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USL FC Cincinnati

Game Preview: FC Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

August 30, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Cincinnati News Release


USL Regular Season | Match #27

FC Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Saturday, September 1, 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)

Game Notes: PDF Link

Team Records

FC Cincinnati: 17-3-6, 57 pts. | First in USL East

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: 12-3-10, 46 pts. | Third in USL East

FC CINCINNATI RETURNS HOME TO OPEN SEPTEMBER

FC Cincinnati is back at Nippert Stadium for a matchup with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Cincinnati has scored the second-most goals in USL (53), while Pittsburgh has conceded the fewest goals in USL (14)

Both teams enter the matchup on unbeaten runs ... Cincinnati is currently unbeaten in 15 matches (11-0-4), while Pittsburgh is unbeaten in six matches (3-0-3) ... both teams went unbeaten in August

FCC SEEKS TO EXTEND CLUB-RECOR FOUR-GAME WINNING STREAK

FC Cincinnati claimed its fourth consecutive win -- most consecutive league wins in club history -- when the Orange and Blue defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 2-1, on August 25

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

Should Cincinnati defeat Pittsburgh, a five-game winning streak would mark be the club's longest ever winning streak across all competitions.

During the current streak, FCC has outscored its opposition 11-2 and has posted two clean sheets

FC CINCINNATI ON LONGEST UNBEATEN RUN IN CLUB HISTORY

FCC enters Saturday's match riding a 15-game unbeaten run during which time FCC is 11-0-4 in USL play

FC Cincinnati completed its third-consecutive unbeaten month for the first time ever, having posted an unbeaten record in June (4-0-2), July (3-0-1), and August (4-0-1) ... Overall, FCC has tallied seven unbeaten months in club history

During the run, FCC is 7-0-2 at home and 4-0-2 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)

FCC TO BE WITHOUT TWO DEFENDERS ON SATURDAY

FC Cincinnati will be without center back Paddy Barrett and left back Blake Smith when they play Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Sept. 1

Barrett will serve a one-game suspension for yellow-card accumulation after picking up his fifth caution of the season at Tampa Bay on August 25.

Smith will serve a one-game suspension for receiving a red card at Tampa Bay on August 25

In addition, Smith remains on card watch with four yellow cards on the year

HISTORIC TRIO OF GOAL SCORERS

So far in 2018, Danni Konig, Emmanuel Ledesma and Nazmi Albadawi have combined for 30 of FC Cincinnati's 53 goals ... that is more than 10 USL clubs have scored this season

Should Nazmi Albadawi find the net one more time, it will mark the first time three FC Cincinnati goal scorers have reached double digits in a same single 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 (11), Danni Konig (10), Nazmi Albadawi (9)

PREVIEW QUOTES

FC Cincinnati Head Coach Alan Koch

On Pittsburgh...

"Pittsburgh, obviously, has had a very good season. Bob [Lilley]'s a great coach and he's done a great job with the group in terms of pushing his club on, but we're doing the exact same thing here."

On how the team has changed since the first matchup with Pittsburgh...

"We've evolved so much, we've gone through three different systems in terms of formations, how we want to play. The philosophy of how we want to play hasn't changed at all, that's been the same since day one. Our lineups in terms of players that have actually played and how we've put them out on the chessboard has been very, very different and I'm sure Saturday will probably be a game like that too. Bob will have his plan, we'll have our plan, and we'll start in that manner, but I wouldn't be surprised if we have to adjust during the course of the game, because games like this are huge games. They're very exciting for the players, very exciting for the coaches, too. We know it's going to be a challenge and if we have to adjust during the course of the game, we'll gladly adjust."

On having the opportunity to clinch a playoff berth...

"We were happy last year when we got into the playoffs, and we'll be happy this year when we get into the playoffs, because getting into the playoffs is an achievement. It doesn't really matter how you do it, if you do it hopefully early like we're trying to achieve, or if you do it the last day of the season, you've got into the postseason. I think in North American sports, it's about getting into the postseason, it doesn't matter when you get there, but we're trying to achieve more than just getting into the playoffs. We want to try to win the regular season. It shows the body of work that we've put in, and it's what motivates our staff, it's what motivates the club, it's what motivates the players every single day."

FC Cincinnati Midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin

On Pittsburgh...

"I think we both have grown a lot. They've put together an incredible season and a put together a team that is really tough to play against, and extremely tough to break down, so it's going to be a great challenge for us and it's going to be a fun opportunity towards the end of the year to play one of the top teams in the league, so it's a massive game for us. We've grown so much as a club as well, and as a team, so it should be a top match between two top teams in the league."

On if it's hard to stay motivated after getting a lead at the top of the table...

"No, because we're always pushing for the Supporters' Shield in general, [Real] Monarchs are right on our tail as well. Any lead in this sport can easily be erased. We want to put as much distance between us and second place as we can, and give ourselves the best chance to finish at the top of the table at the end of the season."

On if it's nice to have an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth this weekend...

"Yeah, this is definitely the better way to do it. Whenever you can lock in a spot is a big achievement. It took us till the last match last season, or something along those lines, the second-to-last one. I think it's an awesome achievement by the club, but we have higher goals than that. We want to win the regular season outright and that's what we're looking to do right now and get a home game in the playoff. Big achievement, but at the same time, we have loftier goals than that."

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