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.