FC Cincinnati

Hosting scenarios for 2017 US Open Cup Semifinals, Final announced; FC Cincinnati, Miami FC try again

July 14, 2017 by Phil Naegely

Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS. Photo: Sporting KC — Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS. Photo: Sporting KC

There is one quarterfinal match still to be played, but the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) announced the hosting scenarios for the Semifinals and the Final for the 2017 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

After last Wednesday’s match was postponed due to lightning, the match between FC Cincinnati and Miami FC had to be postponed. The makeup date was announced today as well, with both teams trying again on Wednesday, Aug. 2 at Riccardo Silva Stadium in Miami, Fla. First kick is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

The winner of that match will become just the fifth lower division team to host a Semifinal since 1996. (1996 Rochester Rhinos, 1997 San Francisco Bay Seals, 2007 Seattle Sounders, 2008 Charleston Battery)

Either FC Cincinnati or Miami FC will host the New York Red Bulls (MLS) in the Semifinals. If Miami FC wins, the NASL side will take on the Red Bulls on Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Riccardo Silva Stadium. If FC Cincinnati wins, the USL side will host their game at Nippert Stadium, a place where they have eliminated back-to-back MLS opponents while drawing more than 30,000 fans in each game. That game would take place on Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. ET.

Sporting Kansas City will host the other Semifinal against the San Jose Earthquakes on Aug. 9 at 8:30 p.m. ET at Children’s Mercy Park.

After Friday’s draw for the semifinal hosting scenarios, the priority ranking for the Final took place. The priorty ranking and hosting scenarios are as followed:

1. Sporting Kansas City

2. New York Red Bulls

3. Miami FC/FC Cincinnati Winner

4. San Jose Earthquakes

Or to put it another way: If Sporting Kansas City wins their Semifinal match, they will host whoever emerges from the other Semifinal (Cincinnati/Miami/New York). If the San Jose Earthquakes win, the winner of the other Semifinal will host the championship game.

This year’s US Open Cup Final will take place on Sept. 20. The kickoff time will be announced at a later date. To date, there has not been an announcement about any broadcast plans for the Semifinals or the Final. Last year, ESPN aired the Semifinals and the Final.

2017 US Open Cup Round 5: Mitch Hildebrandt of FC Cincinnati near-unanimous pick for TheCup.us Player of the Round

July 10, 2017 by Ben Ferree

Mitch Hildebrandt made 10 saves and stopped three of the Chicago Fire's four penalty kick attempts to send FC Cincinnati to the Quarterfinals. Photo: Erik Schelkun | FC Cincinnati — Mitch Hildebrandt made 10 saves and stopped three of the Chicago Fire’s four penalty kick attempts to send FC Cincinnati to the Quarterfinals. Photo: Erik Schelkun | FC Cincinnati

Mitch Hildebrandt has been having a US Open Cup run for the ages, culminating with his performance against the Chicago Fire in which he made 10 saves and stopped three out of four penalty kick attempts to lift FC Cincinnati into the Quarterfinals. The game finished scoreless and Cincinnati won the shootout 3-1. Hildebrandt has yet to allow a goal in the tournament despite having two games go to overtime, which is approaching a pair of Modern Era records.

His performance against the Fire made him a near-unanimous winner of TheCup.us Player of the Round award. He received first place votes on every ballot except for two. The player that earned those stray first place votes was the other contestant of what was essentially a two-horse race: Kwadwo Poku of Miami FC (NASL). Poku assisted on the opening goal and scored a dramatic game-winner for Miami FC in the club’s 3-2 upset of Atlanta United (MLS). The award is voted on by the staff at TheCup.us and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters.

After his stellar netminding, the Livonia, Mich. native talked about what it was like to have so much pressure on his shoulders.

“The team was absolutely unbelievable. The amount of work they put in for 120 minutes…I can’t even fathom how they feel right now,” Hildebrandt said, “You dream of moment. Bottom of the ninth hitting a home run in the world series, that’s the American version of this. You just want to be there for your team. You try not to think about any of the pressure. A World Cup winner stands up to take a penalty against you you try to forget who he is and try to stop the ball. It’s exciting.”

Wednesday night's US Open Cup action, headlined by FC Cincinnati's upset on ESPN was trending nationally on Twitter. — Wednesday night’s US Open Cup action, headlined by FC Cincinnati’s upset on ESPN was trending nationally on Twitter.

His performance drew national attention, as the game was featured on ESPN. This was the first time a US Open Cup game that wasn’t a Final or a Semifinal was aired on an ESPN channel.

“I was getting calls and texts from family and friends back home and across the country. It was special because there’s not a lot of times they can see our games, especially in the Open Cup,” Hildebrandt said, “to have it on ESPN and an audience be able to tune in that maybe wouldn’t be able to was special. For that moment to happen, to share it here at home where my wife and family and friends are was special.”

Hildebrandt did not have an easy road to becoming a professional goal keeper. After a strong career in college with the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, he moved on to join the Michigan Bucks in the Premier Development League (coincidentally, he backed up former Columbus Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark in both locations before starting himself). His head coach at Oakland, Eric Pogue, has developed a reputation for recruiting and developing some top goalkeepers, a position that Pogue excelled at during his playing days. In fact, like Hildebrandt, Pogue also made some US Open Cup history by upsetting a MLS team. In 2000, Pogue was the goalkeeper for the Michigan Bucks that shutout the New England Revolution 1-0 in Foxborough.

After two years and 32 appearances with the Bucks, Hildebrandt joined Minnesota United of the NASL. Despite spending four years with Minnesota, he only made 15 appearances.

“I spent four years in Minnesota, all four as a backup. I paid my dues and bide my time. It was frustrating obviously. I was away from my wife for four years, not getting games, wondering what was going on. It’s tough mentally and straining, but when you look back on it it helped me form a career and get better and get me to the stage where I want to be,” Hildebrandt said,” I went through a difficult time and now I’m in a spot where I can rise.”

Hildebradnt latched on right away in Cincinnati, making the USL All-League Team and being named Goalkeeper of the Year in 2016.

“The city has taken to this club and it’s been a very very special thing that has happened here. To be a part of it and to be one of the original players here, I take it to heart. You’re helping build something here…for the staff to believe in me when I wasn’t having regular games in Minnesota…I still to this day try to step on the pitch and prove them right,” Hildebrandt said.

After four straight clean sheets in this tournament, Hildebrandt is 154 minutes of scoreless soccer away from breaking the Modern Era’s single-tournament record for a shutout streak (Chris Eylander, Seattle Sounders – 453 minutes). Hildebrandt is also on the verge of another record with his personal Open Cup shutout streak of 379 minutes which is fast approaching Jon Conway’s record of 473 minutes that was set with the San Jose Earthquakes between the 2000 and 2001 tournaments.

FC Cincinnati will play recently-crowned NASL Spring champions Miami FC on July 12 for a spot in the Semifinals. Despite being underdogs on paper in nearly every Open Cup match this year, Hildebrandt doesn’t see the team as such.

“I think we’ve proven that we have a good a chance as anybody. If you look at our roster, I don’t think that we are an underdog. If you look at the size of our club, I don’t think that we are an underdog. The only thing that made us an underdog in the last two games was the league, second division versus first division,” Hildebrandt said, “Going down to Miami, they’re flying high, but we’re right there with them … it’s a one-game competition and everyone is feeling really good and really believing in each other right now.”

2017 TheCup.us Player of the Round winners

Round 1: Pete Caringi III (Christos FC, USASA)
Round 2: Phil Saunders (Christos FC, USASA)
Round 3: Fabian Cerda (Tulsa Roughnecks, USL)
Round 4: Stefano Pinho (Miami FC, NASL)
Round 5: Mitch Hildebrandt (FC Cincinnati, USL)

2017 US Open Cup Quarterfinals Preview: Underdogs Miami FC, FC Cincinnati fight for spot in Semifinals

July 9, 2017 by Neil Blackmon

FC Cincinnati (USL) at Miami FC (NASL)
Wednesday, July 11 – 7:30 p.m. EST
Riccardo Silva Stadium – Miami, FL

BROADCAST: ONLINE VIDEO

Winner will play New England Revolution / New York Red Bulls winner (Site / Date TBD)

FC Cincinnati Open Cup records
Overall: 4-1-1 (1-0 PK) | Home: 4-0-1 (1-0 PK) | Away: 0-1-0 | vs. Div. 2: 1-1-0
Last entry: 2016 (Lost 1-0 at Tampa Bay Rowdies of NASL in Round 3)
Best finish: 2016 Third Round (Lost 1-0 at Tampa Bay Rowdies of NASL)
Leading goalscorer: Djiby Fall – 3 goals

Miami FC Open Cup records
Overall: 4-1-0 | Home: 3-1-0 | Away: 1-0-0 | vs. Div. 2: 1-0-0
Last entry: 2016 (Lost 2-1 vs. Wilmington Hammerheads of USL in Round 3)
Best finish: 2016 Third Round (Lost 2-1 vs. Wilmington Hammerheads of USL)
Leading goalscorer: Stefano Pinho – 4 goals (1st in 2017 US Open Cup)

Miami FC (NASL) and FC Cincinnati (USL) will square off in the Quarterfinals, assurring that at least one lower division team will reach the Semifinals for the first time since 2011.

In a battle of darling underdogs, the NASL’s Miami FC will host the USL’s FC Cincinnati Wednesday night in a 2017 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup quarterfinal. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m. and can be watched online (video will be embedded above). The winner will become the eighth lower division side to reach the Open Cup semifinals since 1996. This is also the 21st Open Cup meeting between rival leagues NASL and the USL, with the USL holding a narrow 10-8-2 (1-1 PKs) edge in those contests.

A reasonable accounting would suggest Miami FC are the favorites, having already secured the NASL’s Spring Season Championship with room to spare following a 7-0 thrashing of the San Francisco Deltas, which saw Stefano Pinho, who leads the 2017 US Open Cup in goalscoring, scoring four goals. Miami have lost only two games this season and in defeating the Tampa Bay Rowdies in Third Round action, already eliminated one of five USL teams ahead of Cincinnati in the USL table. Still, no game is won on paper and Cincinnati enter tonight’s quarterfinal playing tremendous defense in the competition, having not allowed a single goal in four matches. The reigning Player of the Round winner goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt has shut out Louisville City, the Columbus Crew and the Chicago Fire and hasn’t allowed an Open Cup goal since last year’s Third Round loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

The game is a credit to two smart front offices and an intriguing game featuring a contrast of styles, with Alan Koch and Cincinnati’s compact, organized defense and counterattacking style, a stylistic opposite to Miami FC’s possession-intensive pressure attack. Still, Cincinnati aren’t without goal-scoring threats, led by Senegal international Djiby Fall, who became just the third player in the Modern Era to score three consecutive game-winnig goals in the Open Cup. There is attacking depth in Jamaica international Omar Cummings and the bruising Dane, Danni König. There is also a Premier League veteran and former Arsenal product Justin Hoyte, a Trinidad and Tobago international who provides speed and width on the break, and often plays off the bench, giving the team an electric option as legs tire.

But the calling card is defense, starting with a stout midfield that covers ground first. Aodhan Quinn, Kenney Walker and Paul Nicholson patrol the midfield, putting in hard tackles and waiting for the opponent to make mistakes, distributing quickly in transition when Cincy win the ball. And behind them, Cincinnati play an organized trap and when all else fails, have Hildebrandt, whose heroics against the Columbus Crew and the Chicago Fire are a huge reason the club are here.

Cincinnati kicked off their Open Cup run with a 1-0 extra time win over defending NPSL champion AFC Cleveland, followed by a 1-0 win against fellow USL side Louisville City FC. In Round 3, the most fans to ever show up for a non-Final (30,160) were in Cincinnati to watch their team upset the Crew 1-0 at Nippert Stadium. The fourth consecutive home crowd (and a national audience on ESPN) saw an even bigger crowd (32,287) in the Round of 16 when Cincinnati finished scoreless with the Chicago Fire before winning in penalty kicks, thanks to three saves by Hildebrandt in the shootout.

After being one-and done in their inaugural Open Cup appearance last year, Miami FC has cruised into the Quarterfinals with a pair of wins over MLS opposition. The run started with a 3-2 home win over the South Florida Surf (PDL), followed by a 2-0 win at home over the Tampa Bay Rowdies. They hit the road in Round 4 and came away with a convincing 3-1 upset of Orlando City SC where Pinho scored a hat trick and Player of the Round honors. To get to the Quarterfinals, they had to pull off a dramatic win at home over MLS expansion side Atlanta United where Kwadwo Poku scored a goal on what proved to be the final kick of the game to pull off the 3-2 “cupset”.

Miami FC, with their cupboard of attacking talent in Pinho, Poku, Ariel Martinez, Jaime Chavez, and Enzo Rennella, will test Cincinnati’s defense as intensely as any team they’ve played in this competition. And this time, there won’t be 30,000 fans at Nippert Stadium urging Cincinnati forward. But Miami know and respect what a difficult challenge it will be to finally be the team that breaks through and scores against Cincinnati in this competition.

“Cincinnati are a good team that’s very good at what they do, especially defensively,” Miami FC captain Michael Lahoud said Monday. “They have had an amazing Open Cup run to get to this round, and have really benefited from their inspiring home crowds. I expect them to be well-organized and a lethal counter-attacking team, looking to take advantage of whatever chance they get, while keeping it extremely tight at the back.”

Still, Miami FC are eager to show they are more than just a splendid blend of attacking riches. They defend too, as one would expect from a team managed by Alessandro Nesta, a World Cup winner with Italy nicknamed “The Minister of Defense.”

“If you play for Nesta, you’ll defend,” Kwadwo Poku said. “We have to suffer that together.”

The orange and blue have done enough defensively to get to this point, despite conceding two goals to both the South Florida Surf and more understandably, Atlanta United of MLS. They stifled the Rowdies counterattack and frustrated Kaka and Orlando City for 90 minutes, using defensive pressure to earn chances high up the pitch. It’s a formula for success, and the club are looking forward to building on the championship resume they secured Saturday night.

“We are excited about the match and the opportunity to take one step closer to one of our biggest goals this season,” Miami FC captain Michael Lahoud said. “It will be an incredible night for my teammates, the fans, and the city of Miami.”

If Miami do win, they will become the first team from the state of Florida to reach the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup semifinals since 2000 when the Miami Fusion (MLS) ultimately made a run to the Final. Meanwhile, Cincinnati are playing to become the first team from southern Ohio to reach the semifinals of the competition since the Crew accomplished the feat in 2010. FC Cincinnati are already the first team from the Queen City to advance this far in the tournament.

One underdog’s dream will live on. And with these two well-coached and well-constructed teams, who’s to say it stops there?

MORE:
* Who is the US Open Cup equivalent to Lincoln City FC and their magical FA Cup run?
* Eric Wynalda hired to lead LA Wolves for 2017 US Open Cup run
* Reading United qualifies for record 9th straight US Open Cup, seeking more than an opening round win
* Things you should know about the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup
* The nine upsets of the US Open Cup Quarterfinals (Modern Era)

* Support TheCup.us: New Del Rey City jerseys available for purchase
* Appreciate what we do at TheCup.us? Donate here
* TheCup.us is looking for writers/editors, graphics, WordPress gurus & people who can handle digital ad sales (paid position). Email us here

Twitter (#USOC2016) | Facebook | Instagram | Flickr | Reddit

2017 US Open Cup Round 5: FC Cincinnati blanks Chicago Fire, advances on PKs in front of another record crowd

June 29, 2017 by Ben Ferree

Mitch Hildebrandt of FC Cincinnati made faced 26 shots from the Chicago FIre and made 10 saves, include 3 stops in the penalty kick shootout. Photo: Erik Schelkun | FC Cincinnati

Mitch Hildebrandt made 10 saves, then stopped three of four Chicago Fire penalty kicks after extra time to help FC Cincinnati advance in the Round of 16 of the 2017 US Open Cup Wednesday night. After 120 minutes of scoreless soccer, Cincinnati won the shootout 3-1 sending one of the biggest crowds in tournament history into a frenzy at Nippert Stadium.

“The team was absolutely unbelievable. The amount of work they put in for 120 minutes…I can’t even fathom how they feel right now,” Hildebrandt said. “You dream of moment. Bottom of the ninth hitting a home run in the World Series, that’s the American version of this. You just want to be there for your team. You try not to think about any of the pressure. A World Cup winner stands up to take a penalty against you and you try to forget who he is and try to stop the ball. It’s exciting.”

MORE: Cincinnati’s forgotten US Open Cup history

Cincinnati will travel for their next match, a meeting with Miami FC of the NASL. The two second tier clubs matching up ensures there will be at least one lower division representative in the semifinals this year. The game will be played July 12.

“That’s a very good team packed with a lot of big time stars,” said FC Cincinnati manager Alan Koch, “I’m very proud of the team. I’m equally as proud of the club and the job they do to promote…it’s absolutely first class. I’m also proud of the city of Cincinnati. Their passion, you don’t get that in many places. There is a lot of passion in our sport across the world, but that was pretty unique tonight.”

WATCH: Mitch Hildebrandt 3 PK saves to help #FCCincy beat the Chicago Fire! #CINvCHI pic.twitter.com/31eHqZg5Qa

— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) June 29, 2017

FC Cincinnati continues to break records on their way through the Cup. For the second time in a row, the club broke the non-final attendance record, this time bringing in 32,287 fans for the Round of 16 matchup against Chicago.

Cincinnati’s lineup was vastly different from previous Open Cup matches. Noticeably absent was forward Djiby Fall, who had scored all three game winning goals in the tournament so far. Also absent was defender Tyler Polak who came up with multiple blocks in the prior game against Columbus Crew SC.

On the other side of the ball, the Fire didn’t pull any punches. Leading MLS goalscorer Nemanja Nikolic started, as did Bastian Schweinsteiger, Juninho, and Michael de Leeuw. But the vaunted Fire attack, which had won nine consecutive games in all competitions, launched 26 shots at the Cincinnati goal but ultimately fell in penalty kicks.

Despite having 70 percent possession and outshooting Cincinnati 26-20, Chicago could never find the back of the net. This was due in large part to the outstanding net minding by Hildebrandt. The only kick he didn’t save was in the shootout on a goal by World Cup and UEFA Champions League veteran in Schweinsteiger.

Josu, Harrison Delbridge, and Jimmy McLaughlin scored on their kicks in the victory.

The passion was on full display when Cincinnati thought they found the game winner in extra time when Andrew Wiedeman slotted the ball past a diving Matt Lampson, but the assistant referee called it offside. Replay shows Wiedeman was onside, and to add insult to injury he picked up a yellow card for taking off his jersey in celebration.

“This group was fantastic. Normally after a moment when you think you scored it’s pretty deflating,” Koch said, “give the guys a lot of credit for bouncing back and keep on pushing and keep on going.”

Cincinnati’s forgotten US Open Cup history

June 28, 2017 by Chuck Nolan Jr.

fc-cincinnati-nippert-stadium-big — An empty Nippert Stadium

When it comes to Cincinnati soccer history, some fans who have been following FC Cincinnati’s 2017 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup run might think back to the Cincinnati Kings. The Kings were part of the USL Second Division (USL-2, Div. 3 pro) from 2005-07 and later joined the Premier Development League before folding in 2012. The Kings’ predecessor was the Cincinnati Riverhawks who spent most of their time as an USL’s A-League (Div. 2 pro) starting in 1998 before falling apart financially during the 2003 season and folding.

The Riverhawks never qualified for the US Open Cup during its seven seasons and the Kings only made the tournament three times as a pro team and they were upset by an amateur team each time.

With that in mind, when one thinks of US Open Cup history, Cincinnati has never been the first city to come to mind. However, with ESPN shining the national spotlight on Nippert Stadium tonight for FC Cincinnati’s Fifth Round match against the Chicago Fire (MLS), one might be surprised to know that the Queen City’s Open Cup history did not start in 2005 with the Cincinnati Kings.

A headline from the Cincinnati Enquirer in 1930. — A headline from the Cincinnati Enquirer in 1930 as the Cincinnati Kickers eliminate New Era.

It started 87 years ago.

On October 21, 1930, the Cincinnati Enquirer made the announcement that for the first time ever, the Queen City would be represented in the National Challenge Cup (now known as the US Open Cup). Two clubs, the Cincinnati Kickers and New Era, were set to face off on Oct. 26 at Ludlow Avenue Viaduct Grounds in nearby Cummingsville in the opening round of the Ohio qualifying tournament. The competition included teams from Akron, Cleveland, and Youngstown. The clubs’ junior teams were to kick off the day at 1:15 p.m., with the Cup game to follow.

In the young Southwest Ohio Soccer League season, New Era were 3-0, while the Kickers had only dropped one of their first five matches. Witnessed by what the Enquirer called a “large crowd”, the Kickers were ahead 1-0 at halftime, and increased their lead shortly after the break. New Era pulled a goal back a few minutes later through Leo Moorecroft, but the Kickers scored again to put the game away. Lou Schueneman, Holmes and Glasel provided the goals for the winners as the Kickers advanced to the next round.

The aura of Cincinnati’s first Cup game was short-lived however. Just two weeks later, the Kickers forfeited their Second Round game to Mahoning Valley, informing the Youngstown club the night before that they could not make the trip. While the Kickers cited no specific reason, the Youngstown Vindicator suggested that the Cincinnati club “did not want to play so far from home”.

The disappointing end of the 1930/31 Cup run did not deter the Cincinnati clubs. The Chevoit Sport Club joined New Era and the Kickers in qualifying for the 1931/32 Cup. With the Kickers receiving a bye, New Era faced Chevoit in the preliminary round at Chevoit Ball Park. With two minutes remaining, Leo Moorecraft scored to give New Era a 2-1 win. This gave them a chance to avenge their loss in last year’s tournament.

In the rematch, the Kickers took a 2-1 halftime lead, but New Era stormed back to score three unanswered goals in the second half to win 4-2. New Era were one win away from qualifying for the tournament proper, and Cleveland’s Shamrocks SC stood in their way. Playing at Kickers Field in Cincinnati, New Era took a quick 1-0 lead when Jimmy Furguson scored within five minutes of the kickoff. The Shamrocks soon took over and got two goals apiece from Magyary and McCourt to win 4-1.

New Era held out of the 1933 tournament, giving way to Sun Life Insurance. Sun Life and the Kickers played to a 3-3 extra time draw in the opening qualifying game, with Jack Lyle scoring all three goals for Sun Life. A week later, the Kickers won the replay 1-0 on Lou Schuenman’s 85th minute goal. Sun Life protested the eligibility of the Kickers goalscorer, but their complaint was turned down and Kickers advanced.

In the next round, the Kickers defeated fellow Southwest Ohio Soccer League club Indianapolis SC 3-2. In the Ohio semifinals, the Kickers nearly pulled off an upset over Cleveland’s Bruell Insurance, a team that was the runner-up in the 1930 National Challenge Cup Final. With their goalkeeper Hutmacher stopping two penalty kicks, the Kickers led 1-0 for most of the game. Near the end of the second half, Bruell scored to tie the game, and won the game on a goal that Hutmacher failed to save because he thought play was stopped for an offside call.

In 1934, the Kickers beat Dayton’s Edelweiss SC 4-1 to once again reach the Ohio final, only to fall to the Cleveland Indians in a 6-4 barnburners. After trailing 5-0 early in the second half, the Kickers Willie Keiner scored three of the four unanswered goals to pull them within 5-4 with 15 minutes remaining, only to see the Indians score a sixth to put the game away.

From 1935-37, the Kickers were the only team to enter the competition from Southern Ohio, and never won another Cup game. The next known appearance by a Cincinnati club didn’t come until the 1960s when the Schwaben SC (not to be confused with the Chicago-area club Schwaben AC) would fail to get past their opening game with the winner from Michigan each time they entered.

So as you’re watching Djiby Fall and his FC Cincinnati teammates push for their second straight MLS scalp tonight, remember that the Cincinnati Kickers and New Era got it all started for the Queen City almost 90 years ago.

2017 US Open Cup Round 4: FC Cincinnati makes case for MLS with record crowd, win over Crew SC

June 15, 2017 by Ralph Schudel

FC Cincinnati earned its first win over an MLS opponent with a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Crew in the Fourth Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Brett Hansbauer | FC Cincinnati

The long-awaited clash between FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew SC finally occurred. FC Cincinnati fans saw this as an audition against the founding club in Major League Soccer. A second-half goal by Cincinnati’s Djiby Fall stood tall against the Major League Soccer Crew as the hometown USL club stood tall in a 1-0 victory in the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday.

One of the stories of the match was found in the stands at Nippert Stadium. An announced crowd of 30,160 shattered the Modern Era (1995-present) attendance record for a non-final. The previous record was 20,376 set in Third Round of the 1999 tournament when the Colorado Rapids of MLS hosted the Seattle Sounders of the USL’s A-League. The match’s attendance was boosted by the fact that it was a doubleheader with the US Men’s National Team as they played against English club Derby County in a friendly. the field. The announced attendance of 30,160 seemed to play a role for the hometown team.

Both clubs began the evening like heavyweight boxers as they tried to get a feel for one another and learn each others tendencies. Initially, Cincinnati were quite content with committing numbers to defense while Columbus threw numbers forward and committed to the attack looking for an early advantage.

Crew SC midfielders Federico Higuain and Justin Meram were catalysts for the Columbus offense as they looked to get the attack going. While Fall was relentless for Cincinnati. Fall was responsible for the two most threatening scoring attempts in the first half. He harassed Crew SC homegrown defender Alex Crognale through a series of bumps and scuffles and bumps to try to rattle the rookie.

One of the brightest stars for Cincinnati was goalie Mitch Hildebrandt. He had two clutch saves in the first half stopping dangerous shots by Meram and Hector Jimenez. Things got interesting towards the end of the half as Crew SC defender Waylon Francis committed a foul just outside of his 18-yard-box and led to a dangerous Cincinnati set-piece. The opportunity was foiled and referee Yours Marrakchi blew the whistle to signal halftime.

The second half showed that both teams would come out a bit more aggressive. The game was a tactical stalemate until the defender Justin Hoyte was subbed into the game for Cincinnati. Hoyte was the primary assist on the 64th minute goal that was scored by Fall. Hoyte lofted the ball on a cross that took a deflection off of Crew defender Alex Crognale and Fall was engaged in an aerial battle with Jimenez in which he leapt above the shorter defender to head the ball into the back of the net for the lead

The goal from Fall made Nippert become unglued. Chants from The Bailey of “F-C-C” began to ring out across the stadium as fans began to sense that this could victory could become a reality for the USL side.

“It was an event for our team, our club and our city,” said Cincinnati manager Alan Koch as he touted the fan’s performance.

Koch wasn’t the only one to take notice of the fantastic atmosphere. Crew SC manager Gregg Berhalter added, “This is what makes soccer special, it’s great to give Americans a real cup atmosphere. That’s exactly what this is. You have our fans who were amazing, their fans were amazing and it made an atmosphere that was electric. For the spectators that’s what you want to see.”

Both groups of supporters affectionately dubbed the match the “Hell is Real” derby. It’s in reference to an infamous sign one encounters on the drive between Cincinnati and Columbus.

Berhalter was asked if Cincinnati was deserving of an expansion bid into Major League Soccer. He simply responded: “That’s above my pay grade.”

Koch was asked if he considered this a rivalry with Columbus.

“People can say it’s the first game so there’s not a rivalry,” he said. “Of course there’s a rivalry.”

Random #USOC2017 fact: FC Cincinnati is the first club in the Modern Era to win three consecutive 1-0 games.

2017 US Open Cup Round 3: Fall scores another game winner as FC Cincinnati edges rival Louisville City

June 8, 2017 by Jordan Beech

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.

2017 US Open Cup Round 2: FC Cincinnati needs late OT goal to oust in-state NPSL champions

May 29, 2017 by Brandon Gee

Djiby Fall of FC Cincinnati scored the game-winner in the 117th minute against AFC Cleveland in the Second Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Cincinnati

It took FC Cincinnati until the 117th minute of extra time to break through, but the USL club found a goal off the head of returning forward Djiby Fall to put away AFC Cleveland, 1-0.

The game was played on May 10 at Nippert Stadium at the University of Cincinnati in front of the biggest crowd to witness a Second Round US Open Cup game in the Modern Era (1995-present). Even if there weren’t exactly 12,790 bodies inside the stadium, it was still by far the largest crowd to witness a Round 2 game. (announced attendance figures are usually based on “paid attendance” which includes fans who have Open Cup games included in their season ticket packages)

This game marked the first matchup between teams from the cities of Cleveland and Cincinnati in the Modern Era (1995-present).

Cincinnati has been struggling in league play due to injuries and scoring threat Djiby Fall in the middle of six-game USL suspension for biting an opponent, so playing a US Open Cup match at home against the defending NPSL champions offered a chance to regroup.

“Obviously, us playing at home, being a team from a higher league, we’re supposed to go out there and we’re supposed to win, but that doesn’t always happen in cup soccer,” FC Cincinnati manager Alan Koch said.

Cincinnati outshot Cleveland 44-6, but the game remained scoreless until deep into overtime, as Cleveland goalkeeper Alex Ivanov kept his team in the match despite the lopsided attacking statistics.

Djibi, who was able to play against Cleveland because his suspension does not apply to Open Cup play, clearly was energized by his first match in three weeks. He logged 16 shots, but couldn’t get the ball past Ivanov until late in the 120-minute game.

Cincinnati launched 15 shots in the first half, but Cleveland was able to keep the match scoreless.

The visitors had two fine chances in the second half, but were unable to score.

Early in the second half, Cleveland’s Ryan Ware sent a rocket that bounced off the left post and in front of the net, but teammates were unable to put the loose ball into the net.

In the 58th minute, Cleveland nearly scored as a header that was deflected on net, forcing Cincinnati keeper Dallas Jaye to make a save off the line.

With the match still scoreless, Cleveland fell back as the match wore on, content to let Cincinnati control possession as AFC’s players put everyone behind the ball as they played out the rest of regulation.

In overtime, Cincinnati took control of the match, dominating possession and stifling any opportunity for Cleveland.

Finally, in the waning minutes of the second overtime period, Djibi sent a header out of the keeper’s reach off a cross from Andrew Weideman and into the net for the game-winner.

With the win, FC Cincinnati earns another home game in Round 3, this time against fellow USL side Louisville City FC.

2016 US Open Cup Round 3: Early goal advances Tampa Bay Rowdies past FC Cincinnati

June 1, 2016 by Zach Smith

Georgi Hristov scored in the 11th minute and the Tampa Bay Rowdies held off surging FC Cincinnati 1-0 Wednesday night in the Third Round of the US Open Cup.

Cincinnati of the USL outshot the NASL Rowdies 14-7 but only had a pair of shots on target and had an 8-3 advantage in corners in the second Open Cup game of their first season as a franchise. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, will travel to Ohio to face off with MLS side Columbus Crew SC in the Fourth Round on June 15.

“We did great with our effort and intensity,” Rowdies head coach Stuart Campbell said. “It’s tough playing a team from that league because they’ve got nothing to lose. The longer the game went, the more got numbers forward.”

Kenney Walker had the best chance of the first half for FC Cincinnati less than ten minutes in with a shot from the top of the box that was pushed aside by Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens.
Hristov let a long, high ball from Neill Collins up the right side take a big bounce in the box in the 11th minute and took three touches to get around the two defenders before slotting it past Cincinnati goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt.

“Right before the game, me and Neill were talking about it,” Hristov said. “I was ready for that run, I knew he was going to play the ball there and it worked out. The whole team played well and we deserved to win.”

Each team had five shots apiece in the first half, but Cincinnati had just one shot on goal compared to three for Tampa Bay.

“It’s always crucial to get the first goal and set the tempo of play,” Campbell said. “They’re a threat going forward and we knew they had goals in them so I never moan anyone for shooting.”

Cincinnati came out in the second half pushing hard for a goal. An early chance was easily corralled before a weak shot from the top of the box by Ross Tomaselli was deflected and forced Pickens into a diving save to his right.

Both teams could have had a man sent off with under 30 minutes to play. Pickens came out of his net in the 66th minute and went one-on-one before clearing the ball with no foul given. The Rowdies came right back when Hristov was taken down from behind at midfield four minutes later. Tomaselli was given a yellow.

Cincinnati had its best chance of the second half with less than five minutes to play. Sean Okoli tapped a header back to Andrew Wiedeman just above the penalty spot, but he sent it way over the bar. Antoine Hoppenot had another chance to level the game a minute later but he too sent it wide of the post.

Advancing to the Fourth Round is already one step further than Tampa Bay has gotten in recent years. The Rowdies lost in Round 3 the last two years and they last won an Open Cup game against VSI Tampa Bay FC in the Second Round in 2013.

“This is my fifth season here and we don’t have a good record,” Campbell said. “I’m delighted to get a win and progress to the next round against a good MLS team. It’s about time we had a run in this competition.”

2016 US Open Cup Round 2: FC Cincinnati becomes first pro team from city to earn Open Cup win

May 19, 2016 by Ben Ferree

Omar Cummings of FC Cincinnati celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against Indy Eleven NPSL in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Cincinnati

The upstart USL side FC Cincinnati continued their winning ways, topping Indy Eleven NPSL at Nippert Stadium by a score of 2-1 in the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

This marked not only the first US Open Cup win for FC Cincinnati, but this was the first time a professional team from the city tasted victory in the tournament’s 103-year history.

Using a mixture of starters and subs, Cincinnati dominated much of the first half against the amateur side from the Indianapolis area, but the underdogs showed some fight. After a handling call in the box gave Cincinnati a penalty kick that Omar Cummings converted, it took less than three minutes for Indy to equalize. A beautiful give-and-go between Vincent Mitchell and Cristian Soto led to Mitchell getting the first goal from the run-of-play, with Soto picking up the assist.

Coming out of the locker rooms at halftime tied gave Indy obvious confidence, as they looked to be the better team for the first 15 minutes of the second half. However, that confidence unraveled when Jimmy McLaughlin scored in the 60th minute, just four minutes after being subbed into the game. McLaughlin collected a rebound from a Cummings header that was saved by Indy goalkeeper Cody Schweitzer, who finished the match with an impressive seven saves. It was McLaughlin’s third career US Open Cup goal.

“It was great,” McLaughlin said, “my second touch of the game, it was an easy finish in the corner…this was pretty special.”

Indy was never able to truly get another attack going after the second goal, and had three players pick up yellow cards in the second half as frustration and desperation mounted.

“I was happy to get a result and advance on…the unique part of the Open Cup is that it’s equal opportunity for everyone, amateur and pro status. When you get teams that you face at this level, you know that you can have a hard game,” FC Cincinnati head coach John Harkes said. He stressed to his team not to underestimate Indy Eleven just because they were a lower division team.

“You can’t leave the door open for hope,” Harkes said, “the message at halftime was that we need to do better. We need to concentrate on what we do best, and that’s moving the ball. We didn’t have enough of that in the first half.”

Cummings has the most Open Cup experience of any player on the team, having played for years in MLS, and he knows that anything can happen.

“The Open Cup is a run,” Cummings said, “it’s a competition where if you do well and have energy going forward, you can make a run and end up anywhere.”

With the victory, FC Cincinnati advances to the third round of the Cup and will face the NASL side Tampa Bay Rowdies on the road in the first week of June.