River Cities rivals clashed in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Wednesday night at Nippert Stadium, with FC Cincinnati claiming a 1-0 victory over Louisville City FC.
Djiby Fall netted a poacher’s goal in the 48th minute of play to give the match its lone tally of the evening. The forward did well to get on the end of a rebound after Harrison Delbridge’s header off a corner was parried away by Louisville goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh.
After weathering an early chance by Louisville in just the sixth minute of action from a long-range try by Oscar Jimenez, the hosts responded with several quality chances of their own. However, neither team was able to break the deadlock, and the clubs went into the locker rooms at the interval knotted up at 0-0.
The stalemate concluded quickly after the restart after Cincinnati earned a corner thanks to Fall’s efforts. Though Louisville ramped up the pressure desperately searching for a goal as the match marched on, they were unable to come away with anything for their efforts. In fact, they almost gave up a second goal when Danni Konig saw his headed effort just tipped over the crossbar by Ranjitsingh in the 78th minute.
Surviving that near-decisive shot, Louisville nearly had the tying goal in the 80th minute when Guy Abend made good contact on the volley. Unfortunately for Abend and the Louisville faithful, the shot went high. Cincinnati was able to see out the dying embers of the match to punch their ticket to the Fourth Round.
This marks the first time in club history that FC Cincinnati has moved on to the Fourth Round after bowing out, 1-0, to the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Third Round last season. Cincinnati will host MLS-side Columbus Crew SC on June 14.