# 2020 FC Cincinnati season

The 2020 FC Cincinnati season was the club's second season in MLS, and the fifth season of a team playing under the FC Cincinnati brand after three years in the lower-division USL Championship. The club finished with a league worst 6–22–6 record in their inaugural MLS season in 2019, setting a league record for the most goals given up with 75. The 2020 season was the final year that FC Cincinnati played home matches at Nippert Stadium, as their new West End Stadium is scheduled to open in March 2021.
FC Cincinnati's offseason transfers and preseason training were executed under head coach Ron Jans. However, Jans resigned on February 17, amidst an investigation into his alleged use of a racial slur. Assistant coach Yoann Damet took over as interim head coach two weeks before FC Cincinnati's first regular season match. On May 21, 2020, Jaap Stam was named head coach—the fourth in the team's history. Said Bakkati, who had worked on Stam's staff in the past, was also named new assistant coach.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MLS suspended play after two weeks in March and resumed with the MLS is Back Tournament four months later. The tournament was played within a bio-secure bubble near Orlando, Florida, and was followed by the resumption of the regular season with a modified schedule to reduce travel. FC Cincinnati played all of their home matches behind closed doors with no public spectators in attendance.

## Club
### Roster

    As of November 9, 2020
| No. | Name | Nationality | Position | Date of birth (age) | Previous club |
| 1 | Bobby Edwards | United States | GK | (1995-08-11) August 11, 1995 (age 29) | Portadown FC |
| 18 | Spencer Richey | United States | GK | (1992-05-30) May 30, 1992 (age 32) | Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
| 22 | Przemysław Tytoń (INTL) | Poland | GK | (1987-01-04) January 4, 1987 (age 38) | Deportivo La Coruña |
| 30 | Beckham Sunderland (HG) | United States | GK | (2003-06-30) June 30, 2003 (age 21) | FC Cincinnati Academy |
| 2 | Kendall Waston (C) | Costa Rica | DF | (1988-01-01) January 1, 1988 (age 37) | Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
| 3 | Tom Pettersson (INTL) | Sweden | DF | (1990-03-25) March 25, 1990 (age 34) | Östersunds FK |
| 4 | Greg Garza | United States | DF | (1991-08-16) August 16, 1991 (age 33) | Atlanta United FC |
| 12 | Saad Abdul-Salaam | United States | DF | (1991-09-08) September 8, 1991 (age 33) | Seattle Sounders FC |
| 14 | Nick Hagglund | United States | DF | (1992-09-14) September 14, 1992 (age 32) | Toronto FC |
| 16 | Zico Bailey (HG) | United States | DF | (2000-08-27) August 27, 2000 (age 24) | FC Helsingør |
| 17 | Mathieu Deplagne (INTL) | France | DF | (1991-10-01) October 1, 1991 (age 33) | Troyes AC |
| 23 | Maikel van der Werff (INTL) | Netherlands | DF | (1989-04-22) April 22, 1989 (age 35) | SBV Vitesse |
| 47 | Hassan Ndam | Cameroon | DF | (1998-10-29) October 29, 1998 (age 26) | Miami FC |
| 96 | Andrew Gutman (HG) | United States | DF | (1996-10-02) October 2, 1996 (age 28) | Celtic FC |
| 6 | Haris Medunjanin (INTL) | Bosnia and Herzegovina | MF | (1985-03-08) March 8, 1985 (age 39) | Philadelphia Union |
| 8 | Allan Cruz (DP) | Costa Rica | MF | (1996-02-24) February 24, 1996 (age 28) | C.S. Herediano |
| 11 | Siem de Jong (INTL) | Netherlands | MF | (1989-01-28) January 28, 1989 (age 36) | Ajax |
| 15 | Kamohelo Mokotjo (INTL) | South Africa | MF | (1991-03-11) March 11, 1991 (age 33) | Brentford F.C. |
| 24 | Frankie Amaya (GA) | United States | MF | (2000-09-26) September 26, 2000 (age 24) | UCLA Bruins |
| 26 | Tommy McCabe | United States | MF | (1998-04-04) April 4, 1998 (age 26) | Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
| 33 | Caleb Stanko | United States | MF | (1993-07-26) July 26, 1993 (age 31) | SC Freiburg |
| 7 | Yuya Kubo (DP, INTL) | Japan | MF/FW | (1993-12-23) December 23, 1993 (age 31) | K.A.A. Gent |
| 20 | Jimmy McLaughlin | United States | MF/FW | (1993-04-30) April 30, 1993 (age 31) | FC Cincinnati (USL) |
| 31 | Álvaro Barreal (INTL) | Argentina | MF/FW | (2000-08-17) August 17, 2000 (age 24) | Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield |
| 36 | Joe Gyau | United States | MF/FW | (1992-09-16) September 16, 1992 (age 32) | MSV Duisburg |
| 10 | Jürgen Locadia (DP, INTL) | Netherlands | FW | (1993-11-07) November 7, 1993 (age 31) | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 19 | Brandon Vazquez | United States | FW | (1998-10-14) October 14, 1998 (age 26) | Atlanta United FC |
| 21 | Franko Kovačević (INTL) | Croatia | FW | (1999-08-08) August 8, 1999 (age 25) | TSG 1899 Hoffenheim II |
| 81 | Rashawn Dally | Jamaica | FW | (1997-01-14) January 14, 1997 (age 28) | Las Vegas Lights FC |

### 2020 MLS SuperDraft picks

| Round | Pick # | Player | Position | College | Notes |
| 2 | 29 | Rey Ortiz | Forward | Portland | |
| 3 | 53 | Joris Ahlinvi | Midfielder | Indiana | From Inter Miami FC, did not sign |

## Player movement
### In

| Number | Position | Player | Transferred from | Fee/notes | Date |
| 19 | FW | Brandon Vazquez | Nashville SC | $150K in TAM | November 20, 2019 |
| 6 | MF | Haris Medunjanin | Philadelphia Union | Selected #1 in 2019 MLS Waiver Draft | November 25, 2019 |
| 12 | DF | Saad Abdul-Salaam | Seattle Sounders FC | Selected #1 in Stage 2 of 2019 MLS Re-Entry Draft | December 3, 2019 |
| 16 | DF | Zico Bailey | LA Galaxy | Fourth-round 2020 MLS SuperDraft pick | December 12, 2019 |
| 3 | DF | Tom Pettersson | Östersunds FK | Free transfer | December 17, 2019 |
| 7 | FW | Yuya Kubo | K.A.A. Gent | Transfer | January 9, 2020 |
| 1 | GK | Bobby Edwards | Portadown FC | Free transfer | January 20, 2020 |
| 9 | MF | Adrien Regattin | Akhisar Belediyespor | Free transfer | February 5, 2020 |
| 11 | MF | Siem de Jong | Ajax | Free transfer | February 20, 2020 |
| 15 | MF | Kamohelo Mokotjo | Brentford FC | Free transfer | August 20, 2020 |
| 31 | MF/FW | Álvaro Barreal | Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield | Transfer | September 2, 2020 |

### Out

| Date | Number | Position | Player | Transferred to | Fee/notes |
| October 9, 2019 | 7 | MF | Roland Lamah | | Option declined |
| October 9, 2019 | 19 | MF | Corben Bone | Louisville City FC | Option declined |
| October 9, 2019 | 32 | DF | Justin Hoyte | | Option declined |
| October 9, 2019 | 5 | MF | Nazmi Albadawi | North Carolina FC | Option declined |
| November 11, 2019 | 8 | MF | Víctor Ulloa | Inter Miami CF | $50K in GAM, a 2020 SuperDraft third-round selection, 26th pick of the 2019 Re-Entry Draft (Stage 1) |
| November 14, 2019 | 3 | DF | Forrest Lasso | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Option declined |
| November 14, 2019 | 16 | MF | Derrick Etienne Jr. | Columbus Crew | Option declined |
| November 19, 2019 | 92 | DF | Alvas Powell | Inter Miami CF | Selected #3 in 2019 MLS Expansion Draft, $50K in GAM |
| January 13, 2020 | 6 | MF | Leonardo Bertone | FC Thun | Undisclosed |
| January 18, 2020 | 9 | FW | Fanendo Adi | Columbus Crew | Waived |
| January 18, 2020 | 13 | GK | Jimmy Hague | Memphis 901 FC | Waived |
| January 18, 2020 | 45 | MF | Emmanuel Ledesma | SJK | Waived |
| January 29, 2020 | 21 | DF | Logan Gdula | Charleston Battery | Waived |
| August 17, 2020 | 31 | FW | Kekuta Manneh | New England Revolution | Trade; received international roster slot |
| August 17, 2020 | 27 | MF | Fatai Alashe | Columbus Crew | Trade; acquired 2021 MLS SuperDraft second-round selection |
| September 11, 2020 | 9 | FW | Adrien Regattin | Altay | Mutually agreed to part ways |

### Loans in

| Number | Position | Player | Loaned from | Loan start date | Loan end date | Ref |
| 10 | FW | Jürgen Locadia | Brighton & Hove Albion | February 3, 2020 | July 30, 2021 | |
| 21 | FW | Franko Kovačević | TSG 1899 Hoffenheim II | October 12, 2020 | June 30, 2021 | |

### Loans out

| Number | Position | Player | Loaned to | Loan start date | Loan end date |
| 39 | GK | Ben Lundt | Louisville City FC | January 21, 2020 | November 30, 2020 |
| 47 | DF | Hassan Ndam | Miami FC | February 1, 2020 | End of season |
| 25 | MF | Rey Ortiz | Charlotte Independence | February 28, 2020 | November 30, 2020 |
| 81 | FW | Rashawn Dally | Las Vegas Lights FC | July 2, 2020 | End of season |
| 16 | MF | Tommy McCabe | Memphis 901 FC | August 28, 2020 | End of season |

## Competitions

Win  Draw  Loss

### Major League Soccer
#### League tables
##### Eastern Conference

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| 10 | Inter Miami CF | 23 | 7 | 13 | 3 | 25 | 35 | −10 | 24 | 1.04 | Qualification for the playoffs play-in round |
| 11 | Chicago Fire FC | 23 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 33 | 39 | −6 | 23 | 1.00 | |
| 12 | Atlanta United FC | 23 | 6 | 13 | 4 | 23 | 30 | −7 | 22 | 0.96 | Qualification for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League |
| 13 | D.C. United | 23 | 5 | 12 | 6 | 25 | 41 | −16 | 21 | 0.91 | |
| 14 | FC Cincinnati | 23 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 12 | 36 | −24 | 16 | 0.70 | |
* ↑ As 2019 U.S. Open Cup champions

##### MLS is Back – Group E

Group E results :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Columbus Crew SC | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 9 | Advanced to knockout stage |
| 2 | FC Cincinnati | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 6 | Advanced to knockout stage |
| 3 | New York Red Bulls | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 3 | |
| 4 | Atlanta United | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 0 | |

##### Overall

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| 22 | Chicago Fire FC | 23 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 33 | 39 | −6 | 23 | 1.00 | |
| 23 | Atlanta United FC | 23 | 6 | 13 | 4 | 23 | 30 | −7 | 22 | 0.96 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 24 | D.C. United | 23 | 5 | 12 | 6 | 25 | 41 | −16 | 21 | 0.91 | |
| 25 | Houston Dynamo | 23 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 30 | 40 | −10 | 21 | 0.91 | |
| 26 | FC Cincinnati | 23 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 12 | 36 | −24 | 16 | 0.70 | |

#### Results

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| Stadium | A | A | N | N | N | H | A | H | H | A | A | A | H | A | A | A | H | H | H | H | H | A | A |
| Result | L | L | L | W | W | D | L | D | D | L | L | W | D | L | L | L | L | W | L | L | L | L | L |

### U.S. Open Cup

Due to their final position in the 2019 MLS standings, FC Cincinnati would enter the competition in the Third Round, which was scheduled for April 19–21. However, the tournament was suspended and eventually cancelled on August 17, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

Numbers after plus-sign(+) denote appearances as a substitute.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | MLS | MLS | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | GK | USA | Bobby Edwards | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | GK | USA | Spencer Richey | 10 | 0 | 9+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | GK | POL | Przemysław Tytoń | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 2 | DF | CRC | Kendall Waston | 17 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | SWE | Tom Pettersson | 15 | 0 | 13+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | USA | Greg Garza | 9 | 0 | 7+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | USA | Saad Abdul-Salaam | 8 | 0 | 5+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | USA | Nick Hagglund | 11 | 1 | 8+3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | USA | Zico Bailey | 5 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | FRA | Mathieu Deplagne | 15 | 0 | 13+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | NED | Maikel van der Werff | 13 | 0 | 11+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 96 | DF | USA | Andrew Gutman | 21 | 0 | 15+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 6 | MF | BIH | Haris Medunjanin | 21 | 1 | 19+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | JPN | Yuya Kubo | 19 | 3 | 15+4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | CRC | Allan Cruz | 14 | 1 | 8+6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | NED | Siem de Jong | 15 | 0 | 8+7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | RSA | Kamohelo Mokotjo | 9 | 0 | 6+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | USA | Jimmy McLaughlin | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | USA | Frankie Amaya | 21 | 1 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | USA | Tommy McCabe | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | MF | ARG | Álvaro Barreal | 5 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | USA | Caleb Stanko | 13 | 0 | 5+8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | MF | USA | Joe Gyau | 21 | 1 | 20+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 10 | FW | NED | Jürgen Locadia | 17 | 1 | 15+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | USA | Brandon Vazquez | 19 | 2 | 8+11 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | CRO | Franko Kovačević | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 81 | FW | JAM | Rashawn Dally | 4 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who have played for FC Cincinnati this season but have left the club: ||||||||||
| 9 | MF | MAR | Adrien Regattin | 10 | 0 | 7+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | USA | Fatai Alashe | 3 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | FW | GAM | Kekuta Manneh | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* Last updated: November 9, 2020
* Source: Team Stats

### Top scorers

| Rank | Position | No. | Name | MLS | Playoffs | Total |
| 1 | FW | 7 | Yuya Kubo | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | FW | 10 | Jürgen Locadia | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | FW | 19 | Brandon Vazquez | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | MF | 6 | Haris Medunjanin | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | MF | 15 | Allan Cruz | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | DF | 14 | Nick Hagglund | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | MF | 24 | Frankie Amaya | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | MF | 36 | Joe Gyau | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 12 | 0 | 12 |
* Last updated: November 9, 2020
* Source: Team Stats

### Top assists

| Rank | Position | No. | Name | MLS | Playoffs | Total |
| 1 | FW | 9 | Adrien Regattin | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1 | FW | 19 | Brandon Vazquez | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | DF | 4 | Greg Garza | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | MF | 6 | Haris Medunjanin | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 6 | 0 | 6 |
* Last updated: November 9, 2020
* Source: Team Stats

### Disciplinary record

| No. | Pos. | Player | MLS | MLS | MLS | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Total | Total | Total |
| 24 | MF | Frankie Amaya | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | Mathieu Deplagne | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Kendall Waston | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | MF | Joe Gyau | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 96 | DF | Andrew Gutman | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | Caleb Stanko | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | Haris Medunjanin | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Allan Cruz | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | Nick Hagglund | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | Fatai Alashe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | Maikel van der Werff | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Tom Pettersson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Greg Garza | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF/FW | Yuya Kubo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | Zico Bailey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 0 |
* Last updated: November 9, 2020
* Source: Team Stats

### Clean sheets

| No. | Name | MLS | Playoffs | Total | Games |
| 22 | Przemysław Tytoń | 5 | 0 | 5 | 13 |
| 18 | Spencer Richey | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 1 | Bobby Edwards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
* Last updated: November 9, 2020
* Source: Team Stats

## Awards
### MLS is Back Man of the Match

The Man of the Match is named after each match by the editorial team of MLSsoccer.com.
Man of the Match :
| Match | Player | Opponent |
| 16 | Frankie Amaya | Atlanta United FC |
| 32 | Yuya Kubo | New York Red Bulls |
| 44 | Przemysław Tytoń | Portland Timbers |

### MLS is Back Team of the Week

The Team of the Week includes the top players and coach during each week of the tournament, as chosen by the editorial team of MLSsoccer.com.
| Week | Bench | Ref. |
| 2 | Frankie Amaya | |
| 3 | Yuya Kubo | |

### MLS is Back Coach of the Week

The Coach of the Week during each week of the tournament, as chosen by the editorial team of MLSsoccer.com.
| Week | Coach | Ref. |
| 3 | Jaap Stam | |

### MLS is Back Goal of the Week

The Goal of the Week determines the best goal during each week of the tournament. The editorial team of MLSsoccer.com shortlists goals for fans to vote for on Twitter.
| Week | Player | Scored against | Score | Date | Ref. |
| 2 | Frankie Amaya | Atlanta United FC | 1–0 (76') | July 16, 2020 | |

### MLS Team of the Week

| Week | Player | Opponent | Position |
| 8 | Maikel van der Werff | Columbus Crew SC | DF |
| 9 | Kendall Waston | Chicago Fire FC | DF |
| 11 | Haris Medunjanin | New York Red Bulls | MF |
| 11 | Nick Hagglund | New York Red Bulls | DF |
| 18 | Nick Hagglund | Columbus Crew SC | DF |