Sports stats

USL FC Cincinnati

Win Moves FC Cincinnati into First Place in Eastern Conference

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


CINCINNATI - FC Cincinnati used a two-goal, one-assist performance from Emmanuel Ledesma to push its winning streak to three and its undefeated run to five behind a 4-2 victory over Atlanta United 2 on Saturday night at Nippert Stadium in front of 22,532 fans.

With its first home win of 2018, FC Cincinnati (5-1-2, 17 pts.) earned another three points in the standings and jumped into first place in the USL Eastern Conference table. FCC capped a week in which it played three games in eight days, taking all nine available points. The team's four goals were also a season high, and pushed the team's three-game total to 10.

"Nine points from nine points this week," said FCC Head Coach Alan Koch postgame, referencing three wins in the past week at Ottawa, at Indy and against Atlanta, respectively. "I don't really think we need to say much else, to be honest. Very, very special week; this is not the end, this is the beginning. It's a platform to set [us] up for the rest of the season."

FCC and Atlanta United 2 (1-3-3, 6 pts.) played scoreless action for the first 25 minutes until Orange and Blue midfielder Kenney Walker found a gap in the back line of Atlanta's defense. From beyond the circle, Walker found Ledesma sprinting downfield on the left flank.

Ledesma sent a square pass between two Atlanta defenders - one being Atlanta "keeper Nicolas Caraux - setting up Danni König wide open for a right-footed tap-in from close range to put FCC ahead early, 1-0.

Then in the 28th minute, defender Blake Smith again beat the Atlanta defense with a pass downfield to Ledesma, who cleared the offside line. With only Caraux in front of him, Ledesma left-footed a goal into the upper right corner of the net on the one-on-one chance.

Atlanta responded to Ledesma's goal, however. After the restart after a caution, A.J. Cochran set up Jon Gallagher off of a loose ball following the free kick and Gallagher put it into the upper left corner of the net to cut the FCC lead in half at 2-1.

Midfielder Corben Bone gave FCC a two-goal advantage yet again the 39th minute. Justin Hoyte ran down a long pass and immediately gave it off to Walker outside the box. Walker lofted the ball into the box and Atlanta cleared, but right to Bone. From the top of the box, Bone pushed a right-footed shot into the center of the net as a trio of defenders shielded the play from Caraux's view.

For the second time in the game, Atlanta closed the gap to one goal, this time two minutes later. The Orange and Blue cleared the ball from their own box, but Laurent Kissiedou gained possession from about 20 yards away from the net and right-footed a goal past FCC keeper Spencer Richey into the top right corner in the 41st.

Coming out of the break, Cincinnati extended its lead to two scores immediately on a misplay by Caraux in the 46th minute. After Caraux's clearance went directly to Ledesma just outside the box, he controlled and left-footed a goal into the bottom right corner.

Ledesma's score put FCC ahead, 4-2, and the Orange and Blue kept Atlanta's attack at bay for the remainder of the night.

FC Cincinnati returns to the road in a week and will travel to face Charlotte Independence next Saturday, May 12. Match play is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m.

FC CINCINNATI vs. ATLANTA UNITED 2

Saturday, May 5, 2018

Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio

Scoring Summary

CIN - Danni Konig (Emmanuel Ledesma, Kenney Walker) 26'

CIN - Emmanuel Ledesma (Blake Smith) 28'

ATL - Jon Gallagher (A.J. Cochran) 31'

CIN - Corben Bone (unassisted) 39'

ATL - Laurent Kissiedou (unassisted) 41'

CIN - Emmanuel Ledesma (unassisted) 46'

Misconduct Summary

CIN - Dekal Keinan (caution) 30'

ATL - Laurent Kissiedou (caution) 37'

ATL - Andrew Carleton (caution) 87'

FC Cincinnati (5-1-2, 17 pts.): Spencer Richey, Justin Hoyte, Forest Lasso, Dekel Keinan ©, Blake Smith, Richie Ryan, Kenney Walker, Corben Bone, Emmanuel Ledesma (Emery Welshman 65'), Jimmy McLaughlin (Michael Lahoud 71'), Danni Konig

Bench: Mark Village, Matt Behner, Tomi Ameobi, Lance Laing, Paddy Barrett

STATS: Shots 13, Shots on Goal 6, Fouls 9, Corner Kicks 0, Saves 0

Atlanta United 2 (1-3-3, 6 pts.): Nicolas Caraux, Shawn Nicklaw (Jose Carranza 77'), A.J. Cochran, Kendall Edwards, Mike Ambrose, Christopher Goslin (Devon Sandoval 81'), Laurent Kissiedou (Lagos Kunga 46'), Oliver Shannon, Jack Metcalf ©, Jon Gallagher, Andrew Carleton

Bench: Russell Shealy, Andrew Kendall-Moullin, Kevin Barajas

STATS: Shots 14, Shots on Goal 2, Fouls 10, Corner Kicks 5, Saves 2

Referee: Guido Gonzalez Jr.

Weather: 61 degrees, light rain

Attendance: 22,532

FCC POSTGAME QUOTES

FC Cincinnati Head Coach Alan Koch

"Nine points from nine points this week. I don't really think we need to say much else, to be honest."

"Very, very special week. This is not the end, this is the beginning. Where you are after eight games doesn't mean much other than it's a platform to set you up for the rest of the season. Obviously we're happy where we are right now, but it doesn't really matter or mean anything at this time. What does matter is we got nine points out of nine points this week playing at Ottawa, a very, very difficult place to place, and then going in Indy, a very, very difficult place to play, and playing against Atlanta 2, who have all sorts of talented players. So, to get nine points from three tough games is something we're very, very proud of right now."

"I don't think I need to validate anything, to be honest. You may feel that way, or there might be some people who think that, but I don't think so. I think we did a lot of reflection at the end of last year. We knew what we had to do to improve the group. We went out and we did that with reasonable resources - similar resources to every other team in the league, to be quite frank - which is quite reasonable. And we put a fantastic group together. And I think this is the only the start of that group. We can still get even more out of those guys. But a big part of where we are because we put the work in. And the players have come in since preseason and put the work in, too. We prepare ourselves for moments like tonight, and moments at Indy on Wednesday. I know people think it's pretty boring when I say "Trust the process,' but it is a process. Miracles just don't happen overnight and we're going to ride this roller-coaster as long as we can because there will be ups and downs already the first eight games and they'll be ups and downs through the rest of the season and we appreciate all the support. That was awesome tonight. You could really feel a release from the fans at the end. For us to reward them - and they deserve to be rewarded - by getting three points at home is a very fitting way to end a special week."

FC Cincinnati midfielder Corben Bone

"I think it's a lot of things. Culmination of a lot of great people - great players, great coaches - and it's working right now. And we're having fun doing it. It's a joy for me to come in to work with everyone on this team. Not only because of their character, but because of the quality of play. You've seen this team get better and better. The quality we have going forward and defending, it's very high and we can only get better as team. I honestly think we're in a good place right now, enjoying playing with each other and I think that's a big, big part of it for me."

"It's great to win on the road and we did that twice, but to win here and to cap off that three-game streak was fantastic in front of our fan. And that was the plan: to go on the road and get points, but then to come home and get a win at home in front of these amazing fans. It's been a great week."

FC Cincinnati midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma

On his second goal ...

"We were in the right moment, with good pressing - the team did a good (job) pressing - and I found the ball and put it inside."

"It's amazing. It was an amazing game. We played really good. We've been focused from the beginning. That's what we worked on during the week: to be focused and connected. We have an amazing team, amazing teammates and that's what we're working hard for. Today, I'm so happy, we reached first place. That's all teamwork."

On playing with Danni Konig ...

"We know each other and had a quick connection. And we're working together really hard. We started [pressuring] and he's an amazing guy. He deserved it because he's working really, really hard."

Check out the FC Cincinnati Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 5, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent FC Cincinnati Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central