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USL FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati Weekly Update

May 14, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Cincinnati News Release


CINCINNATI - As summer weather hits the region this week, FC Cincinnati will hit the pitch twice as the summer schedule heats up.

On Wednesday, May 16, FCC opens play in the U.S. Open Cup when the team hosts National Premiere Soccer League entry Detroit City FC at 7:30 p.m. at Gettler Stadium. The game is sold out, but a free stream of the game will be available on ussoccer.com.

Three days later, the Orange and Blue returns to USL action when the team welcomes North Carolina FC to Nippert Stadium. The "Black Out" game will kick off at 7:30 p.m., and will be televised on TV-Star 64 and streamed live on ESPN+.

Cincinnati will don their tertiary black uniforms for the NCFC game and fans are encouraged to wear black to the game, as well. A large selection of black FCC gear is available at shopfccincinnati.com or at the club's downtown team store location (43 E. 4th St.).

North Carolina FC comes into the weekend sitting in 12th place in the USL Eastern Conference standings with a 2-3-2 record and eight points, but the club has not played a match since April 28 - a 3-0 home win over Penn FC.

FC Cincinnati (5-2-2, 17 pts.) enters the week atop the USL East, tied with the Charleston Battery, who also have 17 points from an identical 5-2-2 record.

Wednesday's opponent - Detroit City FC - earned a berth into the second round of the U.S. Open Cup following a 5-4 decision in penalty kicks over PDL side Mid-Michigan Bucks last Wednesday.

Detroit City FC (0-0-0 NPSL) have not formally started their NPSL schedule but have gone 1-1-3 in preseason friendlies and U.S. Open Cup matches.

Media who plan to cover the U.S. Open Cup game on Wednesday are asked to alert the FC Cincinnati communications staff no later than 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 15. For Saturday's game against North Carolina FC, all media are asked to let the staff know by 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 17.

HOT TOPICS

Black Out Approaching

FC Cincinnati players will wear their special third jerseys on Saturday as part of the "Black Out" ... fans can support the movement with their own black FCC gear ... a large selection is available at shopfccincinnati.com or in person at the team store located at 43 E. 4th St. in downtown Cincinnati ... orders placed online by Wednesday can delivered in time for Saturday's game.

USOC Play Opens Wednesday

Cincinnati begins play in the oldest ongoing tournament in the U.S. - the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup - on Wednesday night ... FCC is 5-2-1 all-time in the U.S. Open Cup, including a 5-1-0 record and a run to the semifinals in 2017 and a 1-1-0 mark in the team's inaugural season of 2016.

Against USOC Fields

FCC has played clubs from almost every U.S. league in the Open Cup ... Cincinnati is 1-1-1 - including a victory in penalties - against MLS teams, 1-0 against USL opponents, 1-1 against NASL clubs and 2-0 versus NPSL entrants ... at home in Cincinnati, FCC is 4-1-1 against USOC competition, and 1-1 in road games.

Next Potential USOC Pairing

Monday morning, US Soccer announced the potential U.S. Open Cup third-round pairings ... the winner of the FC Cincinnati - Detroit City FC second-round game will travel to face the winner of the Erie Commodores FC (National Premiere Soccer League) - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL) second-round match ... the Erie-Pittsburgh game is being played in Erie, Pa., at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16 ... details of the potential third-round match will be announced at the conclusion of the second round by the host team.

Changes to Game Day Policies for USOC Second Round

In advance of Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup match at Gettler Stadium, FCC has announced the following game policies, which are changes from regular-season games:

Due to the configuration of Gettler Stadium, smoke devices will not be allowed in the facility ... any supporter caught will be subject to expulsion from the match.

The home supporter's section will be designated the east end of the seating area ... the visitor's supporter section will be designated at the west end of the seating section.

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.

Troublesome Tandem

The front-running duo of Danni Konig and Emmanuel Ledesma has created havoc for opposing back lines the last few games ... since uniting as a forward tandem at the start of the second half against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on April 21, the pair has combined for six goals and three assists in three-and-a-half games together ... Konig's last two goals have been set up Ledesma ... Konig did not travel to the Indy game on May 2, and Ledesma came on as a second-half substitute.

Lasso Gets Unwanted Break Saturday

This coming Saturday when the Orange and 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 games ... however, last Saturday in Matthews, N.C., he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season and will be required to miss this Saturday's game while serving a yellow-card accumulation suspension.

Best Start in Club History Matched

With a 5-2-2 record through nine games, FC Cincinnati has matched its best start in club history ... in 2016, the Orange and Blue also went 5-2-2 to start the season ... in 2016, after the team's second loss of the season on April16, FCC went on to post a club-record 10-game unbeaten run, going 6-0-4 from April 24 through July 6 and pushing the overall record to 9-2-4 before the third loss of the year.

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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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