TUCSON, Ariz. – Joseph-Claude Gyau intercepted the ball, dribbled into the box and unleashed a powerful near-post shot to score FC Cincinnati’s third and final goal Wednesday afternoon.
The play itself was impressive and highlighted the winger’s quality. But more importantly, the moment showcased exactly what the Orange and Blue have practiced the last 10 days. After instilling a defensive high press in training sessions, Gyau needed 10 seconds to show why the press can be so effective in games.
But the goal was just one moment over a 90-minute match that saw Cincinnati comfortably build possessions from the back, play through presses and deliver a strong defensive performance.
“I’m pretty satisfied ‘cause you want to see what you train,” head coach Ron Jans said. “Out of possession, the third goal was an example that we won the ball high and we scored a good goal with Joe Gyau.
“But also in possession, you saw some good things,” he added. “Some things we can improve, but that’s more in the details. (In) the big picture, we were satisfied today.”
Beating the Phoenix Rising FC, 3-0, won’t necessarily lead to MLS success in a few months, but playing the way FCC did on Wednesday will lead to positive results.
Before the friendly, Jans said he wanted his club to dictate the match. And from the opening kickoff, Cincinnati produced an an impressive display, controlling possession and the flow of the game. That the team scored three goals and earned a clean sheet was a bonus to a good opening preseason performance.
“It was a good first step to put everything we’ve been working on out on the training ground into play in a real game – not an intrasquad (scrimmage) – against some other opponents,” Gyau said.
If Wednesday was the first step, it was a step in the right direction.
Moving forward, if the team can replicate its tactical execution of this match against other opponents it will continue to find added success.
After the win, Jans acknowledged it was a convincing one, but against a USL Championship side.
On Saturday, FCC play Sporting Kansas City, the first MLS opponent, at Casa Grande.
“Let’s see if we can do it again Saturday,” Jans said.
