Sometimes you already know your enemy well. Red Bulls? DC United? Sure, you know ‘em.
But FC Cincinnati?? Unless you are plugged in to the USL Championship, this team could be a complete mystery. So let’s dive in and see what the Ohio team Philly hasn’t faced down and beaten this year is all about.
Dominant down there, doing it up here
After steamrolling USL’s top division in 2018 (but faceplanting in the playoffs…), FC Cincinnati went with a mix of old and new for their debut MLS season. USL Defender of the Year Forrest Lasso and attacker Emanuel Ledesma are holdovers from last year’s dominant team that want to make their mark at the top American level, while Leonard Bertone and Kenny Saeif were brought from Europe to provide quality on the ball — especially when it comes to longer passes and crosses.