USL FC Cincinnati

Game Preview: FC Cincinnati at Tampa Bay Rowdies

Published on August 23, 2018 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Cincinnati News Release


USL Regular Season | Match #26

FC Cincinnati at Tampa Bay Rowdies

Saturday, August 25, 2018 | 7:30 p.m.

Al Lang Stadium | St. Petersburg, Fla.

TV: WSTR 64 | Stream: ESPN+

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

Team Records

FC Cincinnati: 16-3-6, 54 pts. | First in USL East

Tampa Bay Rowdies 2: 7-10-7, 28 pts. | 12th in USL East

FC CINCINNATI TO FINISH TWO-MATCH ROAD TRIP

FC Cincinnati will play the second match of its two-match road trip after playing six consecutive USL matches - seven matches overall - at Nippert Stadium

With a win, Cincinnati will break the club's record for away wins in a season (7)

In addition, the Orange and Blue are just one point away from equaling its best road point collection (2016) with still 6 of its 17 total USL road games left to play

Should FCC earn at least a point, the club will post three consecutive unbeaten months - June (4-0-2), July (3-0-1), and August (3-0-1)

FCC SETS SINGLE-MATCH GOAL TOTAL CLUB RECORD

FC Cincinnati made history on Aug. 22 at Atlanta when the club tallied five goals in a USL match for the first time in its three-year history

FC Cincinnati has scored four goals on five separate occasions, most recently on June 16 against the Richmond Kickers

ALASHE RECORDS FIRST GOAL AS AN FC CINCINNATI PLAYER

Fatai Alashe recorded his first goal in just his second appearance as an FC Cincinnati player on Aug. 22 at Atlanta

The goal was Alashe's first professional goal since Oct. 1, 2016, which came as a member of the San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) vs. Real Salt Lake

Alashe netted five goals over four seasons with the Earthquakes

ORANGE AND BLUE TARGET SIXTH SERIES SWEEP OF 2018

Should FC Cincinnati defeat Tampa Bay on Wednesday, it will mark FC Cincy's sixth series sweep of the 2018 USL regular season, and the third consecutive match resulting in a series sweep

FCC defeated Ottawa Fury FC on the road, 3-0, on April 28 and at home, 2-0, on June 30

The Orange and Blue beat North Carolina FC at Nippert Stadium, 4-1, on May 19 and at WakeMed Soccer Park, 2-0, on June 9

FC Cincinnati claimed wins over New York Red Bulls II on the road, 2-1, on June 2 and at home, 2-1, on July 21

FCC defeated Charleston Battery on the road, 1-0, on March 17 and at home, 3-0, on Aug. 22

The Orange and Blue beat Atlanta United 2 at Nippert Stadium, 4-2, on May 5 and at Coolray Field, 5-1, on Aug. 22)

FC CINCINNATI ON LONGEST UNBEATEN RUN IN CLUB HISTORY

FCC enters Saturday's match riding a 14-game unbeaten run during which time FCC is 10-0-4 in USL play

During the run, FCC is 7-0-2 at home and 3-0-2 on the road

This is the longest undefeated run in club history ... the club's previous longest undefeated run was 11 games in the first half of the 2016 season (7-0-4)

PREVIEW QUOTES

FC Cincinnati Head Coach Alan Koch

On Thursday's training session...

"It was good, obviously it's hot and humid, but we're somewhat used to the heat, obviously being in Ohio and the humidity, too. Nice to get a training in today, get the guys' legs going again after the game, and for the players that didn't play, to get a little bit more of work today."

On the focus as the team finalizes a stretch of three matches in eight days...

"Today, obviously just recovery, make sure everybody is loose and comfortable. We'll come back in tomorrow morning - hopefully before it gets too hot - and get a good session in and put a gameplan in place for the game on Saturday night. After the session tomorrow, it's just resting and recovering as much as possible. It's not easy for anybody playing three games in the space of a short amount of time. Just rest to make sure we come out with the right energy level on Saturday night."

On Tampa Bay...

"Tampa is an excellent team, they're loaded with big-time players, they've continued to sign big-time players as the season's progressed. It's going to be a tough game. They're obviously fighting for everything, but so are we. So, we know it's going to be a tough challenge. They got a big result last night up in Pittsburgh, so they'll take a lot of confidence from that, and we know coming down here is not an easy place to play. So far, the history between us hasn't been very positive for us and we'd like to go out and hopefully change that."

FC Cincinnati Goalkeeper Spencer Richey

On preparing physically for a third game in eight days...

"Sometimes, I would say less is more, honestly, for a lot of guys. We flew this morning, so it's good. Some of the guys that played more minutes did more of a regen, some guys that didn't play as many did a little bit of a session. It's hot down here and games are coming thick and fast, so it's about catching up on sleep and taking care of yourself off the field to make sure you're good to go for Saturday."

On Tampa Bay...

"A team playing with their backs against the wall with nothing to lose sometimes are the scariest teams to play against. We know that they're in kind of a playoff mindset already, they've got to climb the table a little bit to get in the playoff hunt, so we'll be ready for it. You know, we've been in good form as well, so it should be a fun game."

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