FC Cincinnati beat St. Louis FC 2-0 in a match that was wider than the score line. A St. Louis own goal early from AJ Cochran and a tap in from Danni Konig were enough to give Cincinnati all three points.
Total domination for Cincinnati with attacks coming from all sides. This was the best performance of the season with chances coming from all over the place with a total team performance. The passing was on and everything but the final ball was perfect. The first half very easily could have seen Cincinnati lead by three at the break.
Cincinnati Head Coach Alan Koch commented on the match, “It was a very good performance, the way we possessed the ball at times tonight was the best we possessed the ball all season long…very, very happy with the performance tonight.”
The own goal set the tone for the night after a great long ball from Corben Bone to Andrew Wiedeman whose shot was saved but trickled behind the keeper and the running Cochran kicked it into his own net. Setting up a bad night for the defender who also picked up a yellow card in the second half.
Cincinnati then went on a tear from then on in the first half attacking relentlessly from all sides. Jimmy McLaughlin was all over the field causing problems for the St. Louis backline all evening. He was unfortunate to not have scored in the first half hitting the far post with a laser. His night peaked when he made a perfect pass inside the six-yard box splitting the goalkeeper and a charging defender to allow Konig to tap it in.
The defense did a great job tonight with Mitch Hildebrandt only having to make one tough save tonight. Every other shot was right at him with only one coming from inside the box all night and it was a weak header.
Djiby Fall was unable to get on the score sheet after putting four past the keeper in his last outing against St. Louis. But, he did end up in the referee’s book with a yellow card after retaliating against Erick Cabalceta. Djiby and Cabalceta were both going for a ball along the sideline where Djiby was sent into a table in between the benches. Cabalceta pulled out of the play when he arrived at the sideline but Djiby’s momentum carried him into the table. Djiby was down for a minute after the play to receive treatment and would continue for 10 minutes. Cabalceta received a yellow card.
News and Notes
Cincinnati moves into sixth place in the Eastern Conference with the win bringing them up to 20 points on the season with a 5-5-5 record.
This is the third match using three central defenders amassing two wins and a draw.
The referee was generous tonight after being shoved by St. Louis’s Emir Alihodzic due to him being upset after a foul. A red card, or at least a yellow, should have been accessed and it wouldn’t be surprising if a suspension was accessed on Monday by the league.
20,125 was the attendance this evening. Another great crowd and it seems to be normal, good signs for Cincinnati and a potential MLS bid.
Next Up
Cincinnati hosts the Chicago Fire (MLS) in the Round of 16 of Lamar Hunt US Open Cup at Nippert Stadium at 8:00 pm. The game will also be televised on ESPN2, which is why the time changed from 7:00 to 8:00. This is the first ever meeting of the two sides. Chicago has won the US Open Cup four times, most recently in 2006.
Next Saturday Cincinnati will travel to Florida to play Orlando City B at 8:30 This will be the second meeting of the season between the teams with the first being a 2-0 Orlando victory at Nippert on May 13. Orlando currently sits in seventh in the Eastern Conference (5-6-4) with 19 points.
Moments of the Match
7’ Cincinnati took the lead off an own goal from St. Louis’s AJ Cochran. Andrew Wiedeman made a run behind the St Louis back line where Corben Bone played an incredible long ball that Wiedeman chested down and hit a poor shot off the keeper and Cochran kicked the ball right into the goal while running.
17’ Wiedeman put a great back heel pass back to a wide-open Corben Bone whose shot is right at the keeper. He had plenty of space and should have done better.
23’ A shot from the top of the box from St. Louis’s Erick Cabalceta forcing a good diving save from Mitch Hildebrandt.
30’ Octavio Guzman of St. Louis picked up the first caution of the match after taking down Bone.
44’ Kenny Walker played a great pass up to Jimmy McLaughlin after a great run into space. McLaughlin collected and fired a shot that ricocheted off the far post.
52’ Cabalceta picks up a yellow card after running Djiby Fall into the table between the benches. Djiby was down for a minute and received medical attention before being able to continue.
53’ Djiby went back at Cabalceta and sent him to the ground seconds after play resumed earning his team’s first yellow.
58’ A great interception by Tyler Polak led to a one on two for Cincinnati. He passed it over to Wiedeman but a defender who was able to chase him down and block his shot.
66’ Danni Konig taps home a pass from McLaughlin from a yard out. McLaughlin chased down a deflected shot from Walker and a great turn and pass from the left of the six-yard box is met by Konig for the tap in.
74’ Cochran picks up a yellow card for taking down Bone on a counter attack.
87’ St Louis picked up their fourth booking of the match by way of Wes Charpie taking down Konig on a counter attack.
Final Thoughts
The best performance all season leads to three much needed points. The three man back line is working extremely well and the movement in the midfield is excellent. Jimmy McLaughlin and Andrew Wiedeman both made great runs behind the back line creating one goal and having a shot off the post. They both look to be in the form they had last season which will be a problem for their future opponents. After 15 matches the system is in place and the results should start trending upwards.
Now on to the Chicago Fire this Wednesday in what will surely be an incredible match at Nippert and draw around 30,000 and ESPN2 will be broadcasting the game.