FC Cincinnati Yield Late Goal to Richmond in Draw
June 4, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Cincinnati News Release
CINCINNATI, Ohio - Richmond Kickers scored a goal in stoppage time as FC Cincinnati was denied their third clean sheet of the year after a 1-1 draw Saturday night in front of 11,278 at Nippert Stadium. The attendance marked the sixth consecutive game with 10,000 tickets sold for the home crowd.
"It's always disappointing giving away points so late in the game after we managed it so well," said Head Coach John Harkes. "There's always a lesson to be learned from this, there's still a lot of room for us to build on. As always, we'll dust this one off and prepare well for this coming week."
In extra time, Richmond came up fast and Jason Yeisley blasted the ball into the middle but sent it straight to waiting goalkeeper, Mitch Hildenbrandt. With the fourth official giving an extra three minutes of stoppage time in the 92nd minute, a scuffle ensued as Richmond tried to find a leveling goal, and Hildebrandt took offense to the challenge. Off a Richmond throw-in, Brian Ownby found Hugh Roberts, who put the ball past Hildebrandt in the near post seconds before the final whistle blew.
"Towards the end we got away from what we're good at," said defender Harrison Delbridge. "One of our strengths as a team is not letting physical play get to us, and still maintaining our style of play."
The match was delayed by 58 minutes due to lightning but FCC jumped on the Kickers by getting an early goal behind Sean Okoli. Midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin began the action in the 13th minute, cutting the ball inside and blasting a shot from just outside the box. Goalkeeper Charlie Horton managed to deflect the shot but was unable to cover up the ball and Okoli proved opportunistic by collecting the rebound and stroking it into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
The goal was Okoli's fifth this season and was the team's third fastest goal scored this year.
FC Cincinnati will take on FC Montreal on June 11th at 7:00 p.m. in Nippert Stadium. The current home record now stands at 4-1-2 with an overall record of 7-3-3.
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United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 4, 2016
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- Roughnecks Drop Black Gold Opener - FC Tulsa
- RGV FC Toros Win South Texas Derby at Home - Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
- Switchbacks Earn 4th Home Clean Sheet Victory over St. Louis - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
- San Antonio FC Falls to Rio Grande Valley FC on the Road - San Antonio FC
- FC Cincinnati Yield Late Goal to Richmond in Draw - FC Cincinnati
- Independence Settle for 2-2 Draw with Toronto FC II - Charlotte Independence
- Roberts Goal in Stoppage Time Gives Kickers Point on the Road - Richmond Kickers
- Battery's Two-Goal Flurry Buries Hounds, 1-2 - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- FC Montreal Loses 2-0 against the Rochester Rhinos - FC Montreal
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