FC Cincinnati returns to Nippert Stadium for their first regular season home match of the 2018 season. The 8th Dirty River Derby should be an exciting affair and could launch one of these teams into first place of the USL Eastern Conference. Check out our 5 Things to Know for FC Cincinnati’s match against Louisville City FC.
Where: Cincinnati, OH – Nippert Stadium
When: Saturday, April 7th at 7:00 p.m. EST
2018 Form: FC Cincinnati – T-3rd Place (2W-0L-0D, 6 pts.), Louisville City FC – T-3rd Place (2W-0L-0D, 6pts)
Derby Total: FC Cincinnati (3W-2D-2L), Louisville (2W-2D-3L)
YOUR FAVORITE PEOPLE THIS WEEK – Ref Assignments:
REF: JOSEPH DICKERSON, AR1: CORY RICHARDSON, AR2: JAMES DULING, 4TH: WILLIAM GAITHER III
March to Matchday Podcast – FC Cincinnati vs Louisville City FC:
Join host Bryan Weigel (@bryanweigel), as he previews FC Cincinnati’s third USL regular season match of 2018 as they face Louisville City FC. Joining Bryan on this week’s show is guest Tom Farmer (@tomfoolree) of the Barrel Proof Podcast (@barrelprooffc) and President of the Lou Coopers (@LouCoopers). This show will hopefully fit in your drive time to work, to the pub on game day or lead you right up to game time. We hope you enjoy!
Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store.
5 Things to Know
Generate More Chances: FC Cincinnati has pulled off two amazing shutouts at Charleston and Indianapolis but will need to score more to keep their place on the table. Our own Ken Hoetker outlined the Expected Goals (xG) formula to explain how FCC needs more chances created if it hopes to spur the offense. Can the club begin to play from the back through Richie Ryan or will Coach Koch shift around a lineup that has won two consecutive matches? Creating chances vs. LCFC will be a premium as they are an organized unit that thrives on shutting down passing lanes and countering.
Welcome Back: Saturday will mark the return of former FC Cincinnati players Luke Spencer and Pat McMahon to Nippert Stadium as well as LaSalle HS product Kyle Smith. Spencer has won the starting forward position while McMahon has played as the right center back in a three-man back line. Smith has shifted from wing back to defensive midfielder in 2018 but may make way for Speedy Williams in the middle. FCC fans will surely welcome these three back to the Queen City, but Coach Koch and crew will look to send them back to Louisville with 0 points.
Tennis Match & Organize Midfield: I see this match looking like a tennis match until the first goals. Both their matches from the previous week had a frenzied pace with both teams going back and forth on the pitch. They key will be what happens after the first goal. If FC Cincinnati score first, will Koch look to drop his midfielders similar to Indianapolis and concede shots from outside the 18? Or will he continue to have his side push to send a message to LCFC? On the opposite end, what happens if FC Cincinnati goes down a goal? If Will Seymore starts in place of Kenney Walker, Nazmi Albadawi may make his first appearance off the bench to bring on some creativity. Regardless, FCC will have to match the speed of play of LCFC. Whether it is a free kick or throw in, you cannot take a second off vs. Coach O’Connor’s squad.
Eliminate Fouls around Box: I know this is obvious, but FC Cincinnati needs to limit their fouls on Saturday. More importantly, they need to limit fouls on or around the 18-yard box. Newcomer Shaun Francis offers deadly free kicks, and with Luke Spencer in the middle, anything can happen. Louisville has always had a reputation for gamesmanship and will not hesitate to go down in the box. Spencer tried to draw a penalty this weekend vs. Tampa Bay but his appeal for a call was denied. This has tended to frustrate FCC in the past culminating in several instances of a player losing his cool.
Statement: Can one of these two teams be the first Eastern Conference team to 9 points? As Coach Koch mentioned, we won’t really know our team until after 10 matches, but beating Louisville to log 9 points in 3 games is a huge statement to the league. The saying goes, “you have to beat the best to be the best.” Well, Louisville City is the best right now and FC Cincinnati will need 3 points out of almost every home match to sit at the top of the table.
Growler Cup – Week 3
Returning for 2018 is our Growler Cup! If you contribute $5/ month or more as a supporter of the site, you are entered into the Growler Cup prediction contest. Supporters of the show along with our hosts will predict the score and result for the upcoming week’s match. We have changed the rules for 2018. You get 3 pts for picking the correct result, 1 pt for correct FCC goals and 1pt for correct opponent goals. There will be many opportunities to win as well in 2018. Along with the overall champion (2017 – Chris Dimeo), fans can get on our show to chat with the staff or partake in a trivia contest by scoring the most amount of points in a given month. You will see the predictions of our staff below. Please consider supporting the site at CincinnatiSoccerTalk.com/Support.
Week 2 Recap: FC Cincinnati 1, Indy Eleven 0
Staff Standings:
7 – Boston
6 – Bill & Yosief
5 – Seubs & Griff
4 – Brad & Ken
2 – Rob & Trisha
1 – Bryan
0 – Ben
Supporter Groups Pregame Match Parties
We encourage all fans to get down to Clifton early and enjoy themselves at the area’s many restaurants and pubs. Many Supporter Groups hang out in the “Short Vine” area where you can join in the march to Nippert Stadium. Some of these locations can be rowdier than others, but families and opposing fans are encouraged to come out and join the various groups. The Supporters March Should begin at approx. 3:00 p.m.
Die Innenstadt: Mecklenburg Gardens – 302 E University Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45219
The Pride: Ladder 19 – 2701 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45219 – Will move to Top Cats – 2820 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45219
The Pride Norden: Ladder 19 – 2701 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45219 – Will move to Top Cats – 2820 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45219
Queen City Firm: Mio’s Pizzeria Pub – 2634 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45219
Queen City Mafia: Short Vine Bearcat Statue Lot – 2700 Block of Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45219
The Legion: Taste of Belgium Clifton – 2845 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45219
The Bailey Bastards: Hang Over Easy – 3 W Charlton St, Cincinnati, OH 45219
For more information and how to join the supporters march, check out our matchday guide!
Viewing
TV: This contest is set for a 7:00 p.m. EST kickoff on Saturday night. Broadcasting partner Sinclair Broadcasting Group will now air all FC Cincinnati home & away matches. The broadcast duo of Tom Gelehrter and Kevin McCloskey will provide the play-by-play and color analysis to FCC fans live on WSTR Star 64. Lindsay Patterson will be reporting from the sideline. The match will also be broadcast at FC Cincinnati’s pub partners or by Streaming internet on USL’s Youtube station.
RADIO: ESPN 1530 AM
Stay tuned to our Twitter handle – @CincySoccerTalk, for updated information.
@bryanweigel of @CincySoccerTalk
LIVE SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT: Join us on April 16, 7:00 pm at the Buffalo Wings & Rings- Oakley Station
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