In hopes of beating an MLS opponent twice in the same season for the first time in FC Cincinnati history, Head Coach Ron Jans opted for six changes to the starting XI ahead of Saturday night’s match against the Montreal Impact at Nippert Stadium.
About the starters
Leo Bertone, Allan Cruz, Emmanuel Ledesma, Darren Mattocks, Maikel van der Werff and Kendall Waston replace Rashawn Dally, Andrew Gutman, Nick Hagglund, Roland Lamah, Tommy McCabe and Caleb Stanko in the starting lineup.
Ledesma, Cruz, Waston, Bertone and van der Werff last started in the 3-1 loss at FC Dallas on Aug. 31. As for Cruz and Waston, they missed the game against Toronto due to international duty with the Costa Rica National Team.
Ledesma returned last game as a second-half substitute and ended up scoring the meaningful goal at the game’s end following his father’s passing. Van der Werff missed last game with a hamstring concern.
Mattocks last started Aug. 25 in the 3-1 loss to Columbus Crew SC in the #HellisReal Derby, and played last Saturday’s game as a halftime substitute.
About the bench
Dally, Gutman, Hagglund and McCabe all started in the 5-1 loss to Toronto FC last Saturday at Nippert Stadium.
Lamah was expected to make the trip, but he has a sudden illness that kept him off the charter flight to Canada. Center midfielder Corben Bone replaced him in the 18. Bone’s last appearance was June 29 in the 7-1 loss to Minnesota United FC.
About the absentees
Fanendo Adi (calf), Derrick Etienne Jr. (hamstring), Lamah (illness), Jimmy McLaughlin (ACL) and Caleb Stanko (knee) are all unavailable against Montreal.
In addition, after missing last game with a red-card suspension, Kekuta Manneh will again sit out this weekend after he was suspended an additional game by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for an incident at Dallas that drew the original red card.
