CHICAGO – With the spotlight shining on FC Cincinnati’s table of decision-makers at the club’s first Major League Soccer SuperDraft, Los Angeles FC General Manager John Thorrington walked over with a last-ditch effort to obtain the top overall pick.



The four-minute timer eventually ticked down to zero, and MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced from the podium an unusual way to begin the draft: FCC was taking its timeout.



Cincinnati, afforded the top pick as the league’s newest expansion team, had been unofficially on the clock since the draft list of players available was announced last month. The club had been listening to teams’ pitches for that No. 1 pick all week, but apparently, LAFC had an intriguing offer at the last minute.



After an extra four minutes and a counteroffer declined, FCC selected UCLA attacking midfielder Frankie Amaya, a U-20 national team member. Amaya signed with MLS as a Generation Adidas player and...