Do you remember Jaap Stam's first match in charge of FC Cincinnati? What were the particulars of that steamy, July night in Orlando at the MLS Is Back Tournament?
What about the debuts of Yoann Damet, or Ron Jans? Any recollections of those occasions?
In broad strokes, sure, maybe you retained some details of those days but, generally speaking, they're now buried in the collective consciousness of the FC Cincinnati fan base.
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Those men didn't last in their posts. Nothing great resulted from their respective regimes, and so their debuts faded quickly from relevance.
In sports, a "first" typically only maintains its significance if it portends success.
Another first arrives Saturday for FC Cincinnati. The hope is that the particulars of this one – that the Pat Noonan era officially launches against Austin FC at Q2 Stadium (6 p.m. ET) – will be worthy of remembrance.
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Noonan, the first-time head coach, will attempt to begin the first successful head-coaching tenure in the club's MLS history after FCC finished last in the league three consecutive years.
In his first remarks to local media members in weeks, Noonan on Wednesday indicated the significance of the moment wasn't lost on him.
"It’s exciting. I’m sure it will hit once you walk out on to the field," Noonan said. "But as of right now, the thought is still how do we prepare over the next couple of days to be at our best when we step on the field. It will be neat to be out there, no question, but it’ll be a lot better if we have the performance and result we are looking for."
A result would be a good start for Noonan's tenure, especially considering the circumstances of this particular matchup.
Austin FC revealed itself to be a somewhat respectable team in its expansion season last year, finishing the year 9-21-4. That's three more wins than Cincinnati had in its debut season in 2019.
Q2 Stadium also became a hotbed for raucous soccer fandom, and provided a noticeably improved form for Austin, which went 7-8-2 there.
Contrast that with FC Cincinnati, which won just once during the 2021 season at its brand new venue, TQL Stadium.
Austin was the lowest-scoring club in MLS (35 goals). Austin had four players with at least four goals in 2021. Cecilio Domínguez led the club with seven goals, and the hope is Argentinian midfielder Sebastian Driussi can provide more end product in the attack.
Austin had one of the leakiest defenses in the league (56 goals against). But the club shored things up defensively during the offseason. Newly acquired defensive midfielder Jhojan Valencia, previously of Colombia's Deportivo Cali, and Ruben Gabrielsen, a Norwegian center back from France's Toulouse FC, will make things difficult for opposition attackers.
“They’re a group that is a year-more experienced," Noonan said. "They’ve added some nice pieces. They have quality with the ball and the ability to break you down if you’re not organized in your press, however that looks for us. We need to be very organized defensively to make sure that they are not able to play through us.”
FC Cincinnati's coming off an undefeated preseason (3-0-2) that's evoked some measured optimism from its fans and pundits. The club also this week added a much-needed defensive midfielder of its own in MLS veteran Junior Moreno, which should be more reason for optimism.
Whether any of that is enough to contribute to a memorable start on Saturday to Noonan's tenure at FCC remains to be seen.
"We know it’s going to be a very difficult game and a great atmosphere," Noonan said. "We’re going to feel it at times, we’re going to defend at times. And being able to accept that and understand how to manage road conditions is important for us."
The Game
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET on Saturday | Q2 Stadium; Austin, Texas
TV/Radio/stream: Star64/Fox Sports AM 1360/ESPN+/FCCincinnati.com
Series info: First-ever meeting.
Cincinnati.com prediction: Austin FC 1, FC Cincinnati 1.
FC Cincinnati
2021 record/finish: 4-22-8, last in Eastern Conference and MLS
Goals for (2021): 37
Goals against (2021): 74
Coach: Pat Noonan - first match as MLS head coach
Projected starting lineup:
Alex Kann (GK)
Ronald Matarrita, left back
Geoff Cameron, center back
Tyler Blackett, center back
Ray Gaddis, right back
Yuya Kubo, midfielder
Luciano Acosta, central midfielder
Junior Moreno, holding midfielder
Allan Cruz, midfielder
Brandon Vazquez, striker
Alvaro Barreal, right winger
Austin FC
2021 record: 9-21-4, 12th in Western Conference
Goals for (2021): 36
Goals against (2021): 56
Coach: Josh Wolff – second season as Austin head coach
Projected starting lineup:
Brad Stuver, goalkeeper
Žan Kolmanič, left back
Ruben Gabrielsen, center back
Jhohan Sebastian Romaña Espitia, center back
Nick Lima, right back
Alex Ring, midfielder
Jhojan Valencia, midfielder
Sebastián Driussi, midfielder
Diego Fagúndez, winger
Cecilio Domínguez, winger
Moussa Djitté, forward
Noteworthy: FC Cincinnati head coaches have posted a 1-4-1 record in their debut matches. Only Yoann Damet, who twice served as interim manager, won his FCC head coaching debut. Damet emerged victorious against CF Montreal on May 11, 2019. Previous FC Cincinnati head coaches to lose their debuts include John Harkes (2016), Alan Koch (2017), Jaap Stam (2020) and Tyrone Marshall (2021, interim). Ron Jans (2019) earned a draw against rival Columbus Crew.
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