CINCINNATI – Emmanuel Boateng and Favio Álvarez scored first-half goals to give the LA Galaxy a road 2-0 win over FC Cincinnati in front of a sell-out crowd of 32,250 at Nippert Stadium on Saturday night.
FC Cincinnati (3-12-2, 11 pts.) conceded two goals in a four-minute span as the LA Galaxy (10-6-1, 31 pts.) became the third team in MLS to cross the 30-point threshold.
After collecting a headed pass from Zlatan Ibrahimović, Alvarez lofted a ball to Boateng over Cincinnati’s backline. Boateng tucked his shot inside the far post to put the away team in the lead. Minutes later, Alvarez capitalized off a defensive mistake between two FC Cincinnati defenders to double the Galaxy’s lead.
FCC return to action on Saturday, June 29, when the team visits Minnesota United FC. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally live on ESPN, streamed on WatchESPN and on the radio on WDJO. The Orange and Blue return to Nippert Stadium on July 6 against Houston Dynamo. Tickets for the game are on sale to the general public 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.
LA Galaxy 2, FC Cincinnati 0
Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio
Saturday, June 22, 2019
SCORING SUMMARY
LA – Emmanuel Boateng (Favio Alvarez) 12’
LA – Favio Alvarez (unassisted) 15’
FC Cincinnati: Spencer Richey, Mathieu Deplagne, Nick Hagglund, Justin Hoyte ©, Fatai Alashe (Caleb Stanko 53’), Victor Ulloa, Frankie Amaya, Leonardo Bertone, Kekuta Manneh, Rashawn Dally (Corben Bone 73’), Emmanuel Ledesma
Bench: Przemysław Tytoń, Forrest Lasso, Tommy, McCabe, Eric Alexander
Stats: Shots 12, Shots on goal 3, Saves 5, Corner kicks 2, Offsides 7, Fouls 6, Possession 64.5%, Passes 566 (84.5%)
LA Galaxy: David Bingham, Julian Araujo, Diego Polenta, Daniel Steres, Dave Romney, Joe Corona, Perry Kitchen, Sebastian Lletget (Emil Cuello 89’), Favio Álvarez (Servando Carrasco 69’), Emmanuel Boateng (Efrain Álvarez 81’), Zlatan Ibrahimović ©
Bench: Matt Lampson, Diedie Traore, Ethan Zubak, Chris Pontius
Stats: Shots 13, Shots on goal 7, Saves 3, Corner kicks 3, Offsides 3, Fouls 8, Possession 35.5%, Passes 319 (73.4%)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
LA – Julian Araujo (caution) 57’
CIN – Leonardo Bertone (caution) 61’
CIN – Nick Hagglund (caution) 79’
LA – Emmanuel Boateng (caution) 80’
Referee: Marcos DeOliveira
Assistant Referees: Jeffrey Greeson, Jose Da Silva
4th Official: Dave Gantar
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
Weather: 75 degrees and sunny
Attendance: 32,250 (sell-out)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- 12’ | LA GOAL - Following a Galaxy goal kick, Zlatan Ibrahimovic headed a contested ball to Favio Alvarez. The midfielder chipped the ball over FC Cincinnati’s backline to Emmanuel Boateng atop the 18-yard box, where he gathered the ball and slotted a left-footed shot inside Spencer Richey’s far post
- 15’ | LA GOAL - Sebastien Lletget crossed a ball over to Emmanuel Boateng inside the 18-yard box, but the ball was partially cleared by Fatai Alashe. Miscommunication between two defenders allowed the ball to trickle over to Alvarez, who right-footed a bouncing shot past Richey.
- 21’ | Kekuta Manneh played a give and go pass to Victor Ulloa on the edge of the 18-yard box, setting up Kekuta Manneh’s shot from inside the penalty area. Emmanuel Ledesma attempted to head in a rebound after David Bingham’s save, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.
- 71’ | Justin Hoyte played a long lead pass to Rashawn Dally from behind the midfield line. The forward first-timed a right-footed shot which forced Bingham to make the lunging save off to his left
- 82’ | From just beyond the midfield line, Nick Hagglund found Manneh in space near the penalty arc, where he gained possession, took two touches and blasted a right-footed shot from 20 yards out, forcing Bingham to make a save
GAME NOTES
- With today’s loss, the Orange and Blue fall to 3-12-2 through 17 MLS matches - the halfway mark of the MLS season … in addition, FC Cincinnati fall to 2-4-1 in home contests … FC Cincinnati’s all-time record against LA Galaxy sits at 0-1-0 after their first encounter… Cincinnati is now 1-6-1 against Western Conference opponents
- Rashawn Dally made his MLS debut and first start for FCC … Dally had made his FCC debut with the Orange and Blue in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup against Louisville CIty FC when he replaced Emmanuel Ledesma in the 115th minute, but tonight marked his MLS debut and his first-ever FC Cincinnati start
- FC Cincinnati had their best passing performance of the season in tonight’s match … the Orange and Blue completed 478-of-566 passes for a passing accuracy of 84.5%
- After picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the second half, Leonardo Bertone will be unavailable for selection in FC Cincinnati’s match at Minnesota United FC on June 29 because of yellow card accumulation.
- Interim Head Coach Yoann Damet made six changes to the starting lineup from FC Cincinnati’s most recent match against the Saint Louis FC on June 19 … Spencer Richey (GK), Justin Hoyte (CB), Frankie Amaya (CM), Leonardo Bertone (CM), Emmanuel Ledesma (RW), and Rashawn Dally (F) shifted into the starting lineup, while Przemysław Tytoń, Forrest Lasso, Caleb Stanko, Eric Alexander, Corben Bone and Fanendo Adi were dropped … today’s lineup is FC Cincinnati’s eighteenth unique lineup of the season across all competitions … the only two instances FCC have had the same starting XI was on March 10 and March 17
- Allan Cruz (Costa Rica), Darren Mattocks (Jamaica), Alvas Powell (Jamaica) and Kendall Waston (Costa Rica) were unavailable for selection this evening because they are currently with their respective national teams for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup
- Fanendo Adi (hamstring), Greg Garza (calf) and Roland Lamah (hamstring) were unavailable for selection this evening because of injury
- Tonight marked the first time in its club history that FC Cincinnati was unable to fill its entire 18-man game day roster in a league match, USL (2016-18) or MLS (2019)
POSTGAME QUOTES
FC Cincinnati Interim Head Coach Yoann Damet
On the match
“A lot of good things to take from this game, a lot of positives. We speak about the process. We speak about building something. I think tonight was good, in terms of that. Disappointing, with the first two goals after 15 minutes, of course. But a lot of positives and a lot of confidence to get from that.”
On the response after conceding two goals
“The mentality of the guys wanting to keep playing. They kept on trying. They kept on playing. They kept on moving, providing options. We created a couple of opportunities. We had the ball possession. We tried to get set up in their half and we showed definitely some character with the ball. So I was very happy with that.”
On what changed after going down 2-0
“Maybe a bit of lack of confidence at this moment. We are in a tough period, we know it. We also are focusing on our self and focusing on the process, but we need to get some confidence and then, for sure, there are moments like that, that happened tonight. Unfortunately for us, we are two and nothing down after fifteen minutes , so we have to run after the score. So, it's all about the confidence and all about the little details and getting this right.”
On conceding goals early on and falling into holes
“Every game is different. We definitely need to fix that. In the past game, we saw that the first half was something that we had some difficulties with. We addressed it. We keep working on it, and at the end of the day, I believe in this group and I believe we can fix this together.”
On the continuing support from the sell-out crowd of 32,250 fans at Nippert Stadium
“That was amazing. That’s what we mentioned to the players in the locker room. The support of the fans is huge for us. It’s a tough period but everybody feels that they are behind us. They also see the improvement that we are speaking about. It's also a part of the process to see that the club is moving in the right direction. I feel that everybody is believing in the vision of the club, and that is very good. That is exactly what we need right now.”
FC Cincinnati Goalkeeper Spencer Richey
On the two goals conceded
“We’ve been doing that a little bit lately: shooting ourselves in the foot, New York City, even the Saint Louis game. We’re giving up too many chances early in games and we you go down 2-0 against a good team like LA, even though we were the better team for a majority of the night tonight, it’s not easy to break a team down like that. They’re on the road. They’re up 2-0. They’re going to sit on their two banks of four and we weren’t able to break them down. It is something that we surely have to figure out: give ourselves a chance to come in to the game where we are within one goal or tied 0-0. Give ourselves a chance to get a point.”
On the response from the team
“I thought it was good tonight. We’ve certainly had games earlier in the year where we conceding early, and I am sure people can see that some of the life got sucked out of us. Recently, we have been responding better. Again, we can’t be putting ourselves behind early in games. We’ve got to try to score even there, but the response was there tonight. That’s all you can ask for.”
FC Cincinnati Forward Rashawn Dally
On his MLS debut
“I felt good. This is basically what I’ve been dreaming of since I was young, and to finally have that come through is a good feeling.”
On when he learned he would be starting
“Yesterday in practice I had a pretty good idea when we were going over things I was in the lineup. So from yesterday, I was prepared for everything that could happen today, and then to just come out and do what I do.”
On starting in a match where Zlatan Ibrahimović was the opposing striker
“It means a lot. Like, a little bit before the game, and now after the game when its sinking in, but during the game I’m just focused on trying to be the best I can be, and playing as if I was playing against anyone. Now looking back at it, it’s definitely a good feeling.”
On what Yoann Damet told him ahead of the match
“He just told me to look for the runs in behind and when I get a chance to come and hold up the ball and just be free. He gave me a lot of freedom. He said just go out there and express yourself and have no pressure. I just took that and went out there and did what he said.”
On his performance
“I’d have loved to get a goal. I had a few opportunities, but overall pleased with my performance and think I can only go up from here. Just want to continue to work hard and continue to try to prove myself.”
LA Galaxy Head Coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto
On his emotions after the match
“I think we went to the field to try to get a score and to play in this field and we did good in the first 15-20 minutes, where we get two goals. Then, they start to manage the ball and managed the ball very well, but in the middle of the field, and that didn’t give much chance then. In the second half, we tried to figure it out that we needed to manage the ball and take control of the game. I think it was a little more divided to manage the ball at the entire game. We were in a very tight game and the place was noisy and we had to play there and won here. It’s important to win and get three points away and get ready for the next game against San Jose at San Jose.”
On frustration of having to manage a match like tonight’s
“I feel a little frustration from that from not taking control of the game, but you know sometimes that happens, but when it happens it is very important … difference where we were like today. Because they managed the ball and never got their selection to score”
On Emmanuel Boateng’s goal
“I am happy for Bo (Emmanuel Boateng), (Favio) Alvarez and him. (Zlatan) Ibrahimović was looking for the goal, but he couldn’t score today. I am very happy for Emmanuel.”
On building off for the match against San Jose
“I think we need to prepare like we did this week, again. Big game for us. Like it is for every game in California, big stadium and lots of people, so need to take every day and every moment to get better and try to win because every time the team goes out we try to win.”
LA Galaxy Midfielder Sebastian Lletget
On the mentality the team came out with
“I thought we came out strong with a good mentality. I mean we got those two goals back-to-back, which helped us. We wanted to dominate a bit more, work off those goals, but it didn’t happen. But, I thought defensively, they didn’t really have a lot of chances and I think we can look back at this game and it was definitely positive. Especially after the break and falling short to New England, we knew we needed to win.”
On the importance of the performance
“Obviously not the way any team wants to go into the break. But short-term memory, and we had two weeks of work. Obviously, I picked up a minor injury, but it’s nice. I got back into training this week and I felt good out here so, individually, it’s a positive for me too.”
On whether he had any time restrictions
“I really only got two training sessions in. It’s tough, but I know with the numbers and the guys out on international break, we needed bodies and it’s just what you have to do. We had good communication, but I’d do anything to win for this team, so I’m definitely happy with the win.”
On how the team tried to adjust to have more possession
“I think it’s tough, because you start out the season with a certain team and now, you’re missing guys and we haven’t played too much -- this team -- together. So obviously, it’s part of our plan to be more possessive. Sometimes you just have to deal with what the game gives you and today, Cincinnati was more offensive and with those two goals, they had to open up and they made it difficult for us but, again, I didn’t think they had any clear chances.”
On Zlatan’s emotions after the game
“He’s an interesting character, but obviously he wants to get his goals … and we’re all happy for the win.”
