FC Cincinnati won a twice-delayed match against the Harrisburg City Islanders 3-0 at Nippert Stadium. Djiby Fall, Danni Konig and Jimmy McLaughlin scored the three goals for Cincinnati. An impressive 18,334 were in attendance tonight.
Djiby scored the opener after a bad back pass from Mohammed Abass collecting the ball at the top of the box, cutting back and curling a shot into the far corner giving the keeper no chance. Djiby assisted on Konig’s goal with a great defender splitting pass letting Konig slide it right though the keeper’s legs to secure the second goal.
McLaughlin scored a late goal after collecting a pass at the top of the box and beautifully cutting into space dead center and sliding the ball into the bottom corner.
Coach Koch commented on the match, “Very happy to get the three points. Very happy with our players reactions with the delay, don’t think we were good for the first 27 minutes. We adjusted a couple things. I think the players response was absolutely brilliant, allowed to get ourselves into the game.”
Cincinnati played very poorly for the first 27 minutes before the first delay creating more chances than Harrisburg but the best was a shot from outside the box that Mitch Hildebrandt made a good reaction on to keep it scoreless in the seventh minute. But the possession was mostly in their half with a lot of misplayed passes. Defensively, crosses from the sides were allowed to get to their target but luckily Cincinnati wasn’t punished. In the 27’ lightning in the area caused a 71-minute delay.
After the first delay things turned around as Cincinnati came back with Djiby scoring his 11 of the season on the bad back pass from Abass in the 32’. A few chances came close in the minutes after the goal but no second goal.
In the second half Cincinnati continued to play well. Coming close to scoring in the 59’ when a great double save from Harrisburg’s Brandon Miller denied Djiby and Andrew Wiedeman.
Konigj doubled the lead with a silky smooth finish between the keeper’s legs in the 69’. A defense splitting pass from Djiby set up the goal.
Kyle Grieg made his debut for Cincinnati in the 77’ replacing Djiby. Grieg is on loan from Coach Koch’s old club the Vancouver Whitecaps until the end of the season.
Unfortunately in the 84’ lightning in the area stopped play again but this time for only 30 minutes. Right out of the delay sub McLaughlin collected a pass from Kenny Walker and found open space before a cool finish into the bottom corner to ice the match and three points.
News and Notes
Cincinnati moves to fifth in the Eastern Conference with 30 points (8-6-6). Harrisburg came into tonight with 10 points from their last five matches. A very good win in the quest to the top four and a home playoff match.
New signing Kevin Schindlr was on the bench tonight but did not make his debut. Sem de Wit the third addition for Cincinnati may play on Monday in the friendly.
Djiby scored his 11 goal in the USL and 14 across all competitions. He also provided his first assist as a Cincinnati player.
Jimmy McLaughlin scored his second goal of the season, his first was May 6 against Richmond. He has come so close in recent matches and finally one found the back of the net.
Most of the fans stayed after the first weather delay, but after the second there were just a smattering of fans were left.
Up Next
Cincinnati next plays Valencia C.F. in an international friendly on Monday July 24 at 7:30. Valencia is one of the top teams in the La Liga, the top Spanish division, last winning in 2003-04 season and making the Champions League final in 2000 and 2001. You can read more about that matchup here.
This Saturday the Rochester Rhinos come to town for a USL matchup at 7:00 pm. Rochester currently sits in seventh in the Eastern Conference (6-3-7) with 25 points. In their first match of the season Rochester squeezed out a 1-0 win off a goal from Bradley Kamdem Fewo.
Final Thoughts
Whatever the adjustments made during the first weather delay won this game for Cincinnati. After looking horrible for the first 25 minutes they came back after the delay and took over the match.
Austin Berry had a good match tonight. He covered well for Justin Hoyte who on the left of the three centrebacks Cincinnati had. Hoyte was the player picked on for crosses from the right and he was lucky not to give up a goal. He needs to improve on his abilty to deal with crosses if he wasnts to keep Paul Nicholson from taking his place in the starting 11 or move back out to his left wing back position.
Also a big thank to Jason of Our Kettle Runneth Over for the bag of kettle corn during the first weather delay.
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