2017 Match Reports

FC Cincinnati Defeats Louisville City FC & Will Host Columbus Crew SC

US Open Cup Third Round: FC Cincinnati vs. Louisville City FC

Disclaimer* – If you don’t wear Orange & Blue tinted glasses, you may not like this recap.

First off, what a match! If you weren’t one of the near 7,000 fans in attendance, you truly missed a special event. Your Orange & Blue showed up to play Wednesday night in the US Open Cup. The Third Round match featured a pairing of two intense rivals with bad blood between them and a chance to host Columbus Crew SC on the line.

Things got off right away as FC Cincinnati’s Matt Bahner would drive up the right side and unleash a shot on goal 2 minutes in. Former FC Cincinnati striker Luke Spencer received the start up top for LCFC, but left the game after 16 minutes due to a hamstring injury. Prior to the injury, Spencer offered several chances, but his replacement Ilic left much to be desired.

Throughout the course of the game, FCC Head Coach Alan Koch seemed to out coach LCFC gaffer James O’Connor. The two even shared a tense moment after the match in which it seems O’Connor pulled Koch’s hand and wouldn’t let go. See the video below. After judging Spencer (prior to injury) and the LCFC midfield dictate the tempo early, Koch dropped Corben Bone deep and changed the makeup of the central midfield for FCC. This move allowed FCC to control the remainder of the first half and also provided a good bend, but don’t break defense in the second half.

The man of the match, Djiby Fall, was being pulled, hacked or baited the entire time he was on the field. An interesting moment came when a ball came into the box late in the first half, but Ranjitsigh pulled a Floyd Mayweather and knocked out his center back. Fall, who was near the play, was immediately targeted by LCFC players who pleaded with match official Brandon Artis to send off Fall with his 2nd yellow. In what was an amazing moment, the FC Cincinnati scoreboard operator displayed the replay of the incident which immediately changed the tune of the cry-baby LCFC player.

Fall would indeed get his revenge in the 49′ when he finished home a ball that was left free in the box after his initial attempt on a corner. This sent Nippert into a raucous and set the Bailey alight cheering their team on.

O’Connor would make changes in the midfield replacing the crybaby and Brian Ownby with Richie Ballard and Mark-Anthony Kaye. These two looked to be effective, but Koch would counter adding Danni König up top and Tyler Polak for Justin Hoyte. These two moves helped provide FCC with someone to press the LCFC defenders in their defensive third and allowed newcomer Justin Hoyte a rest after an impressive 76′.

Louisville could only muster two more shots after the Djiby goal and FC Cincinnati would go on to see the match out for their 5th Widmer’s Cleaners Clean Sheet of the season.

With the win, FC Cincinnati will take on MLS side Columbus Crew SC on Wednesday, July 14th at 7 p.m. in Nippert. What is already being called the “Hell is Real Derby” will feature the only two professional sides in the state of Ohio. Following the Crew SC victory over Seattle on Wednesday night, Head Coach Gregg Berhalter immediately asked who they would be playing. After learning of the result in Cincinnati, Berhalter commented how excited he was to play FCC in Nippert.

Tickets are on sale now for FC Cincinnati season ticket holders, with tickets going on sale to the general public on Tuesday June 6th.

Be there in Nippert as the Orange & Blue will look to make history.

Box Score

FC Cincinnati Starting XI (4-3-3): Hildebrandt (GK); (R-L) Bahner, Berry, Delbridge, Hoyte (76′); Quinn, Bone, Wiedeman(88′); Dacres, Fall (71′), McLaughlin

Subs: Jaye (GK), Dominguez, K. Walker (88’+), Polak (76’+), Nicholson, Mansaray, König (71’+)

Louisville City FC Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Ranjitsingh (GK); (R-L) Smith, Morad, Craig, Jiminez; Abend, Del Piccolo; Ownby (63′), Davis, CRY BABY (63′); Spencer (16′)

Subs: Dobrowolski (GK), Bledsoe (GK), Ilic (16’+), Ballard (63’+), Kaye (63’+), Reynolds , Totsch

Scoring
49′ – FC Cincinnati – Djiby Fall

3 Things to Know

The Bailey Brought It: Even though it wasn’t the biggest crowd in FC Cincinnati history, it was a rowdy one. The Bailey absolutely made a difference in the match. With the exception of a few rare moment, the supporters in the end zone were chanting, giving LCFC players grief and cheering on the Orange & Blue. Let’s hope that fans will be out in force for the Columbus Crew SC match in two weeks.

Hell is Real Derby to Come: FC Cincinnati will welcome their first MLS club and hopefully their future rival in Columbus Crew SC on June 14th. The “Hell is Real Derby” is named after a series of signs on I-71 between Cincinnati & Columbus, should stir a mix of emotions in FCC and Crew SC fans. If anyone asks me about the Crew, I refer to myself as a retired Crew SC supporter with the creation of FCC. I am sure there are many Gold & Black fans in Cincinnati, but I encourage them to come out and support the Orange & Blue. This match will sure have a bit of banter between the two supporter fan bases and I can’t wait to welcome them and Crew SC into our venue.

Stay Classy Jim O’Connor: I am sure there are always two sides to every story, but I want to point out my view. LCFC players repeatedly dove, hacked FCC player or whined to the referee. Official Brandon Artis took control and sent those cry babies away quickly and professionally. My only thought is that LouCity Head Coach James O’Connor was trying to provoke emotions from FCC. Coach Koch’s player stood tall and defeated their rival without getting into too many verbal altercations. The rivalry took a step even more in a heated direction after the match as it looks as O’Connor pulls on the arm of Koch. Koch shows his displeasure and then is accosted by the LCFC assistant. A classy organization you run there O’Connor, we see your players and fan base model your on field values (whining and cheating). Hopefully, you got our of our city as fast as possible and into your part-time Radio Shack job on Thursday.

Next Up:

Saturday 6/3 at Rochester Rhinos – 6:05 p.m. EST – Capelli Sport Stadium, Rochester, NY.

@bryanweigel for @CincySoccerTalk

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