FC Cincinnati coach Alan Koch has shown a knack for pulling all the right levers to create maximum cohesion in the past two Major League Soccer games. 

Hitting the road Sunday to take on the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, FCC will need Koch to continue his magical ways.

FCC took great strides forward after a season-opening loss to Seattle, earning a point at Atlanta FC before jumping ahead dramatically in a 3-0 home-opening rout of Portland FC last weekend. 

While the performance against Portland would normally have a coach feeling positive, the loss of five starters due to injury or international duty will have FCC looking much different Sunday afternoon in Massachusetts. 

FCC loses starting center back and team captain Kendall Waston, as well as midfielder Allan Cruz for the game as the duo will be participating in the Costa Rica national team camp. 

Waston has started all three games, scoring last Sunday, and Cruz was magnificent against Portland, with his back heel beauty in the 60th minute winning Major League Soccer’s Goal of the Week for week three. 

Additionally, FCC will be without the services of right back Alvas Powell and super sub Darren Mattocks, who will both be in the Jamaican national team camp. Mattocks came off the bench last week for the injured Fanendo Adi and had an immediate impact, making runs into the box capped off with a wonderful assist to Mathieu Deplagne in the 63rd minute. 

Frankie Amaya hasn’t seen the field for FCC yet this season, but he is departing as well, getting the call up to the U.S. U20 roster. 

Adi is also out, with his lower-body injury keeping him out of training this week. Koch ruled him out for Sunday's contest.

“I’m excited,” Koch said. “I am seriously excited for our group and I am excited for the individuals in our group. The byproduct of international call ups is it is great for the players that go. They want to go represent their countries, but they don’t want to leave us at this time obviously. The byproduct it is a great option for the other guys in the group to go show what they can do.”

While Koch admitted some coaches might have some angst over losing players who are contributing at a high level for FCC, the veteran coach chose to spin it as a positive for his talented bench to show what they can do with extended minutes. 

“In some respects it makes my job a little bit easier managing players because the guys who played well the last two games I probably wouldn’t have made any more changes,” Koch said. “But now the players get the opportunity, I have to make some changes and now we see who will step up this weekend.”

FCC stands 1-1-1 and Spencer Richey, coming off his first MLS shutout, has stood tall in place of injured Przemyslaw Tyton. Richey is expected to get the start at NE and said the club can show off its depth this weekend.

“It is a long season,” Richey said. “The long season is a test to the squad, not just the 11 who played last weekend. It will be good experience for guys who maybe haven’t got a chance to play to potentially start or come off the bench and impact the game.”

The Revolution stand 0-2-1 after dropping a 3-2 decision at Toronto FC. 

NE will also lose three players for international call ups. Justin Rennicks will join Amaya with the U20 USMNT. Gabriel Somi has joined the Syrian national team camp while Zachary Herivaux will be with the Haitian national squad.

With so many missing for the Orange-and-Blue, fans should get to see the likes of Kenny Saief, Caleb Stanko, Greg Garza, Emmanuel Ledesma and Forrest Lasso. 

Saief was an MLS Team of the Week nominee following the Atlanta game but didn’t see the pitch against Portland. 

WHAT: FC Cincinnati (1-1-1) vs. New England Revolution (0-2-1)

WHERE: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass

WHEN: 4 p.m. ET kickoff

Broadcast info: 

TV: WSTR Star64 (Cincy)

Local Stream: FloFC

Out of town stream: ESPN PLUS