FC CINCINNATI v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

“There is no greater sorrow then to recall our times of joy in wretchedness.”

– Dante Alighieri, from Inferno

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Sounders FC travel to Cincinnati to square off against the 10th place Knifey Lions. The Saturday league fixture will be our first against Cincinnati since 2023. If you’re doing away days with ECS, be sure to dish up some chili, cheese coneys, goetta, and mock turtle soup, and finish off with some gourmet ice cream. Support requires sustenance; you can work off supper on the terraces.

What: MLS league match, FC Cincinnati v. Seattle Sounders FC.

Where: John Street, Cincinnati, Ohio.

When: 4:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday 22 August 2026 CE.

At Stake: Points in the league. Sounders FC find themselves 20th place in the MLS league table on 24 points, 22 points adrift of leaders Nashville. How a football team from Tennessee is allowed to produce better football than an old skool football city like Seattle is unthinkable. Yet here we are. Right, focus. With Sounders all but ruled out of the league championship, all that remains is MLS Cup qualification. If we can manage it. Arch-rivals Portland currently hold the last qualifying berth in the West region on 27 points, with Sounders three points adrift.

Where to Watch: Apple TV.

Where to Listen: KJR 93.3 FM and El Rey 1360 AM.

I don’t know what else to say. Sounders are spiralling. I’ve said for years that relying on 13-14 players to play 30-40 matches every year wasn’t going to end well, and here we are. None of us are happy about it.

Recent history shows us that Sounders were better against common opponents this season than Cincinnati. The only problem with this analysis is that all but one of those matches were before the bottom fell out of the squad with all the injuries. Any reasonable speculation regarding Saturday’s match begins with throwing out almost all of the data that applies to the Sounders.

We are scoring very few goals and can’t keep the football out of our nets. You’ll not win many playing that sort of football. So all of this is a rather brutal dose of reality.

On the plus side, I do see signs of improvement within the team. The players are working a bit better together. Combination play is somewhat improved. We’re generating some decent chances. Given that all the above is true, it took 90 minutes to hit one past Damian Las midweek. Sounders attacking was inspired in the mad dash to try and level in stoppage-time. Is it better than what we done against Vancouver on 16 August? Yes. Is it good enough to be anywhere near the standard we’ve set since 2009? Not even close.

So that’s generally the good and the bad of it. At every kick-off the score is 0:0 and we can hope for better. That’s all that’s left, really. So here’s hopin’.

If you’re participating in our away day at Cincinnati, link up with ours and look after each other. Be well-behaved in town and impossible to drown out at the John Street ground. Make sure everyone has their scarves tied proper. Make a thundering din that cannot be ignored, for the purposes of showing that no matter the results, we’re going to be just as loud, if not louder. You will hear us, Cincinnati.

For those of us at hame in The Evergreen, we must watch on telly and use our psychic energy to chuff up the lads from distance. It’s pubs and dwellings for stories and tellings. Houses and flats for pints and cats. Boats and ships for pie and chips.

It’s Sounders football, under the Saturday night lights at John Street. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!!

Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!”

In the midweek fixture against Austin, Albert Rusnak delivered a pinpoint, curling free kick. It was bashed into the net by the head of young Stuart Hawkins in the 90th minute. It was one of the better moments of football we’ve produced this season.

The Good News

Although injuries have drastically limited player availability, the cohesion between those still standing is improving, Stuart Hawkins late goal midweek and Seba Gomez one goal, one assist game being object lessons.

Although Cincinnati are 10 places higher than us in the league table, they are only six points clear of us in the standings. The difference is literally that they drew three more matches and we were defeated three more times.

Cincinnati plays a brand of high-risk, high-reward football. Thus they concede a fair amount of goals (2.00/match). Should our defence hold, a positive result is within the realm of possibility.

The Bad News

Cincinnati doesn’t really drop matches at home (11-1-3). Sounders, despite a scattering of reasonable efforts, are 1-0-10 in our last 11 matches. Our away record sits at a dismal 4-2-7.

Cincinnati average the better part of three goals per match (2.63), although those numbers are inflated by a 13-goal binge in the CONCACAF Champions Cup tie against O&M FC from Dominican Republic. The number in league play is closer to 2.40 goals/match. Sounders are averaging 1.27 goals per match, but since 16 May that number has dropped to less than a goal per match (0.73).

No help has yet been purchased by the Sounders in the summer transfer window. The transfer window closes on 2 September.

Cincinnati’s squad players have a higher estimated transfer value than ours by the difference of €13.52M. This provides rather unmistakable proof that the Sounders FC ownership and management are cheap, skinflinty bastards who are currently attempting to get blood from a stone. Seriously though, all of yous at Longacres need to sort yourselves out.

Cincinnati attackers Kevin Denke (11 goals) and Evander (12 goals) have scored more goals between them than the entire Sounders FC squad (21 goals).

The Side I Would Select

We have18 healthy players in the senior squad, with only 15 of those being outfield players. Our team selection is usually the worst-kept secret in football. Now it’s the worstest-kept secret in football.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH     Lopez

RCH    Hawkins

RB     Alex

LDM   Brunell

RDM   Kingston

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Gomez

CF     De Rosario

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

Guessing that the Manager will return to his old ways selecting as many veteran players as he has left in the team. I’d also not be at all surprised to see Alex moved back to right-centre-half. Sometimes when you play players out of position it works out and you look like a genius. Other times (Morris, Ferreira, Alex, etc.)…not so much.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Sailor

RCH    Kim

RB     Kossa-Rienzi

LDM   Brunell

RDM   Alex

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Gomez

CF     Musovski

Intangibles

The Referee for Saturday’s match will be Drew Fischer.

CIN record with Fischer as Ref: 3-0-9

SEA record with Fischer as Ref: 11-10-3

CIN aggregate estimated transfer value for entire squad: €57.65M

SEA aggregate estimated transfer value for entire squad: €44.13M

CIN 2026 season transfer fees paid: €2.75M

SEA 2026 season transfer fees paid: €0

General notes on personnel

Cincinnati transfers IN:

Jabbari (Grenoble Foot 38) loan

Chavez - reserves

Samson (CF Montreal) loan

Kyle Smith (Orlando City SC) free

Barlow (Chicago Fire) free

Fletcher (DC United) free

Ramirez (LDU Quito) €2.6M

Schaefer - reserves

Mrozek (Liverpool) loan €150,000 fee

Chirila - reserves

Lajhar - reserves

Cincinnati transfers OUT:

Brenner (Udinese) end of loan

Engel (Middlesbrough) end of loan

Kamara - retired

Kann - retired

Kubo - retired

Marczuk (Real Salt Lake) end of loan

Brad Smith - released

Barreal (Santos FC) €3.41M

Orellano (Monterrey) €3.82M

Crockford (San Jose Earthquakes) free

Walters (Bohemian FC) loan

Schaefer (Tampa Bay Rowdies) loan

Flores (Club Libertad Asuncion) loan

Comparison against common opponents

MIN 1:0 CIN

MIN 0:0 SEA

(against MIN: CIN 0-0-1 -1, SEA 0-1-0 0) marginal edge SEA

SD 3:3 CIN

SEA 1:1 SD

(against SD: CIN 0-1-0 0, SEA 0-1-0 0) even

CIN 4:3 VAN

VAN 0:3 SEA      CCC

SEA 2:1 VAN*    CCC     *Spokane

SEA 0:2 VAN

(against VAN: CIN 1-0-0 +1, SEA 2-0-1 +2) edge SEA

CIN 4:2 SJ

SJ 0:1 SEA

SEA 3:2 SJ

(against SJ: CIN 1-0-0 +2, SEA 2-0-0 +2) edge SEA

CIN 3:0 TIG CCC

TIG 5:1 CIN CCC

TIG 2:0 SEA CCC

SEA 3:1 TIG CCC

(against TIG: CIN 1-0-1 -1, SEA 1-0-1 0) marginal edge SEA

Know Thine Enemy

Cincinnati as they lined up in their 2:1 victory over Manchester Citeh Junior Varsity on 19 August at John Street.

GOALKEEPER

Roman Celentano, 25

United States

Notable Clubs: FC Cincinnati (138/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by Chicago Sockers. Played his university football for Indiana (39/0). Won an MLS league championship with FC Cincinnati. Twice honoured for MLS Save of the Year.

DEFENCE

Kyle Smith, 34

United States

Notable Clubs: Louisville City (85/8), Orlando City SC (178/4), FC Cincinnati (16/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €300,000

Notes: Developed by La Salle High School. Played his university football for Transylvania (NCAA III) (76/47). Won two USL Cups with Louisville City. Won a US Open Cup with Orlando City SC.

Matt Miazga, 31

United States (28/1)

Notable Clubs: New York RB (34/1), Chelsea (2/0), Vitesse Arnhem (55/3), Nantes (8/0), Reading (38/2), Anderlecht (30/1), Alaves (11/0), FC Cincinnati (87/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.8M

Notes: Developed by New York RB. Won 2x MLS league titles with New York RB. Won a KNVB Cup with Vitesse. Won an MLS league title with FC Cincinnati. Won a CONCACAF Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nations League with United States. Named MLS Defender of the Year 2023. Named to MLS Best XI 2023.

Miles Robinson, 29

United States (41/3)

Notable Clubs: Atlanta United FC (123/3), Charleston Battery (6/1), FC Cincinnati (65/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3.5M

Notes: Developed by Boston Bolts. Played his university football for Syracuse (42/8). Won an MLS Cup, US Open Cup, and Campeones Cup with Atlanta United FC. Won a CONCACAF Gold Cup and 2x CONCACAF Nations League with United States. 2x named to MLS Best XI. Named to CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI 2021.

MIDFIELD

Ender Echenique, 22

Venezuela (4/0)

Notable Clubs: Aragua (20/1), Caracas (64/11), FC Cincinnati (26/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Full name: Ender Jesus Echenique Pena. Developed by Aragua.

Gerardo Valenzuela, 21

United States

Notable Clubs: FC Cincinnati (71/7)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.8M

Notes: Developed by Inter Miami CF and FC Cincinnati. Played at youth levels for United States (1/0). Won an MLS league title with FC Cincinnati.

Evander, 28

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Vasco da Gama (54/5), Midtjylland (123/39), Portland Timbers (55/24), FC Cincinnati (51/30)

Estimated Transfer Value: €16M

Notes: Full name: Evander da Silva Ferreira. Developed by Vasco da Gama. Won a Danish Superliga title and 2x Danish Cups with Midtjylland. 2x named to MLS Best XI.

Obinna Nwobodo, 29

Nigeria

Notable Clubs: FC Inter Enugu (?/?), Enugu Rangers (44/9), Ujpest (93/10), Goztepe (60/0), FC Cincinnati (113/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by FC Inter Enugu. Won a Nigerian league title with Enugu Rangers. Won an MLS league title with FC Cincinnati.

Pavel Bucha, 28

Czechia (1/0)

Notable Clubs: Slavia Prague (5/0), Viktoria Plzen (121/22), Mlada Boleslav (31/7), FC Cincinnati (85/12)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4M

Notes: Developed by Cechie Kralupy, Neratovice, and Slavia Prague. Won a Czech First League title with Viktoria Plzen. Name Czech First League Young Player of the Year 2019-20.

FORWARD

Kenji Mboma Dem, 24

France

Notable Clubs: FC Cincinnati (21/5)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Developed by Black Rock FC and FC Cincinnati. Played his university football for Omaha and Dayton (?/?).

Kevin Denkey, 25

Togo (47/13)

Notable Clubs: Nimes (28/4), Cercle Brugge (134/56), FC Cincinnati (48/26)

Estimated Transfer Value: €12M

Notes: Developed by Cascol Football and Nimes. Won the Belgian Pro League Golden Boot (27 goals) in 2023-34.

Familiar Faces

FC Cincinnati Manager Pat Noonan played for the Sounders FC (21/1) from 2010-2011.

Squads

Cincinnati from:

Louro, Celentano, Mrozek, Powell, Hagglund, Robinson, Hadebe, Miazga, Smith, Ramirez, Lajhar, Echenique, Andrei Chirila, Nwobodo, Gidi, Bucha, Valenzuela, Anunga, Chavez, Jimenez, Denkey, Evander, Fletcher, Barlow, Mboma Dem, Stefan Chirila, Jabbari.

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Hawkins, Kim, Kossa-Rienzi, Lopez, Nouhou, Alex, Sailor, Brunell, Gomez, Kingston, Cristian, Rusnak, De Rosario, Musovski, Rothrock.

Note: Wednesday’s match saw Sounders FC Reserve players Jauregui, Gaffney, and Gnaulati on the bench. As there is zero transparency for short-term loans from the reserves, it is impossible to say whether or not they will be on the bench - or in the team for that matter. Given the current attrition due to injury we are facing, it’s quite possible that trio or others will be in the squad for Sat, but without confirmation, I can’t really add them to the squad list.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Cincinnati -

OUT: none.

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Sounders FC -

OUT: Ragen (knee), Ferreira (hamstring), Dotson (hamstring), De la Vega (quadriceps), Arriola (calf), Gomez Andrade (calf), Morris (quadriceps), Petkovic (knee).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Cristian (quadriceps).

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Cincinnati: No players suspended. Evander and Miazga out next match if booked.

Sounders FC: No players suspended. Kingston out next match if booked.

Fun Fact

“Kicking ball games arose independently multiple times across multiple cultures. The Chinese competitive game cuju (蹴鞠, literally "kickball"; also known as tsu chu) resembles modern association football as well as a mix of basketball and volleyball. This is the earliest form of a kicking game for which there is historical evidence.”

– FIFA Museum and Encyclopaedia Britannica via Wikipedia