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FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati Stays Unbeaten on the Road, Claims Three at Indy Eleven

May 2, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Cincinnati News Release


INDIANAPOLIS - FC Cincinnati made the two-hour trek west on Interstate 74 for the second time this season to face Indy Eleven and the Orange and Blue again scored one more goal than Indy for a 3-2 victory at Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday night.

Earlier this season, FC Cincinnati (4-1-2) bested Indy, 1-0, in the two clubs' first meeting at Indy on March 31 in the season opener.

FCC carried its offensive momentum from Saturday's 3-0 win at Ottawa Fury FC into Wednesday's match at Indy Eleven (3-2-1). Cincinnati's three goals matched their season high, set at Ottawa four days ago.

Kenney Walker extended his torrid scoring streak with a goal in his third straight game. In the seventh minute, Corben Bone whipped in a cross for Emery Welshman when Indy defender Carlyle Mitchell committed a foul inside the box on Welshman, leading to a penalty opportunity for FCC. Walker stepped up to the spot and right-footed the ball into the left side to stake Cincy to an early 1-0 edge.

Indy came back for two unanswered goals, however, to take a 2-1 lead on its home turf. After a turnover, Eleven forward Jack McInerney tried a shot from inside the 18-yard box that was blocked by FCC keeper Spencer Richey, who got his second straight start following the injury to Evan Newton. Off Richey's save, McInerney controlled possession and pushed the equalizer through with his right foot for a 1-1 score in the 24th minute.

Moments later, a foul on Orange and Blue defender Paddy Barrett inside the box led to a penalty kick opportunity for Indy. In the 30th minute, Ayoze put the Eleven ahead by a goal with his left-footed penalty shot that found the bottom left corner of the net.

FCC did not go down without a fight as intermission approached, coming back to knot things up yet again. Bone led an attack in the 41st minute when he sprinted to his left from outside the box and passed ahead to Jimmy McLaughlin, who was running to Bone's right.

McLaughlin showed off great control when he received Bone's pass off of one bounce, turned and right-footed an equalizer back across his body from about 20 yards and past outstretched Indy goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams.

After his perfectly weighted pass to set up McLaughlin's goal just before the break, Bone came for the second half and netted the eventual game-winning strike in the 54th minute.

Recently signed Michael Lahoud - who made his FCC debut with a full 90-minute shift - set up the strike, finding Bone outside the box. Bone right-footed a goal narrowly past a diving Fon Williams, putting Cincinnati back on top. On the night, Bone finished with a goal and an assist and also set up Welshman for the play that resulted in FCC's first goal of the night through the penalty.

Indy Eleven found some open lanes in the Orange and Blue defense in the waning moments, but FCC's defense continued to hold the score. Indy earned a corner in the 90th minute that was deflected by Richey in close range, but the FCC defense held off Indy's attack for the balance of the second period and were rewarded with three road points to stay unbeaten away this year at 3-0-1.

FCC returns to the pitch at Nippert Stadium on Saturday, May 5, when they welcome Atlanta United FC II for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Tickets are available at fccincinnati.com or by calling 513-977-KICK (5425).

FC Cincinnati 3, Indy Eleven 2

Lucas Oil Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind.

May 2, 2018

Attendance: 8,079

LINEUPS

FC Cincinnati: Spencer Richey, Matt Bahner, Paddy Barrett, Corben Bone (Will Seymore 81'), Daniel Haber (Emmanuel Ledesma 67'), Michael Lahoud, Forrest Lasso, Jimmy McLaughlin, Blake Smith, Kenney Walker, Emery Welshman (Tomi Ameobi 86')

FCC Bench: Mark Village, Russell Cicerone, Sem de Wit, Lance Laing

Indy Eleven: Owain Fon Williams, Brad Ring, Ayoze, Carlyle Mitchell, Karl Ouimette, Tyler Pasher, Ben Speas (Matthew Wilson '60), Juan Guerra (Justin Vaughn '78), Zach Steinberger (Nathan Lewis '60), Soony Saad, Jack McInerney

IND Bench: Jordan Farr, Nico Matern, Brad Rusin, Kevin Venegas

GOAL SUMMARY

7' - FCC - Kenney Walker (penalty kick)

24' - IND - Jack McInerney (unassisted)

30' - IND - Ayoze (penalty kick)

41' - FCC - Jimmy McLaughlin (Corben Bone)

54' - FCC - Corben Bone (Michael Lahoud)

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

60' - FCC - Forrest Lasso (caution)

72' - FCC - Emery Welshman (caution)

75' - FCC - Kenney Walker (caution)

88' - IND - Ayoze (caution)

FC Cincinnati Head coach Alan Koch

"Tonight it was necessary for us to rotate (players). We've got a long, long season and we've got so many games in a short amount of time. But we also want to reward players and give them opportunities. If I go and look the players in the eye and say I have confidence in them, I better give them opportunities ... The guys tonight that haven't played that much so far this season or made their debuts tonight, all embraced those opportunities. They're all very, very talented. But we're not done yet. This is obviously the start. We've won three points on the road - that's great. But we'll put it behind us by the time we get home. We'll start working tomorrow and Friday to prepare ourselves for our game at home on Saturday."

FCC Midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin

"Everything's falling into place. I think it's the mentality of the group. We come out here and we want to win every single game. There's a lot of grit in this group, a lot of talented players but a lot of guys can do the dirty work, as well. It's coming together, especially on the road, so far.

"Absolutely. I thought we came out strong (in the second half). We gave up two goals and that would've been an easy moment for this team to quit, honestly. When a team comes back on us on the road it's never easy. But we came together as a group and we knew we were capable of getting three points on the road and we got it done. We're having a blast out there; it's fun playing with this group of guys."

"We want to give the fans a win at home. That's our objective. We're ready to put on a show and these fans deserve it."

FCC Midfielder Corben Bone

"Yeah, it's great. You can see the quality we have going forward, in different areas, in different players. To have that many goal scorers, it's great. If we can continue that, we'll be a very dangerous team and a contender in this league, attacking-wise, for sure."

"I think we're in a groove right now. The offense is clicking, the defense is clicking. We're playing really well as a team, scoring goals. So I think we're in a good place right now. We just have to keep it going moving forward. We have another game on Saturday, so it doesn't stop. Just continue this momentum and we're in a good place."

FCC Midfielder Kenney Walker

"It's exciting, but I think it's a testament to the team that we have because it just makes everyone's jobs easier. So it's paying off, there's a couple of guys who it's paying off (for) and getting goals and results. So we're going to keep it going. We're going to keep it going and not get too excited about it, but just keep playing."

"I think a lot of guys are just having fun throughout. The talent is shining through and everybody's together on the same page. Even a night like tonight where there's a decent amount of changes and guys are stepping up and we're just pulling out results."

"I think it's good. A night like tonight, you find out guys are ready to play. They know that they can step up and play, but to go out and do it is something else. And they proved that tonight. It's a good result for the club and the boys and the guys that haven't gotten minutes that got out there and played. It's a great night for them."

"Just keep level-headed. We've got to go out and do the dirty work again and hopefully find some more goals and get a result at home for the home fans. We've had a loss and a tie at home, so we're looking for that first win at home."

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