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USL FC Cincinnati

Game Preview: FC Cincinnati at Nashville SC

July 5, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Cincinnati News Release


THE START OF A RIVALRY BEFORE THE FIRST KICK OF THE SERIES

Saturday's game is the first-ever between Cincinnati and Nashville in what is already considered a rivalry

The teams will meet twice more this season: Aug. 4 at Nippert Stadium before closing the regular season on Oct. 13 at First Tennessee Park

Next year - outside of potential preseason exhibitions and U.S. Open Cup matches - the teams will take a hiatus in the newly formed clássico as Cincinnati ascends to Major League Soccer

However, one year later in 2020, Nashville will come into MLS and the teams will be able to re-energize the rivalry in the country's top league

SECOND HALF STARTS NOW

Saturday's game at Nashville brings on the second half of Cincinnati's 2018 34-game USL campaign

Through 17 games, FCC has a 10-3-4 record for a .706 winning percentage

In 2016, the club posted its best midseason winning percentage with a .733 mark from a 9-2-4 record through 15 games in the 30-game season

In 2017, Cincinnati had a .469 winning percentage through 16 games of its 32-game schedule - a 5-6-5 record

JULY 18 GAME MOVES TO THE DUECE

FC Cincinnati's home game at Nippert Stadium against the Charlotte Independence on Wednesday, July 18, will now be televised on ESPN2

To accommodate the network change, the game will now kick off at 8 p.m.

The Queen Cities Cup contest was originally scheduled to air on ESPNews at 7:30 p.m. that night.

The July 18 game will be the second meeting between the teams this season. On May 12, FCC traveled to Matthews, N.C., and fell 4-1 for their first road loss of the season.

2019 COMING SOON

FC Cincinnati started accepting $50 deposits on new 2019 season tickets this week

The holders of the club's current 18,000 season tickets do not need to put deposits down for 2019 season tickets as they will receive standard renewal information in early August

New fans who wish to secure season tickets in 2019 are encouraged to place deposits as certain seating sections are already at capacity, while others are reaching capacity

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY SET FOR JULY 28

FC Cincinnati will face La Liga's RCD Espanyol in an international friendly, presented by Cincinnati Bell, on Saturday, July 28

Kickoff at Nippert Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.

In addition to the game, FCC will celebrate its 2019 entry into MLS with a commemorative poster giveaway to fans in attendance. The club is also planning a special halftime program with guest speakers and a video presentation.

Espanyol is a Barcelona-based club that was founded in 1900 and has won Copa del Rey - Spain's national cup championship - four times, most recently in 2006. The club has earned a pair of runner-up finishes in UEFA Europa League play, most recently in 2007. In 2017-18, one of Espanyol's signature wins came when the club defeated UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid.

Tickets to the game start at $15 and are now on sale to the general public via fccincinnati.com/tickets or by calling 513-977-KICK (5425).

GOAL-SCORING TEAR ...

FC Cincinnati not only holds the USL lead in goals (35), but has also been on fire as the weather has heated up

FCC has tallied multiple goals in every USL game in June, scoring 12 goals in five games (2.20 per game)

After notching three goals in its first four games overall, FCC has posted a multiple-goal game in 10-of-12 USL games since

Included in that total are five two-goal games, three three-goal games and three four-goal games in league play

Cincinnati also totaled seven goals in three U.S. Open Cup games

In USL play, FCC has been shut out just twice this season - both times by Louisville City FC: April 7 (1-0 at Nippert Stadium) and May 26 (2-0 at Nippert Stadium).

... AND KEEPING IT CLEAN IN JUNE

In June, the FCC goalkeepers allowed just six goals in six USL games in June, but posted three shutouts in league play - and four overall - in league play

Evan Newton shut out North Carolina FC on June 9 on the road, Richmond Kickers on June 16 at Nippert Stadium and Ottawa Fury FC at Nippert Stadium on June 30

Spencer Richey stood tall in a 0-0 draw against MLS' Minnesota Whitecaps FC in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup on June 6, but ultimately fell in penalty kicks

Overall, when FCC returns home to Nippert Stadium on July 14 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Cincy will bring a 141-minute shutout streak into the game

NAZ HAS BEEN NASTY OF LATE

Since returning to USL play on May 19 from a three-game absence with rib injury, Nazmi Albadawi has been a terror for opponents

Six of his seven goals on the season have come in the last eight league games and he comes into July on a four-game goal-scoring streak

After netting his first goal of the season at Bethlehem on April 15, the game-tying goal, he returned to the field against his former - and hometown - club North Carolina FC on May 19 where he had a brace

He also set up Danni Konig's game-winning goal at New York, although he was not credited with an assist

He also comes into the week having netted goals in each of the last four games (vs. Bethlehem Steel FC on June 13, vs. Richmond Kickers on June 16, at Toronto FC II on June 27 and vs. Ottawa on June 30)

23 of his 25 shots have come in the last eight USL games, as have 11-of-14 shots on target

USL Regular Season | Match #18

FC Cincinnati at Nashville SC

Saturday, July 7, 2018 | 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. CT)

Nissan Stadium | Nashville, Tenn.

TV: CW Cincinnati

Stream: ESPN+

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

Game Notes: PDF Link

Team Records

FC Cincinnati: 10-3-4, 34 pts. | First in USL East

Nashville SC: 7-3-5, 26 pts. | Third in USL East

Check out the FC Cincinnati Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 5, 2018


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