Another Successful Season

The 2017 season of FC Cincinnati came to a close as the lads fell in their first round playoff match to the Tampa Bay Rowdies by a score of 3-0. While the early postseason exit was a disappointing way to end the year, there is no denying that FCC’s second season of existence was one that that the city of Cincinnati will never forget.

Numerous attendance records were shattered, thrilling soccer unfolded in front of raucous crowds at Nippert Stadium, and there was the amazing run in the Open Cup that became the summer sports story in Cincinnati. FCC made it all the way to the semifinals before falling to Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls 3-2 in extra time. Before that loss however, FCC took out two storied franchises of MLS in Columbus Crew SC and the Chicago Fire. They defeated their in state rivals in the first ever “Hell is Real Derby” by a score of 1-0. They followed that up with a nationally televised victory over the Fire that came down to penalty kicks. When most fans think of the 2017 FCC season, they will most likely think of the Open Cup run.

Not everything was good about the season. FCC struggled mightily on the road and lost almost every match they played outside of Nippert Stadium. Mitch Hildebrandt regressed and was a step below his 2016 form. There was coaching turmoil that resulted in a change of leadership right before the season started. There is also the argument of how to fund and where to build a soccer specific stadium should FCC attain an expansion bid from MLS.

Despite those negatives, there is no doubt that 2017 will be remembered fondly by soccer fans in Cincinnati. FCC bolstered their MLS bid with record setting crowds, they played three MLS squads and defeated two of them, and they firmly established themselves as a big time player in the Cincinnati sports scene. Hopefully they hear good news from MLS in December and have continued success in 2018.

One Hell of a Run

FC Cincinnati’s magical run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup came to an end after a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer. Even though the loss was disappointing, the game was full of drama and excitement as FCC’s magic ran out with about 15 minutes left to go in the game. Leading 2-0 over the Red Bulls, FCC appeared to have locked up a trip to the finals. The Red Bulls had other ideas as they scored two quick goals to force the game into extra time where they found the net once more to officially end FCC’s run in the Open Cup.

When the final whistle blew, players dressed in blue and orange fell to the field in exhaustion as a sold out crowd at Nippert Stadium applauded them and thanked them for their efforts. The lads had nothing to be ashamed about as their incredible journey in the Open Cup established Cincinnati as the best soccer city in America. All eyes were on the Queen City as soccer fans from around the world eagerly waited to see what FC Cincinnati would do against the best competition the country had to offer on a national stage. They made their claim for instate supremacy by stunning MLS’s Columbus Crew SC 1-0. They followed that match with an epic nail biter that saw them defeat the Chicago Fire, an MLS powerhouse, 3-1 on penalty kicks in a match that was broadcasted nationally on ESPN. The United Soccer League franchise that was established in the summer of 2015 upset two teams that are in the very league they are trying to join.

It is clear that the entire soccer world took notice. MLS commissioner Don Garber and United States Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati were in attendance for the Open Cup semifinal match against the Red Bulls. After the match, Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch said that FCC would be a “feather in the cap of MLS.” He also called Cincinnati the best American soccer city in a recent interview with ESPN.

None of that would have happened though had it not been for the lads in orange and blue playing their best soccer when the lights were shinning brightest. They defeated some of the best soccer teams in America and took the city of Cincinnati on an incredible ride. They became the talk of the town in a city that is known for Cincinnati Reds baseball. They overshadowed the hype surrounding the start of the 50^th season of the Cincinnati Bengals. They became THE sports team of Cincinnati. Hopefully there are many more exciting Open Cup runs for FCC that end with them being crowned as champions. For now though, FCC fans will look back at the 2017 Open Cup as the stage that cemented Cincinnati as America’s soccer city.

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.

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.