
FC Cincinnati Game Preview: at Charlotte Independence
May 11, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Cincinnati News Release
TOP OF THE TABLE
FC Cincinnati comes into the weekend sitting atop the USL Eastern Conference standings with a 5-1-2 overall record and 17 points
This marks the first time in club history that the Orange and Blue sit in first place
FCC is just one point ahead of rival Louisville City FC (16 pts.) in second and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (15 pts.) in third
UNBEATEN IN FIVE
Cincinnati comes into Saturday's game riding a five-game unbeaten run (3-0-2), which also includes the team's current three-game winning streak
FCC drew at Bethlehem on April 15, then came back to earn a draw against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Cincinnati's three-game winning streak is currently the longest winning streak in club history, besting several two-game winning streaks - most recently March 17 and March 31 to open the 2017 season
This is the team's third-longest undefeated run in club history, behind a 10-game streak (6-0-4) from April 24, 2016 through July 6, 2016 ... last year, the club posted a six-game unbeaten run (3-0-3) from August 23, 2017 through September 29, 2017
ROAD WARRIORS
FC Cincinnati has played five of its first eight games of the season away from Nippert Stadium and has posted an undefeated 4-0-1 mark on the road
Away from home, the Orange and Blue have out-scored their hosts 9-3 on the season, averaging 1.80 goals on the road
Defensively, FCC is holding its hosts to 0.60 goals per game with two shutouts (at Charleston Battery on March 15 and at Indy Eleven on March 31)
Of Cincinnati's 17 points on the season, 13 of them have come away from Nippert Stadium
U.S. OPEN CUP CAMPAIGN STARTS NEXT WEEK
Next Wednesday, on May 16, Cincinnati will begin play in the 2018 U.S. Open Cup when the team hosts Detroit City FC of the NPSL ... the teams will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the University of Cincinnati's Gettler Stadium for a place in the USOC Third Round
DCFC topped the Mid-Michigan Bucks (PDL) in penalties, 5-4, on May 9 to advance to the USOC Second Round against FCC
In 2017, FC Cincinnati were the darlings of the tournament, advancing to the semifinals before falling in extra time to MLS entrant New York Red Bulls ... included in the team's run were home victories over MLS teams Columbus Crew FC (1-0 in Fourth Round) and the Chicago Fire (Round of 16 in penalties)
BLACK-OUT THE HOME RETURN
When FCC next return to Nippert Stadium on Saturday, May 16, they will hope to see a blaze of black in the stands
FC Cincinnati will host its Black Out game that night, and will enter the field in their third black kits when they face North Carolina FC that night
Fans can get the look at FC Cincinnati's Team Store either downtown on E 4th St., online at fccincinnati.com or at kiosk locations at Nippert Stadium
GETTING RESULTS AGAINST THE TOP OF THE TABLE
Five of Cincinnati's eight opponents this season have four or more wins (Louisville City FC - 5, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC - 4, Charleston Battery - 4, Indy Eleven 2x - 4)
All four teams sit sixth or higher in the USL Eastern Conference standings ... FCC comes into the weekend atop the East's table
Cincinnati is 3-1-1 against those teams this year
Against the rest of its schedule, Cincinnati is 2-0-1, including wins over teams sitting in 14th (Atlanta) and 14th place (Ottawa)
LEDESMA'S BIG NIGHT
Last Saturday night, Emmanuel Ledesma factored in three of FCC's four goals in the 4-2 victory over Atlanta United 2
After setting up Danni Konig's game-opening goal, he connected for his second goal of the season just two minutes later, calmly converting on a breakaway
After the second-half kick, Ledesma capitalized on a defensive lapse by Atlanta, taking a pass directly from the ATL2 goalkeeper at the top of the box and sending it right back past him and into the back of the net
On the season, Ledesma now shares the team lead in goals (3) and is tops on the team in assists (3) ... overall, Ledesma is tied for fifth in the USL in assists, one back
CORBEN'S CUTTING UP THE MIDFIELD
Corben Bone has been one of FCC's top players so far this season, with two-way play in the midfield
An original Orange and Blue member, Bone is tied for first on the team in goals (3) and is tied for second on the squad in assists (2)
So far this season, he has completed nine key passes and posted an 83.7 percent pass completion rate
At Indy on Wednesday, Bone not only what proved to the game-winning goal, but also set up Jimmy McLaughlin's late first-half goal to bring FCC back level
FUN FACTOIDS
Indy Eleven has allowed a league-low five goals (in seven contests) ... four of those were scored by Cincinnati
Forrest Lasso is the only member of the Orange and Blue to play every minute this season, featuring at center back in all 720 minutes so far
Corben Bone's three goal and two assists - through eight games - has all but exceeded his entire 2017 season totals when he had two goals and three assists in 29 appearances
FCC's home attendance average of 24,235 is already a 14 percent increase over the team's average through three games from 2017 ... it's also more than 10,000 per game higher than the USL's second-place team, Nashville SC (14,205) ... between U.S. and Canadian-based professional teams, the Orange and Blue's average ranks fifth highest overall, behind Atlanta United (MLS - 50,457), Seattle Sounders FC (MLS - 39,633), Toronto FC (MLS - 26,425) and LA Galaxy (MLS - 26,185)
FC Cincinnati at Charlotte Independence
Saturday, May 12, 2018 | 7:30 p.m.
Soccerplex at Matthews | Matthews, N.C.
Match #9
TV: TV-Star 64 | Stream: ESPN+
Talent: Tom Gelehrter (play-by-play), Kevin McCloskey (analyst)
RECORDS & STANDINGS:
FC Cincinnati: 5-1-2, 17 pts. | First in East
Charlotte Independence: 2-3-2, 8 pts. | 12th in the East
United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 11, 2018
- Switchbacks Shut off Las Vegas Lights with 1-0 Win at Home - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
- Match Preview: Real Monarchs vs. Fresno FC - May 12, 2018 - Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman, Utah - Fresno FC
- Indy Eleven Collects Point against Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 0-0 - Indy Eleven
- Hounds Draw Indy Eleven to Extend Unbeaten Streak - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Sounders FC 2 Signs Midfielder Marlon Vargas - Tacoma Defiance
- Game Notes: Sounders FC 2 vs. Portland Timbers 2 - May 12, 2018 - Tacoma Defiance
- Match Preview: Republic FC Reignite Rivalry with Reno 1868 FC on Saturday Night - Sacramento Republic FC
- Foxes Announce Thursday, May 17th as "Built for Fresno" Day - Fresno FC
- FC Cincinnati Game Preview: at Charlotte Independence - FC Cincinnati
- Energy FC Forward Jaime Siaj Earns Call up to Jordan's National Team - OKC Energy FC
- San Antonio FC Travels to Face Rio Grande Valley FC in South Texas Derby - San Antonio FC
- FCC's First U.S. Open Cup Game is Sold Out - FC Cincinnati
- Match Preview | Ottawa Fury FC V Atlanta United 2 - Ottawa Fury FC
- Match Preview: Atlanta United 2 at Ottawa Fury FC - Atlanta United 2
- Real Monarchs SLC Returns to Zions Bank Stadium to Face Fresno FC - Real Monarchs
- Kickers Return Home to Battle Tampa Bay Saturday - Richmond Kickers
- Steel FC Begins Busy Slate in Charleston - Philadelphia Union II
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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