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4 days ago
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Pavel Bucha is 'engine' for FC Cincinnati, even in loss
Speaking to the media earlier this week, FC Cincinnati general manager Chris Albright lauded Pavel Bucha, not MVP frontrunner Evander, as the team's top player this season. The man in charge of the Orange and Blue's roster decisions commended Bucha's on-ball quality and engine. Keeping his head down throughout the week, the midfielder approaches the game with simplicity while frequently making an impact. 'Evander is not going to like this, but I think Pavel has been our best player all year,' Albright said. 'Obviously, Evander's Evander (and) Kévin's Kévin, so they'll hopefully smile at that, but Pavel has been so consistent and such an important piece of what we do in the middle of the field.' Irrespective of the statement, Bucha has regularly demonstrated why Albright delivered such high praise, even in FC Cincinnati's Hell is Real 4-2 defeat to the Columbus Crew Saturday, July 12. Bucha scored a goal, created two chances and made eight passes into the final third. Meanwhile, defensively, he made six recoveries, one tackle and an interception. While his influence does not always fill up the stat sheet, Bucha regularly fuels FC Cincinnati, even in defeats. This season, his 1.74 chances created, 6.7 recoveries and 0.99 possession won in the final third per 90 minutes all rank in the top 15% of MLS players of his position, according to FotMob. Bucha has logged two goals and two assists in 20 appearances. 'He's an engine in the midfield,' coach Pat Noonan said of Bucha. '(He) always puts in the work (and) always gives you everything he has. (He's) just the guy that leads by example, can make plays going to goal and can make plays defensively.' In the opening minute of Saturday's contest, Bucha came flying into the box before slotting home a cross from defender Lukas Engel to open the scoring for FC Cincinnati. Just about four minutes later, Evander followed up a deflected shot by defender Miles Robinson to put away the team's second goal. Bucha's goal was the fourth fastest in club history and the two scores were the Orange and Blue's fastest two goals to open a match since they joined MLS, according to the club. 'When I saw that Lukas running down the line, I almost knew he (was) gonna cut back that ball, and I just made sure that I (would) be there at that spot,' Bucha said. 'And then that was just for me, clear situation, just hit the goal.' The Crew spoiled the party at TQL Stadium by equalizing before halftime and piling in a pair of second half goals. Still, Bucha was one of FC Cincinnati's few standouts in the match, making sound decisions, playing passes into the final third and recovering the ball. Bucha, in his second season with the Orange and Blue, credited his consistent form to his growing comfortability in Cincinnati. 'Every day I feel better and better with the guys, the city, (and) the people, so I'm more comfortable with living here,' he said. 'That helps me perform constantly in a good way. And (I) just train hard and build that confidence during trainings and then put it into the matches.' Defender Miles Robinson also praised Bucha's engine and consistency. "You know what you're going to get with him, day in and day out, on and off the field," Robinson said. "He's had a great season so far with goals and defensive plays. He's a great player." FC Cincinnati will play Inter Miami CF on Wednesday, July 16 before traveling to face Real Salt Lake on Saturday, July 19. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Pavel Bucha is 'engine' for FC Cincinnati
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4 days ago
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FC Cincinnati experiences ‘reality check' in Hell Is Real loss
FC Cincinnati was flying. They had not lost a match since May and were set to face their rivals, the Columbus Crew, at home while sitting atop the MLS Supporters' Shield standings. Even before the game, a weather delay ensured the stands were packed as the Orange and Blue took the field for warm-ups, giving the team another boost. And after going up 2-0 within five minutes via goals by midfielders Pavel Bucha and Evander, FC Cincinnati's confidence seemed justified. FC Cincinnati loss Columbus Crew 'Disappointing.' Columbus Crew rallies for comeback Hell is Real win over FC Cincinnati FC Cincinnati Pavel Bucha Columbus Crew Pavel Bucha is 'engine' for FC Cincinnati, even in loss Until it wasn't. The Columbus Crew drew level before halftime before an own goal from Miles Robinson delivered the opposition a go-ahead score to build a lead they would only add to in the Orange and Blue's 4-2 loss Saturday, July 12. While statistically, the two sides weren't far off in their chance creation – both putting six shots on frame and generating somewhat similar expected goals totals – conceding scores after building a lead has become a trend for FC Cincinnati. 'It could be a reality check for sure because we came into this game with a good amount of confidence,' said defender Lukas Engel. 'We got a great start in about five minutes and we couldn't ask for more. And then (we concede) four goals … We should be very motivated, and we should be coming out there on Wednesday and have revenge.' Conceding late goals has become trend for FC Cincinnati In March, FC Cincinnati scored an 88th-minute own goal after taking a 2-1 lead against Atlanta United FC. In May, the Orange and Blue conceded in stoppage time after securing a 3-2 lead in the 86th minute against FC Dallas. And even in the Orange and Blue's undefeated June, they gave up goals to all three teams they played after going ahead 2-0 or 3-0. Luckily for them, those scores were not as costly as Saturday's. Coach Pat Noonan said FC Cincinnati started playing too direct against the Crew and lost their composure. But he also said they were 'unfortunate' in a couple of moments defensively while failing to capitalize in the attack. Noonan noted the Orange and Blue didn't take 'their foot off the gas,' but they lost their rhythm and failed to execute when they started playing more vertically. 'You got an early lead, and it's easy to lose some of the focus to continue to try to push in certain ways that I think got away from how we prepared,' Noonan said. 'That's a conversation we'll have to talk through and see where our play got away from us that allowed them back into the game.' Learning to play with a lead Robinson took the blame for the loss after scoring the own goal that gave the Crew a 3-2 lead, calling the loss a 'reality check.' Engel rejected that notion, putting responsibility on the entire team. The American said the team could work on how they play while they are ahead. 'We always concede when we are winning, and you don't want to make that a habit,' Robinson said. 'It's kind of just the mentality, maybe – 'oh yeah, we're obviously better,' if you're winning two-nil in 15 minutes. But it's not really that kind of mindset you have to have. 'You have to have the mindset that the game's not over. We haven't done anything yet until we find the final blows.' FC Cincinnati has a quick turnaround to face Inter Miami CF on Wednesday, July 16. In another match against a squad in the Shield race, every point is vital. 'We can't let the game drift away from us like that,' Engel said. 'If we go out there on Wednesday and play like we did the first 25 minutes, we're going to win that game for sure, no doubt about that, but we need to manage the game better, and that's a key point we need to take away from this, that two up should never end in a 2-4 loss.' This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati experiences 'reality check' in Hell Is Real loss
