USL FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati Game Preview: vs. North Carolina FC

Published on May 17, 2018 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Cincinnati News Release


LATER KICKOFFS START NOW

Fans are reminded that Saturday's game is FC Cincinnati's first 7:30 p.m. kickoff of the season

With the exception of two Sunday games later in the season, all of FCC's remaining home games will kick off at 7:30 p.m.

BLACKOUT APPROACHING SATURDAY

FC Cincinnati players will wear their special third jerseys on Saturday as part of the "Black Out" game

Fans can support the movement with their own black FCC gear.

A large selection is available in person at the team store located at 43 E. 4th St. in downtown Cincinnati

BACK TO LEAGUE OPPONENTS

FC Cincinnati returns to league play on Saturday night after Wednesday night's foray into U.S. Open Cup Play

While FCC plays a league game on Saturday, it will continue against USL opposition next Wednesday in U.S. Open Cup competition ... the Orange & Blue will travel to Pittsburgh to face Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in USOC Third-Round Play

Following next Wednesday's game, Cincy will face Louisville (May 26) and New York Red Bulls II (June 2) before a potential USOC Fourth-Round game against an MLS opponent on June 6

U.S. OPEN CUP RUN OPENED WEDNESDAY

Cincinnati began play in the oldest ongoing tournament in the U.S. - the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup - on Wednesday night

FCC earned a 4-1 win in extra time, potting three goals in the added 30 minutes following a 1-1 score line after 90 minutes

Emery Welshman factored in all four goals, netting a hat trick and assisting on Corben Bone's game-winning goal in the 94th minute

Cincinnati next faces winner Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL) on Wednesday, May 23 ... the game will be played at Pittsburgh's Highmark Stadium at 7 p.m.

FCC is now 6-2-1 all-time in the U.S. Open Cup ... in 2017, Cincinnati went 4-1-1 with a run the semifinals after posting a 1-1-0 mark in the team's inaugural season of 2016

STILL ATOP THE STANDINGS

Despite falling on Saturday at the Charlotte Independence, FC Cincinnati still sits atop the USL Eastern Conference standings with 17 points

After the weekend's results, FCC shares the league lead with Charleston - whom Cincinnati defeated, 1-0, on the road in the season opener on March 17 ... both teams have identical 5-2-2 records

Louisville City FC sits right behind the clubs in third place, tied with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, with 16 points.

LASSO GETS UNWANTED BREAK SATURDAY

Saturday when the Orange & Blue host North Carolina FC, center back Forrest Lasso will not suit up for the first time this season

Coming into this weekend, he is the only FCC player who has played every minute of the campaign - 810 minutes through nine USL games plus 120 minutes in Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup Second-Round match against Detroit City FC

However, last Saturday against the Charlotte Independence, Lasso picked up his fifth yellow card of the season and will be required to miss this coming USL game while serving a yellow-card accumulation suspension.

ROAD WARRIORS

FC Cincinnati has played six of its first nine games of the season away from Nippert Stadium and has posted a 4-1-1 record on the road

Away from home, the Orange and Blue have out-scored their hosts 10-7 on the season, averaging 1.67 goals on the road

Defensively, FCC is holding its hosts to 1.17 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

BUT BECOMING HOMEBODIES THIS SUMMER

While FCC has spent considerable time on the road so far this season, that is soon to be changing

Between now and mid-August, Cincinnati will play 11 of its next 15 USL games in front of the record-setting, raucous crowds at Nippert Stadium

Included in that run is six straight home games between July 14 and August 18

Three of FCC's next seven games are on the road, but the Orange & Blue will only play a single road game between June 30 and August 18

FC Cincinnati vs. North Carolina FC

Saturday, May 19, 2018 | 7:30 p.m.

Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio

USL Match #10

TV: TV-Star 64 | Stream: ESPN+

Talent: Tom Gelehrter (play-by-play), Kevin McCloskey (analyst), Lindsay Patterson (sideline)

RECORDS & STANDINGS:

FC Cincinnati: 5-2-2, 17 pts. | Tied-First in East

North Carolina FC: 2-3-2, 8 pts. | 12th in the East

Check out the FC Cincinnati Statistics

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 17, 2018


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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