FC Cincinnati and Nashville SC played to a 1-1 draw in the battle between two future MLS franchises.
Danni Konig got the scoring started early with goal 28 seconds in and a new franchise record for fastest goal. Cincinnati held that lead for 85 minutes until Tucker Hume scored the equalizer with a nice one touch finish.
Future Cincinnati MLS Designated Player Fernando Adi made his debut tonight in the 73’. He came on to a very warm reception from the crowd in attendance and as he came on he applauded the crowd. The supporter’s section unveiled a new banner as Adi came on as well. His only real contribution in the match was a point blank header expertly pushed over the bar by Nashville keeper Matt Pickens.
The Bailey just changed the sign after Adi came on #CINvNSH #FCCincy pic.twitter.com/zeSheb4JRw
— Evan Berling (@evanberling) August 5, 2018
“We didn’t play to our best abilities, and to be quite frank we didn’t do what we needed to do.” Cincinnati head coach Alan Koch commented, “Having said that there is two teams on the pitch. So, it is never going to be easy and when you play against a team like Nashville, who played very well tonight, you have to deal with those situations.”
Cincinnati struggled tonight after the early goal from Konig. It wasn’t the normal sitting back and countering where they controlled the game, they just couldn’t get out of their defending third for long stretches tonight.
Koch was very upset with the referee and the inconsistency of the decisions that were made tonight. Cincinnati had three bookings all for fouls while Nashville had two bookings both for time wasting after they had equalized. Cincinnati also was called for six more fouls than Nashville.
Koch commented of the official, “We’d get penalized for something and Nashville wouldn’t. Incredibly frustrating. Should we really have to manage an official?”
A one-hour weather delay due to lightening in the area started us off tonight but not a drop of rain came on a warm and humid evening.
Cincinnati started off on the right foot with Danni Konig scoring 28 seconds in. Nazmi Albadawi made an interception right at midfield along the sideline and passed up to Konig who carried the ball into box and beat his defender and the keeper.
Dekel Keinan headed a rifled shot away that was headed for the corner in the 10’. A corner was cleared out by Cincinnati and landed to a Nashville player who hit a hard strike destined to go it and Keinan stuck his head in the way and cleared the ball away. Newton would have had no chance to save that should had it gotten past Keinan.
Nashville was very close to scoring again on a header in the 17’. The ball was less and a foot outside the post and Newton wouldn’t have been able to get there if it was in the bottom corner.
Nashville was the better team for the majority of the first half, controlling the pace of play and the majority of the chances. Even when they misplayed balls they had the ball bounce to their players. In the 40’ a cross was missed by both Nashville players in the vicinity and the Cincinnati defender but the ball hit off the leg of an unsuspecting Nashville player in the box and went just wide.
Evan Newton had strong hands to catch a header in the 67’. A good cross in allowed a header straight at Newton from six yards out.
Nashville keeper Matt Pickens in the 81’ pushed a point blank header from Fernando Adi over the bar. A good cross from Emmanuel Ledesma gave Adi a very good chance but the incredible reaction from Pickens denied a goal.
Nashville equalized in the 85’ with a low shot from Tucker Hume finding the bottom corner. He chested down a pass with his back to goal, passed to a teammate who had a horrible first touch but the ball went right to Hume who slotted it home.
News and Notes
Danni Konig’s goal was his 10th of the season, he is tied for fourth in the USL.
Nashville had 19 shots with five on target while Cincinnati had four shots with three on target.
Tyler Gibson made his FC Cincinnati USL debut in the 67’. He made an appearance in the friendly last week against RCD Espanyol.
Forest Lasso received his sixth yellow card of the season tonight in the 30’. Kenny Walker received his second booking of the season and Konig received his fifth card of the season but due to a good behavior clause he is only credited with four.
The attendance tonight was 27,426. The second highest this season behind the 28,026 from June 16th against the Richmond Kickers.
Final Thoughts
Cincinnati started off hot with the goal from Konig 28 seconds in but after they were flat. Nashville had the majority of possession and chances. It very well could have been 2-1 Nashville if Keinan doesn’t get his head on the shot in the 10′ and the header in the 17′ was on the opposite side of the post.
Blake Smith had a very good game tonight, all over the left side of the field. Very good work rate in the defensive third with three clearances and two interceptions.
Emmanuel Ledesma had a very bland performance tonight. He wasn’t making the runs he normally makes and his passing was off. He had Koing wide open in space where if he plays a ball over the top to the left of Konig there is at least a chance something could have been created but he played it too the right and the keeper easily corralled the ball. He did have a fantastic cross to Adi late so there was a flash of his enormous talent.
Fernando Adi got his first taste of Nippert tonight and he was given an incredible introduction. His looked a little disjointed, which is to be expected in your first week, but his one chance was stopped by a spectacular save from one of the best keepers in the league.