Note: This is the third of the “On This Day” series, which looks back at important dates in FC Cincinnati’s history.
2017 – FCC’s second season opener
The Orange and Blue began their second season with a 2-1 loss at the Charleston Battery in the 2017 USL opener. It was the first match under former coach Alan Koch, who was promoted to head coach after John Harkes was fired the night before FCC’s preseason began.
Charleston opened the scoring in the 38th minute after Forrest Lasso scored. (Lasso joined FC in 2018.)
Djiby Fall provided the equalizer off a pass from Andrew Wiedeman in the 59th minute, but Justin Portillo’s 71st-minute goal sealed the win for the home side.
Here was the lineup Koch deployed for his first game in charge: Mitch Hildebrandt, Matt Bahner, Austin Berry, Harrison Delbridge, Tyler Polak, Kenney Walker, Aodhan Quinn, Daryl Fordyce, Andrew Wiedeman, Djiby Fall and Jimmy McLaughlin. The three used subs were Corben Bone, Kadeem Dacres and Omar Cummings.
