BETHLEHEM, PA --- A red card issued to FC Cincinnati in the first half set up an uphill battle for the Orange and Blue, who would go on to lose, 2-0, to Bethlehem Steel FC Sun., afternoon at Goodman Stadium. The loss was FCC’s second on the season while Steel FC collected their first win of the year.
“The early injury to Justin [Hoyte] and the early red card to Nico [Paul Nicholson] made this an incredibly difficult game,” said Head Coach Alan Koch. “I give a lot of credit to our players for showing the character they did to hang in there for a long time being a man down. We knew the three games on the road to start the season were going to be tough and they have been. We will put this behind us and are excited to come home now to play in front of our fans.”
Nicholson was sent off in the 23rd minute after losing a footrace against Cory Burke in FCC’s backfield and tripping up the forward in the box for a penalty situation. Seku Conneh stepped up to take the penalty but Mitch Hildebrandt made the diving save on the low line drive to his right to keep Steel FC off the board.
Conneh may have been denied on the golden opportunity but came through in stoppage time in the first half, snaking his way through the FCC defense and blasting a shot past Hildebrandt from the right side in the 47th minute to put Steel FC on the board.
It was Conneh in the second half as he benefitted from the efforts of Santi Moar in the 60th minute. Moar carried the ball deep into FCC territory and took a point-blank shot that was blocked by Hildebrandt, but the defense was unable to clear the ball and Moar pushed a pass to a waiting Conneh in front of the goal for the 2-0 lead.
The second half belonged to Steel FC, who out-shot FCC 13-1, including eight which came from inside the box.
FCC had limited opportunities but managed to generate offense in the 55th minute as Djiby took on a pair of defenders and caromed a shot off a Steel FC player for a corner. The Orange and Blue had second corner in the 84th minute and Aodhan Quinn lofted the ball into the box, but Jake McGuire out-muscled Djiby for the ball to make the save.
Bethlehem Steel FC nearly posted at third goal in stoppage time as Burke had a clear look at the goal but saw his shot hit the goal post and bounce back to Hildebrandt, who was able to cover up the ball.
In the first period, FCC created early opportunities as Djiby headed a cross from Quinn, but was denied by McGuire, who was credited with five saves in the game. Hoyte, making his first start for FCC, took a shot from 20 yards out in the ninth minute that was also handled by McGuire.
Despite playing at disadvantage, FCC took six shots in the first period to Bethlehem’s seven. Djiby skipped his way through the Steel FC defense in the 27th minute and took a left-footed shot that flew high.
Burke clipped Quinn from behind in the 29th to earn himself a yellow card and set Quinn up for a free kick opportunity. The shot was on target but McGuire extended and leapt high to his left to make the save.
On the opposite end of the field, FCC had to continue to dodge an aggressive offensive effort. Marcus Epps had a close-range shot at the goal but was unable to get the ball past Hildebrandt and Conneh’s shot on the rebound was blocked out of bounds in the 32nd minute.
The Orange and Blue responded with a chance three minutes later with Kenney Walker looking to connect with Djiby, who was able to get a foot on the ball for a shot in front of the goal but again McGuire was in position to deny the forward.
Djiby led FCC with four shots while Hildebrandt recorded four saves.
FCC returns to Nippert Stadium next Sat., Apr. 15 for their home opener at 7:00 p.m.
Starting Lineups
FCC - Mitch Hildebrandt, Matt Bahner, Paul Nicholson, Harrison Delbridge, Justin Hoyte, Aodhan Quinn, Kenney Walker, Andrew Wiedeman, Kadeem Dacres, Jimmy McLaughlin, Djiby
BST
Jake McGuire, Giliano Wijnaldum, Auston Trusty, Mark McKenzie, Aaron Jones, Jack Elliott, Adam Najem, Santi Moar, Cory Burke, Marcus Epps, Seku Conneh
Scoring Summary
47th: BST - Seku Conneh (Jack Elliot)
60th: BST - Seku Conneh (Santi Moar)
