Previewing Houston Dynamo vs FC Cincinnati with Cincinnati Soccer Talk
(image via Tony Quinn-USA TODAY Sports)
The 2023 MLS season gets going tomorrow and the Houston Dynamo are tasked with a tough opening match. Ben Olsen and the squad will head to southern Ohio to take on a strong FC Cincinnati team who is opening the season at home for the first team in their club history. We talked to Geoff Tebbetts from Cincinnati Soccer Talk to get some insight on FC Cincy.
A new season always brings some new faces. What were some of the moves that Cincinnati made this offseason to strengthen the roster?
Considering Cincinnati’s goal output has gone from 0.52 goals per match in 2020 to 1.83 goals per match in 2022, much of the offense seems to be in a good place. Surprisingly, that’s part of the futility from the Dutch leadership in 2021 that has been retrofitted for success.
The next step is to get the defense to preserve leads—Cincinnati gave up just as many goals as Houston last season. The addition of Matt Miazga last season has been the first big step, but now the hope is that center back Yerson Mosquera can step in and demonstrate why Wolverhampton spent big on him in 2021. The front office is also banking on newly-signed Santiago Arias to fill the right wingback role.
The biggest offseason deal may have been the transfer of Colombian midfielder Marco Angulo. He will likely slot into a central defensive midfielder pairing with Obinna Nwobodo, but he has the potential to pull upward to connect the two halves of the field offensively.
How did preseason go for FCC? Was there any noticeable difference in their style of play coming into this new season?
Considering the preseason was mostly untelevised, your guess might be as good as mine!
If anything, the preseason was a good opportunity to see how the homegrown and bench players could slot into the roster. Forward Quimi Ordóñez and midfielder Stiven Jimenez provided some solid offensive sparks in wins over USF and New England, while forwards Dom Badji and Sérgio Santos demonstrated that there is potential to keep the offense afloat if any big name was to leave or need rest. The defense is still a little shaky, as seen in struggles against Philadelphia and Nashville, but there is still a higher ceiling on how well it can perform.
Cincinnati had a number of suitors this offseason for star strikers Brenner and Brandon Vasquez. What is their status coming into this season and what do you expect from them in 2023?
The good news is that it looks like Brenner is back from Brazil after some reported family matters, and even though he was away from the team during the courtship from Udinesse and Nottingham Forest, he’s kept in training shape. It’s hard to say how ready he will be for the first match, but our guess is that he’s more ready than he was last season at this time. His status with the team when the summer transfer window opens will definitely hinge on his performance, but the overall opinion is that he won’t be around when the European calendars reset.
Vazquez will likely stay with Cincinnati longer. His addition to the USMNT roster and his first goal for the national team have lifted his profile, but the extension he signed last year should indicate that he is with the team for all of 2023. If he can crack the 20-goal plateau this season, the winter transfer window would be a different story.
With Cincinnati being in the Eastern Conference, the Dynamo don't play them as often. Who are some under-the-radar players that Dynamo fans should keep an eye on this weekend?
Personally, I think a lot of eyes will be on Álvaro Barreal in the left wingback slot. The departure of Rónald Matarrita in the offseason indicated that Barreal has been given the keys to roam the left. Barreal contributed 8 goals and 8 assists in 37 matches over all competitions in 2022, and his G+A contributions went from 0.24 per 90 minutes in 2021 to 0.55 in 2022. Barreal has also filled multiple positions on the pitch over the past three seasons with Cincinnati, making him the perfect Argentinian army knife to adapt to many locations.
How is the health of the roster and do you expect anyone to be unavailable Saturday?
There has been a knock concern with Nwobodo, forcing him to sit against New England and Nashville in the preseason. The hope is that he won’t miss any time. Miazga was recovering from a hip procedure during the off-season, but he should be ready for the opener.
Brenner may be the only real question mark, as we’re not sure how being away from the team has affected chemistry. His absence from the Starting XI paralleled Cincinnati’s slow start to 2022, so a ready and hungry Brenner is what the team needs to start 2023.
Predicted lineup and prediction for the match?
We haven’t seen a 4-man backline since July of last season, and I doubt we will see it out of the gate this season. Expect a 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 formation for the first match.
Celentano
Hagglund – Mosquera – Miazga
Arias – Moreno – Acosta – Nwobodo – Barreal
Vazquez – Brenner
If Brenner isn’t ready, I would expect Santos to start. Swap Ian Murphy for Miazga or Angulo for Nwobodo if their injury concerns flare up.
It should come to no surprise, but Cincinnati has won their opener only once in their seven-year history (the 2018 USL opener at Charleston). They have never won their opener as an MLS club, but that changes now. I expect Houston to surprise Cincinnati with a goal somewhere, but I think the Cincinnati offense is ready to perform. I’ll take a 3-1 victory in the home opener with a Lucho Acosta brace.
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We want to thank Geoff for his time and wish our friends in Cincinnati the best of luck tomorrow.
