The Run Continues

FC Cincinnati’s legendary run in the 2017 U.S. Lamar Hunt Open Cup will continue after they defeated Miami FC of the NASL in the quarterfinals last Wednesday. After the first half ended with both teams scoreless, FCC took a 1-0 lead when Djiby Fall scored off a pass from Justin Hoyte. It was the only goal of the game and the only goal the team needed as FCC managed to hold off Miami FC’s offensive onslaught late in the game to move onto a semifinal matchup with the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer on August 15.

For FCC, the Red Bulls will be the third MLS team they have face in their last four Open Cup matches. They previously defeated Columbus Crew SC 1-0 and the Chicago Fire 3-1 on penalty kicks. Both games were in front of raucous crowds of over 30,000 at Nippert Stadium. Their win against Miami has given them the chance for another monumental victory in front of the hometown crowd. Not only is a trip to the Open Cup Finals on the line, but a third straight win over an MLS team would amplify the already thunderous buzz FCC has created for themselves in American soccer and further strengthen their case to be selected as an MLS expansion team.

I love this team and have been following them since they were established in the summer of 2015. Aside from seeing the Reds win the World Series and the Bengals win the Super Bowl, there is nothing I want more when it comes to sports than for FCC to join MLS. They have been hitting all the right buttons as a franchise, and the Open Cup has given them a national stage to prove that they are MLS ready. Hopefully they can muster up some more Open Cup magic on the 15^th and continue this incredible ride.