Football Season Guide

FC Cincinnati finished top of the Eastern Conference table last season to clinch the MLS Supporters' Shield, which is the first ever silverware in the club’s history. They boasted the fourth-best defence in the league with 39 goals conceded and recorded just 5 defeats in 34 games. Yet, Cincinnati didn’t manage to go all the way to the trophy, as they lost 3-2 at home to Columbus Crew in the Conference semi-finals. In the offseason, Cincinnati were dealt a huge blow with the departure of starting forward, Brandon Vazquez. Experienced attacker Corey Baird joined to replace his predecessor, but he’s downgrade. Meanwhile, starters Yerson Mosquera and Junior Moreno also left, with Czech midfielder Pavel Bucha and top free agent Miles Robinson coming in. Robinson’s addition makes the already rigid Cincinnati defence even more solid. However, despite Cincinnati having a strong starting line-up for yet another season, they may be lacking depth on the wings following the departures of Santiago Arias and Raymon Gaddis, with left wingback Alvaro Barreal’s future remaining uncertain. Their biggest strength has a name and a surname. Luciano Acosta was named MLS MVP last season, when he recorded 27 goal contributions by netting 17 goals and dishing 10 assists. Meanwhile, there’s not a perceived area of weakness, but Vazquez’s departure leaves a huge gap in attack. Cincinnati will rely on an inconsistent Aaron Boupendza, while new signing Baird has never managed more than eight goals in one season.