FC Cincinnati celebrated their third birthday with three points beating Penn FC 1-0. Emmanuel Ledesma scored the lone goal late in the second half to secure the victory.
The win tonight moved the unbeaten streak up to 12 games, tying the longest the team has had in their history from the 2016 season.
“Three points, I think at this time of the season, it realty is a bit of a grind at times, we’ll gladly take the three points,” Cincinnati Head Coach Alan Koch on the match tonight. “I don’t think we played as well as we would have liked too over the course of 90 minutes. I think we showed some good moments over the second 45 minutes, but like I started with it’s about getting results.
Cincinnati had a rough first half with only three shots in the half and only one real chance with the shot going off the crossbar from Paddy Barrett in the 43’. Even though Cincinnati had 55% possession they were vulnerable on the counter attack with several shots from Penn including one that went over the bar. Blake Smith was all over the place during the half making great defensive plays intercepting passes and closing down Penn attackers quickly.
Cincinnati played a much better second half with ability to create chances and moving the ball up the field. Both of their on target shots came in the second half as well as their ability to pass the ball effectively.
Fernando Adi was brought on in the 77’ and with him a sense that there was a goal coming. After Ledesma scored his goal and Cincinnati sat back the long clearances were to Adi who was able to hold up the ball and create chances.
Nazmi Albadawi suffered a busted lip and a broken tooth in a 10’ challenge with a Penn player. He had to come off the field to get treatment for the bleeding. This was an ongoing issue for the next five minutes, as he had to come off a second time to change his shirt due to blood dripping on it.
Penn had a great chance in the 23’ when they worked the ball inside the six-yard box and a shot went over keeper Spencer Richey but also over the bar. The first real chance of the match.
Emmanuel Ledesma displayed his incredible ability with the ball in the 24’ gathering a long ball and making four touches surrounded by several defenders before losing possession and falling to the ground.
Paddy Barrett hit the bar with a header off a corner in the 43’. Ledesma put in a good cross and Barrett found himself unmarked just outside the six-yard box. After the ball hit the bar and bounced down but out of the net and was cleared by a Penn defender.
Penn had a shot go wide from 30 yards out in the 49’ when a loose ball showed up at the feet of Isaac Osae and he hit a powerful shot.
Ledesma hit the post with a rocket and the rebound bounced to Cicerone whose shot was saved in the 56’. Ledesma hit a volley off the outside of the post and Cicerone collected the rebound and a great save from the keeper kept the game scoreless.
Forest Lasso was just wide with a header off a corner in the 62’. Cincinnati crowded the keeper on the corner and Lasso just put the cross from Ledesma on the outside of the post.
A minute later Barrett put a header wide of the post on a free kick. Making a great run into the box he powered the header wide of the post. He cut off the run of Lasso who would have also had a good chance to put the ball on target but Barrett’s position was better.
Ledesma gave Cincinnati the lead in the 80’ with a free kick that defected off the wall and into the net. Ledesma drew the free kick and a yellow card after being taken down about 25 yards out.
Corben Bone misses a wide open net from the top of the six-yard box in the 90’. Fernando Adi carried the ball almost all the way to the end line and drew the Penn keeper out of position before passing to Bone who was open in space. His shot went way over the bar after a bad miss hit, there was one defender standing in goal but the shot should have been put into the net.
News and Notes
Emmanuel Ledesma scored his 10th goal of the season tonight. With his goal he became the first player in team history to tally 10 goals and 10 assists.
Tommy Heinemann made his first appearance in two months. He was signed in the off-season by Cincinnati and had his contract canceled by the club in February.
Fernando Adi made his second appearance as a member of Cincinnati.
Spencer Richey got the start in goal tonight due to normal number one keeper Evan Newton nursing an injury picked up in training this week.
Tonight’s attendance was 24,249.
Up Next
Cincinnati hosts the Charleston Battery next Saturday August 18 at 7:30pm. Charleston currently sits in second place in the Eastern Conference with 43 points (11-3-10). The last time they met was the first match of the season and Cincinnati won 1-0.
The following Wednesday Cincinnati travels to play Atlanta United 2 on August 22 at 7:00pm. Atlanta has had a rough season sitting in 15th in the East with 16 points (6-7-8) and not having a win in their last five matches. In their last meeting Cincinnati won 4-2.