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USL FC Cincinnati

Game Preview: FC Cincinnati vs. Nashville Sc

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


THREE ADDITIONS BOLSTER FC CINCINNATI

As the summer international transfer window has opened, FC Cincinnati has already started to fine tune its roster for the stretch run of the 2018 season

Forward Fanendo Adi, midfielder Fatai Alashe, and defender Pa Konate have been added to the roster this week ahead of Saturday's match against Nashville

Adi - who joins FC Cincinnati from Major League Soccer's Portland Timbers - will play for the Orange and Blue for the remainder of the 2018 USL season, before becoming FCC's first ever Designated Player in MLS in 2019

Alashe - who comes in to FC Cincy from Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes - will also join FC Cincinnati for the remainder of the 2018 USL season and will be part of the club's inaugural MLS roster in 2019.

Konate - who joins the Orange and Blue from Serie A's S.P.A.L. - is on loan to FC Cincinnati for the remainder of the 2018 USL season, with an option to purchase for the 2019 MLS season.

With the transactions, FC Cincinnati's roster currently stands at 27 active players with three USL spots open to sign or add additional players

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

FC Cincinnati claimed the club's fifth consecutive win at Nippert Stadium when it defeated New York Red Bulls II (July 21)

The Orange and Blue's current home winning-streak is the longest in club history:

5 wins - June 16-present

3 wins - June 24-July 22, 2017, June 11-July 2, 2016

2 wins - four times

FC CINCY SETS SECOND-LONGEST SHUTOUT STREAK IN CLUB HISTORY

FC Cincinnati's shutout stretch of 399 minutes across all competitions was snapped against New York Red Bulls II (July 21)

The streak is now the second-longest such streak in club history:

405 minutes (includes playoff match) - Sept. 5-Oct.1, 2016

399 minutes - June 27-July 21, 2018

343 minutes - May 7-June 4, 2016

UNDEFEATED RUN CONTUNUES

FCC enters Saturday's match riding a 10-game unbeaten run during which time FCC is 7-0-3

During the run, FCC is 5-0-1 at home and 2-0-2 on the road

This is the second-longest undefeated run in club history ... the club's longest undefeated run was 12 games in the first half of the 2016 season (7-0-5)

HISTORIC TRIO OF GOAL SCORERS

So far in 2018, Danni Konig, Emmanuel Ledesma and Nazmi Albadawi have combined for 25 goals of FC Cincinnati's 37 goals ... that is more than 15 USL clubs have scored this season

Additionally, this is the first time in club history the Orange and Blue have three goal scorers with 7+ goals in a same single season

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

2017: Djiby (12), Danni Konig (11), Jimmy McLaughlin (5)

2018: Emmanuel Ledesma (9), Danni Konig (9), Nazmi Albadawi (7)

FCC PLAY THIRD EVER INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

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

Russell Cicerone scored the first ever goal by an FC Cincinnati player in an international friendly after finishing a feed from Emery Welshman

Tyler Gibson and Mark Village made their FC Cincinnati debuts across all competitions ... the pair entered the game at the start of the second half and logged 27 minutes of playing time

FCC celebrated its 2019 entry into MLS with a commemorative poster giveaway to fans in attendance ... the club also held 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

CENTER BACKS COMBINE FOR TWO GOALS...AGAIN

For a second consecutive match, two FC Cincinnati center backs scored for the Orange and Blue against New York Red Bulls II (July 21)

Forrest Lasso found the scoresheet via a header off an Emmanuel Ledesma corner kick in the 17th minute of action

In the 38th minute, Paddy Barrett scored his first FC Cincinnati goal on a header following a long pass from Ledesma on a free kick from just outside the center circle

Just three days earlier Dekel Keinan and Forrest Lasso scored the first two goals by FC Cincinnati center backs for the 2018 USL season

PREVIEW QUOTES

FC Cincinnati Head Coach Alan Koch

On Nashville SC...

"We could lose every game, but we obviously got to go out and win every game, you don't get given anything in this business. They were better than us when we played them down in Nashville. We're under no illusions, we know it is going to be a tough game. They've obviously had some tough challenges the last few weeks, too. But, it's going to be up to us, going out and imposing ourselves on them. They're going to be fired up to play here, you know everybody who comes and plays at Nippert Stadium is always going to give you everything they can, but we'll gladly embrace that challenge."

FC Cincinnati Forward Russell Cicerone

On if the approach to the Nashville SC match is dictated by how they play...

"[The mindset]'s always, "We're the best team - especially at home - we're the best team, we're going to impose our style.' That's always our game plan."

FC Cincinnati Midfielder Nazmi Albadawi

On preparing for Nashville SC...

"Nashville is a very good team. When we played away there, we weren't happy with how we played. We know that we can do a lot better than that. We came away with a draw, but every game we go into, we want to win, and we just weren't happy with our performance at all in Nashville. So, that being said, we have a lot to prove this weekend to our fans and to ourselves as well, that we are the best team in the league. So, we want to go into this weekend to get three points, but play the style that we know that we can play and dominate the game."

On what can be taken from the first match against Nashville SC...

"They're a physical team. They'll come out hard, they'll come out strong, and they believe in themselves. I think they're also a very good team. They're tough to play against, so coming into that game, we have to come in strong, we have to be ready to play, and we have to be ready to fight for everything, for every ball. If we do that, I don't see why we can't win the game."

FC Cincinnati Defender Blake Smith

On looking back to the previous match with Nashville SC...

"We definitely have to respect Nashville. They have the ability to be a very, very good side. They have tons of quality and good players, so we definitely have to respect them in that aspect. For us, I felt that that game was a one off for us, we weren't at our best at Nashville. We'll take some of our mistakes from that match and hopefully correct those going into this weekend, but definitely have to respect them because they are a good side."

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