WATCH: Yuya Kubo scores goal for FC Cincinnati in “MLS is Back” Tournament

Yuya Kubo is a member of the Japan national team and is in his first year of MLS with the new expansion team, FC Cincinnati.

FC Cincinnati playing small ball with new-look forward pairing

Charlie GoldsmithCincinnati Enquirer

If FC Cincinnati had a fully healthy roster, star forward Jürgen Locadia would likely be standing at the top of FC Cincinnati’s formation trying to overpower opposing center backs.

But since Locadia is out with a quad injury, FC Cincinnati is playing small ball with an undersized but quicker front line.

FC Cincinnati has three pure strikers on the roster, and all of them, including Locadia, are 6-foot-2 or taller. None of them have been in FC Cincinnati’s starting lineup in the two matches head coach Jaap Stam has been with the team.

Yuya Kubo, a 5-foot-10 midfielder, and Adrien Regattin, a 5-foot-5 midfielder, have started at forward for both of FC Cincinnati’s MLS Is Back Tournament matches. Midfielder Caleb Stanko said FC Cincinnati is still learning how to utilize two midfielders playing out of position at forward.

“There are drawbacks because (Kubo and Regattin) are natural wingers, but there are also advantages to having players like that,” Stanko told The Enquirer. “They’re not afraid to take guys one-on-one like many forwards are.”

In FC Cincinnati’s tournament opening 4-0 loss to the Columbus Crew, Stanko said the midfielders struggled to adjust their style of play to support Kubo and Regattin up front. FC Cincinnati’s midfielders often sent crosses in the air to one of them, and Kubo and Regattin were unlikely to overpower one of Columbus’ 6-foot-2 center backs and win possession. 

Regattin and Kubo combined for just two shots against the Crew. After the match, Stam told the midfielders to adjust their passing style and get Regattin and Kubo the ball on the ground in the middle of the field.

Instead of having the midfielders serve crosses in the air, Stam wanted the midfielders to get Kubo and Regattin the ball further from the net so they could get the ball and then take on defenders one-on-one.

Because Kubo and Regattin were quicker than Atlanta’s defenders in front of them, they created more chances in Thursday’s 1-0 over Atlanta United FC.Get the Bengals Beat newsletter in your inbox.Your Email

“They aren’t the biggest, so it has been a struggle for them to hold up the ball playing against big center backs,” Stanko said. “We’ve had to change it to focus on these guys’ strengths and get them the ball where they can do something useful.”

FC Cincinnati’s first goal of the tournament was a result of this new focus. In the 76th minute against Atlanta, midfielder Haris Medunjanin fed Regattin on the ground in the middle of the field. Regattin immediately juked around two Atlanta defenders to give FC Cincinnati an advantage. Then Regattin passed the ball forward to Frankie Amaya, who had an open shot for his first career goal.

Even though playing Kubo and Regattin at striker has forced FC Cincinnati’s to adapt, Stam said this forward pairing is promising.

“You’re always looking for that ideal partnership everywhere on the pitch, and by playing games you can see that,” Stam said. “You need to (find) what’s the best partnership on the pitch to play together so you as a team can perform better.”

Stanko said the Regattin-Kubo forward combination can be even more impactful in Wednesday’s match against the New York Red Bulls. The Red Bulls are known for an aggressive scheme that presses midfielders high up the field. When New York turns the ball over, that scheme is particularly vulnerable since fewer players are back on defense.

If FC Cincinnati can force turnovers Thursday, Stanko said Kubo and Regattin could have chances for long runs up the field with the ball. On the counter-attack, Kubo and Regattin would be able to maneuver around New York’s defenders and get more chances to score than they have had so far this season.

Source:
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2020/07/21/yuya-kubo-adrien-regattin-forwards-fc-cincinnati/5481261002/