. When they are 3-1 up at halftime they are going to play in a different way too. The game became different from that perspective, but i thought at times our defensive shape was good and at other times we weren’t very good defensively. And that was how they were able to unbalance us and create chances and they were able they often capitalized off those chances too.”
On Corben Bone starting a playing No. 10 role
“He deserved it. He has been fantastic for our club as this club has grown. He was very good in preseason. I think he went out and played the way we know Corben’s capable of doing. He is very calm and composed. He is an avenue for us to be able to possess. I think he was part of that group that did a good job at possessing the ball at times.”
FCC midfielder Corben Bone
On another MLS start
“Yeah, it was great. Something I’ve been looking forward to for sure. Obviously, the result did not go our way, but it’s the first game. There’s a lot more, so we can learn from it and move forward.”
On being at FCC’s first USL game and first MLS game
“Yeah, it’s great. I am proud of it for sure, a milestone in my career, and hopefully many more.”
On playing the No. 10 role
“Yeah, it was fun. You find pockets to get on the ball, you combine all things I love about the game, and hopefully moving forward, I can find those spaces and do a bit more and create a little bit more chances.”
FCC midfielder Leo Bertone
On positives of the game
“I think the first 20 minutes was okay. We scored 1-0, we keep the ball, we play with confidence. After 1-1 it was a little bit tougher and I think we have to learn from the first 20 minutes and keep going like that.”
On adapting to formations
“I think with every system you can adapt. This is a system that everybody played at the old clubs and they are used to it playing this one. Like i said, in the first 20 minutes we did it good and with this system. We have to continue this way and it’s not finished.”
