Matchday #16 FC Cincinnati vs. Orlando City B
Orlando City Stadium – Attendance: 980
The start time of this game was pushed back but the scoring started right out of the gate. Orlando was able to do something that teams had struggle to do against the Orange and Blue. In the second minute of play Orlando’s Martz came in from the corner and slotted a pass to Jordan Schweitzer and he struck the ball well, allowing Mitch Hilderbrandt to only watch the ball settle into the back of the net.
Immediately following the goal FCC started to take some control of the game. Orlando’s goal was almost a wake up call to the team after the huge result against the Chicago Fire on Wednesday. After settling down and making a couple dangerous attacks they were able to break through in the 16th minute. Andrew Weideman had a nice ball played to him wide that created a break with Djiby in the center. Weideman pulled the goalie towards him and then had a well placed pass to Djiby and all he had to do was put a crisp touch on the ball to tie it at 1-1.
After Djiby scored, the game started to open up and both teams created opportunities. One of the more dangerous chances occurred when Djiby was able to create some space and fired a shot from just outside of the penalty area only to be denied by Earl Edwards Jr with a kick save.
By the end of the half FCC had created 9 shots (5 on goal) where OCB created only 3 shots (1 on goal). Possesion was fairly equal but FCC was able to quickly counter on a number of occasion and had a better run of play up to the half.
At the start of the second FCC started to control the pace of the game. Orlando spent first 20 minutes of the half on the back foot. Djiby fall nearly scored his second in the 48th minute and Weideman almost lofted one over the keeper in the 53rd minute.
The most dangerous attack occurred in the 67th minute against the run of play when Orlando’s Albert Dikwa received service and headed the ball to the lower corner but Hildebrandt parried the ball clear.
The game settled into both teams trying to break each other down without much success. In the 86th minute FCC’s Dacres and Orlando’s Da Silvia got into an little exchange that resulted in a Red Card for Da Silvia. Cincinnati could not do anything with the man advantage and the game played out to a 1-1 draw.
3 Things to Know
Open Cup Mindgame: Giving up an easy early goal, the team quickly snapped back into a reality that they have to play the game. After the early goal the team settled into the game and clearly outplayed Orlando. We can not have these lapses, the Open Cup games are going to play mind games with the players. The coaches need to help these guys focus on league games right out of the gate.
As the world turns: Squad rotation is occurring with four key players starting this game that sat out the Wednesday USOC game against the Chicago Fire. Nicholson, Walker, Polak, and Djiby all got the start and it helped the team in general get out of the quick deficit. Djiby provided some key runs, which is not his traditional mindset as a holding forward. But those runs created space for others to run in behind and eventually led to our only goal. With a congested July schedule, who will get rotated out against Tampa? Is Danni fresh enough to start the Double D’s up top and allow us to go back to the 3-5-2 formation. When do Harry or Berry get a rest?
Killer Instinct: Getting a point on the road is usually considered a good result. This game provided us that point, but we were clearly the dominate team out shooting them 16 to 4 and only allowing them 2 shots on goal. These are the games FCC needs to finish. Getting a point can feel good but this was a game that had all the markings of a victory for the orange and blue. I think this was a missed opportunity.
Box Score
FC Cincinnati Starting XI (3-4-3): Hildebrandt (GK), Nicholson, Berry, Delbridge(90′), Bahner, Polak; Walker, Bone; McLaughlin(69′), Djiby(73′), Wiedeman
Subs: Jaye (GK), König(73′) , Dacres(69′), Halfhill, Hoyte(90′) , Josu, Quinn
Orlando City B Starting XI (4-5-1): Earl Edwards Jr. (GK), Ellis-Hayden, Timbó(73′), Donovan; Seb Hines, Clowes, Martz, Schweitzer, Deakin(69′); Da Silva, Albert Dikwa(81′)
Subs: Fenlason, Carroll, Thomsen(73′), Kraft, Neal(69′), Cox(81′), Polk
Scoring
2′: Orlando City B – Jordan Schweitzer
16′: FC Cincinnati – Djiby Fall (Weideman)
Next Up:
Thursday 7/6- vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies – 8 p.m. EST – Al Lang Stadium
@khoetker for @CincySoccerTalk
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