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USL FC Cincinnati

Game Preview: FC Cincinnati vs. Indy Eleven

September 27, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Cincinnati News Release


FCC CLAIMS USL REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP

By defeating the Richmond Kickers, 4-1, on Sept. 26, FC Cincinnati claimed its first-ever USL Regular-Season Championship ... after clinching a playoff berth on Sept. 1, each successive win from FCC brought about additional playoff implications

FC Cincinnati became the first team to clinch a berth in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs with a 2-1 win over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Sept. 1

Furthermore, the Orange and Blue secured a home playoff match after defeating Louisville City FC, 1-0, on Sept. 11

Following the 4-3 victory over Toronto FC II on Sept. 16, the Orange and Blue ensured a finish of no worse than second place in the Eastern Conference, securing two straight home USL Cup Playoffs matches should the club advance

With a 2-1 win over Penn FC on Sept. 22, FC Cincinnati clinched the Eastern Conference's top seed in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs, securing three straight home USL Cup Playoffs matches should the club advance

FCC has now earned a spot in the USL Cup Playoffs in each of its three seasons in the league: 2016, 2017 and 2018 ... the 2018 postseason is set to begin on Saturday, Oct. 20

FCC TO HOLD TROPHY PRESENTATION ON FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT

FC Cincinnati will be presented with the USL Regular-Season Championship trophy in a post-match trophy presentation following Fan Appreciation Night vs. Indy Eleven on Sept. 29

In addition to the presentation, Fan Appreciation Night will include a number of promotions including:

A free commemorative magnet for the first 25,000 fans who come through the Nippert Stadium gates

A special $3 price for a 12 oz. domestic draft beer

Discounted prices on pretzels and popcorn at all concession stands

Lucky seat giveaways throughout the game, including gift cards in varying amounts from club partners Buffalo Wings & Rings, Dunkin Donuts, First Watch, Mike's Car Wash and Taste of Belgium

A lucky fan attending the game will win a four-day, three-night trip with air travel for two, hotel accommodations, gift bag and a spending money to St. Pete-Clearwater, Florida, courtesy of Visit St. Pete

A limited-edition 2018 Fan Appreciation scarf, available for $25 either online or in-store prior to Sept. 29 or at the game

FC CINCY SEEKS THE USL'S ALL-TIME LONGEST WINNING STREAK

FC Cincinnati claimed its ninth consecutive USL win - the longest winning streak in club history - when the Orange and Blue defeated the Richmond Kickers, 4-1, on Sept. 26 - tying the USL's all-time longest winning streak, set by Real Monarchs SLC in 2017

FCC previously won four consecutive games, two of which were U.S. Open Cup contests, in May 2017

During the current streak, FCC has outscored its opposition 24-8 and has posted three clean sheets

FC CINCINNATI ON LONGEST UNBEATEN RUN IN CLUB HISTORY

FCC enters Saturday's match riding a 20-game unbeaten run during which time FCC is 16-0-4 in USL play ... this is the longest undefeated run in club history

With the 2-1 win over Penn FC on Sept. 22, the Orange and Blue claimed the second-longest unbeaten streak in USL history, surpassing Orlando City SC's mark of 18 matches unbeaten, set in 2014 ... the Richmond Kickers set the USL's longest unbeaten run when they went unbeaten in 22 consecutive matches in 2013

FC Cincinnati will look to complete four consecutive unbeaten months after posting an unbeaten record in June (4-0-2), July (3-0-1), and August (4-0-1) ... FCC is currently 5-0-0 in the month of September ... overall, FCC has tallied seven unbeaten months in club history

During the run, FCC is 9-0-2 at home and 7-0-2 on the road

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

BONE, LEDESMA CONTINUE TO SHINE FOR ORANGE AND BLUE

Corben Bone and Emmanuel Ledesma have been instrumental in FCC's high-powered attack over the course of the club's nine-match winning streak ... The pair has combined for 13 goals and five assists over the last nine matches

Bone has recorded six goals in FC Cincinnati's last eight games, four goals in the club's last four games, and the game-winning goal in three of FCC's last four matches ... Ledesma has influenced (recorded either the goal or the assist) on 10 of FCC's last 15 goals, and has scored seven goals and added five assists in his last eight appearances

Bone and Ledesma were named to the USL Team of the Week for their performances in Week 27 ... Bone recorded three goals - including a pair of game-winning goals - on four shots in 159 minutes of match action, while Ledesma tallied four assists - including a pair of game-winning assists - to surpass the USL's all-time single-season assist record

HISTORIC FOURSOME OF GOAL SCORERS

So far in 2018, Emmanuel Ledesma, Danni König, Nazmi Albadawi and Corben Bone have combined for 45 of FC Cincinnati's 66 goals ... that is more than 21 USL clubs have scored this season

When Albadawi scored at Richmond on Sept. 26, it marked the first time three FC Cincinnati goal scorers have reached double digits in a single season ... The Orange and Blue became the third USL club to ever record the feat, joining LA Galaxy II (2018) and New York Red Bulls II (2017)

Should Bone score another goal this season, it will mark the first time in USL history that a team has had four 10-goal scorers in a single season

2018: Emmanuel Ledesma (14), Nazmi Albadawi (10), Danni König (10), Corben Bone (9)

2017: Djiby (12), Danni König (11), Jimmy McLaughlin (5), Harrison Delbridge (3)

2016: Sean Okoli (16), Andrew Wiedeman (7), Jimmy McLaughlin (4), Three Players (3)

PREVIEW QUOTES

FC Cincinnati Head Coach Alan Koch

On a quick turnaround after winning the USL Regular-Season Championship...

"We're going to have to take stock of everybody [on Thursday]. We travel back tomorrow, we train on Friday, we'll see who's all good to go for the game on Saturday. We've got three games to fine tune things to get ourselves ready for the postseason. There are a lot of players on our team that have sacrificed a lot, [and have] worked incredibly hard to be part of this group. I'd like to reward everybody through the final few games. Our focus now is obviously this cup competition that is ahead of us. We've got three games to work on some things."

On if he expects Saturday's match to have a carnival atmosphere...

"Saturday will be a 100 percent carnival. I've only been in Cincinnati for a few years, but I've heard the stories of the challenges our different sports teams have all had, and for us to receive a trophy on our own pitch on Saturday night, is going to be a very, very special night. I look forward to sharing that night, not only with FCC, but with the entire city of Cincinnati. It's going to be a very, very fun night."

USL Regular Season | Match #32

FC Cincinnati vs. Indy Eleven

Saturday, September 29, 2018 | 7:30 p.m.

Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: WSTR 64 | Stream: ESPN+ | Radio: The Project 100.7 FM

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

Team Records

FC Cincinnati: 22-3-6, 72 pts. | First in USL East

Indy Eleven: 13-9-9, 48 pts. | Fifth in USL East

Check out the FC Cincinnati Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 27, 2018


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