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MLS FC Cincinnati

Notebook: Debuts Come by Virtue of Strong Performances in Training

June 24, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release


Wednesday night would be a night to remember for many chosen to Pat Noonan's team sheet, regardless of the match's outcome. A 3-0 victory just solidified the ability to celebrate the team and personal accomplishments.

Six of FC Cincinnati's nine available reserves had the potential to make their MLS debut when named to the roster for the midweek match with Toronto FC. Three ultimately were given the opportunity and contributed to the victory. Bret Halsey, Stiven Jimenez and Gerardo "Dado" Valenzuela got the call and made their MLS debuts, subbing in late in the second half to secure the victory.

"They've all deserved that because, in training, they make a difference," Noonan said of the three youngsters, "The guys that were out there deserve to be out there."

Halsey, 23, was the first to get the call coming on in the 77th minute for Álvaro Barreal. Halsey signed a short-term loan from FC Cincinnati 2 earlier in the day and became the first player signed to FCC 2 to appear for the first team.

"It's amazing. This is why I came here," the defender said after his debut, "When I signed with Cincinnati it was to get a fresh start... this is just such a long time coming."

A seventh-overall pick by Real Salt Lake in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, the Virginia native never appeared with the club's first team before having his contract option declined. Shortly after being released, Halsey signed a MLS Next Pro contract with FCC 2.

"He's fearless. He doesn't play like a kid that's in a professional environment and hasn't had a whole lot of games," Noonan said of the FCC 2 defender.

Jimenez, a 15 year-old-defender, became tied for the fifth youngest player in MLS history when he was subbed on for Yuya Kubo in the 90th minute. At 15 years, 362 days old at the time of his debut, only Freddy Adu (14 years, 306 days), Alphonso Davies (15, 257), Matai Akimboni (15, 328), and Obed Vargas (15, 351). Erik Duenas of LAFC was also exactly 15 years and 362 days old for his debut.

"It was set up nice for him." Noonan said of the opportunity to give Jimenez his debut, "To give his debut where maybe you don't have to put a 15 year old in a pressure situation where there can be potential for failure and a setback. So I think it was the right opportunity there."

Valenzuela, 18, debut came in the 89th minute when he was brought as a midfielder for Luciano Acosta. "Over the last couple of weeks. You see a player that is just different. He makes plays." Noonan said of Valenzuela's performance in recent training, "He's got a really good feel for how to move with and without the ball."

Hagglund, Santos back in action

Defender Nick Hagglund and forward Sergio Santos were fully active in training with the first team Thursday after being limited for several weeks due to hamstring injuries.

Santos, 28, has been out since May 10, though he made an effort to return early on May 27 against Colorado but re-aggravated his injury immediately after subbing in. Hagglund, 30, suffered his hamstring injury during the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup quarterfinal match with Pittsburgh RiverHounds SC on June 6.

Both players had been active in portions of first-team training leading up to Wednesday evening's game with Toronto FC. Still, after conversations between the players and coaches, the coaching staff opted to air on the side of caution heading into the midweek game.

"I think they were a couple training sessions away," Noonan said after training Thursday afternoon at Mercy Health Training Center, "so in talking to both of them and with some of the setbacks that they had in the process, we didn't want to push them too early. So ultimately it was just about being a little bit more cautious with how many training sessions they had and so they're both available and we anticipate them playing."

Away and Unavailable

FC Cincinnati will be without forward Junior Moreno due to a leg injury and could be without defender Yerson Mosquera as he remains away from the team, settling some paperwork after his trip on international duty.

Moreno, 29, picked up a leg injury while on international duty with Venezuela and did not participate in either of the team's two matches this window against Honduras and Guatemala.

"Too quick of a turnaround." Noonan said of Moreno's potential return this weekend, "We just won't take that risk, so the target is New England"

Mosquera, 22, is away from the club in Toronto, Canada sorting out paperwork after his trip to Europe with the Colombian national team. Though Mosquera did not see action in either match, the Columbian side defeated Germany and Iraq in their trip overseas.

Optimistically Mosquera would be able to meet the Orange and Blue in Washington, D.C. for FC Cincinnati's next match per Noonan, but the timeline remains unclear.

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