Another Legendary Night

Last week, FC Cincinnati further bolstered its case to become a Major League Soccer expansion team with a dramatic win over the MLS powerhouse Chicago Fire in the round of 16 of the 2017 Open Cup. After regulation ended with both teams scoreless, 30 minutes of extra time was added to determine who would move on in the Open Cup, but that proved to not be enough as the score was still locked at a 0-0 draw. The game came down to penalty kicks.

FC Cincinnati missed their first kick and an immediate gasp could be heard by the record setting crowd of over 32,000 that packed Nippert Stadium. After going toe to toe with the mighty Fire of Chicago, would the lads in orange and blue fall in a penalty kick shootout? Mitch said no.

Having put on a performance nothing short of brilliant in both regulation and extra time, FC Cincinnati goalie Mitch Hildebrandt saved his best defensive efforts for last as he blocked three of the four penalty kicks that Fire players sent his way while FC Cincinnati netted three of their four attempted penalty kicks. Nippert Stadium exploded into complete pandemonium. For the second time in two weeks, the young USL team upset a club in the top professional soccer league in the country.

Like the victory over Columbus Crew SC, the heart-stopping win over the Fire will go down as another legendary moment in FCC lore. Not only did the team get yet another improbable victory, it was seen by a national audience as the game was broadcasted on ESPN. FC Cincinnati could have not asked for a better stage to make their case for MLS expansion. All eyes in the soccer world were on the Queen City, and FC Cincinnati gave them something to remember.