Head Coach Alan Koch made three changes to FC Cincinnati’s starting lineup ahead of Saturday night’s match at LAFC. Here’s the starting XI:
Kekuta Manneh replaces Roland Lamah at left wing, while Caleb Stanko replaces Victor Ulloa in the midfield and Justin Hoyte joins the backline in place of Greg Garza. Hoyte will play right back, while Mathieu Deplagne shifts to the left side, similar to the games at Seattle Sounders FC and Atlanta United FC.
First MLS starts for Hoyte and Stanko
For Hoyte, the match will be his MLS debut. After featuring during preseason, Hoyte was injured at the start of the regular season and was an unused substitute the last four matches.
As for Stanko, this is his first MLS start after playing in Germany previously. Stanko has played as a substitute in four games this season, but the 71st minute is the earliest he’s featured in a match – which came in the 2-0 loss against Philadelphia Union on March 30.
About the bench
Lamah and Ulloa start on the bench for the first time in 2019. After leaving last Sunday’s game against Kansas City at the half with a precautionary calf concern, he returns tonight as an available substitute if needed.
Ulloa had played all but 19 minutes this season and had started every game alongside Leonardo Bertone.
Additionally, goalkeeper Prezemysław Tytoń is available for selection for the first time since the season opener in Seattle. Since that match, he has missed time with a right hamstring injury.
Fatai Alashe is back on the bench and could make his 2019 debut. His last bench appearance was in the 2-0 win against the New England Revolution.
Frankie Amaya could play for the season time this season. Amaya is back in Los Angeles – where he went to college at UCLA before FC Cincinnati selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.
Injury news
Garza didn’t travel after tweaking his calf in training this week. Emmanuel Ledesma is also out with a hamstring injury as he works his way back.
