Final
This one ends in a draw after a late PK. Not exactly the high energy end to preseason you want to finish on but that's all for preseason.
Check back here for post game analysis and I will see you all next time!
90+1 Atlanta Goal, also Full-Time
Oh brother. The referee calls a penalty in the box and Atlanta are headed to the spot. No one is exactly pleased with that call.
Roman dives the right way, seems to get a hand to it but the shot clangs off the post and in. All equal.
On the resstart ref calls the game. So this one ends with a draw. 2-2.
90'
I'm told we are getting 1 minute of added time.
89'
Final whistle could come any moment now but Brian Schaefer does his best to clear a ball in the box but sends it out for a corner kick. Atlanta assembleing now for what could be a final push.
Unless of course they are playing added time, which would be the first time this preseason they have.
86'
After a match of being mostly compact and with the clock clicking towards full time, Altrana has pushed out of their formation a little more to chase an equalizer again. It's going to be a interesting test for FCC, esspecially with some players looking to complete their first "full 90" of the preseason.
85' FC CINCINNATI GOAL
DeAndre Yedlin wins a second ball in the middle of the field and send it out wide to Bret Halsey who takes a moment, then fires a firm cross into the box where Kévin Denkey and Kenji Mboma Dem are waiting. The service is just behind Denkey but Mboma Dem puts a head to it and sends it to the mesh to resotre FCC's lead!
The goal is Mboma Dem's second of the preseason and third contribution, it is also Halsey's second contribution.
80'
Kenji Mbomba Dem is dragged down from behind to the keepers left outside the box and FCC are setting up for a promsing free kick. Service swings over the heads of everyone and over the keepers head. But its wide of the frame. If it's on frame it may have been, on purpse or not.
76' Goal Atlanta
Saba Lobjanidze (I think) equalizes. It's 1-1 with about a quarter hour to play.
74'
Another round of subs coming as Andrei Chirila, Brian Schaefer and Bret Halsey prepare to come in.
Looks like Alvas Powell and Trialists are coming out.
68'
Atlanta plays a foul quickly and springs a man forward, leaving Alvas Powel to track back and take a professional foul to slow things up. It works out but a yellow comes out of the book.
That is, too my count, 6 yellows to Atlanta's 0 (zero). There is, again, mounting frustrations over the whistle but FCC is still in control.
65'
With Anunga coming on, it looks like Noonan has gone back to the Pavel Bucha more forward approach that he's used in games past and placed Anunga along side Nwobodo.
Anunga has earned high praise from Noonan this preseason and Bucha, while not his first choice for attacking midfield, has performed well as well. A choice to keep an eye on.
Also worth noting, we now have three french speakers on the field in Denkey, Anunga and Mboma Dem. Maybe a first? Could be interesting.
60'
Miles Robinson comes sliding tackling in to stop a fast break from Atlanta and gets ball but some of the defender as well. Foul sure but the ref shows yellow and postures his way over to Miles to show it.
First subs coming on as this all happens. Yuya Kubo makes way for Brian Anunga, and Kenji Mboma Dem comes on for Corey Baird.
57' GOAL FC CINCINNATI
FCC does get on the board as Yuya Kubo is fouled but plays it quickly across to DeAndre Yedlin near midfield, Yedlin then spots Kévin Denkey who drives forward, beats a few defenders and muscles past another before putting a shot on from just behind the penalty spot for his first goal of preseason.
Shot was a burner low and to the far side that the keeper dived for but had no chance to get to.
1-0 FC Cincinnati
52'
Obi Nwobodo lofts a beautiful ball over the line and onto a rusher Corey Baird but the defender is able to step in just in time and delay the attempt long enough for the keeper to rush out and collect it. Unfortunate but very close. Feels like things are getting closer for FCC.
48'
Atlanta uses their opening kickoff to mount an early attack with a dangerous cross into the box but Obinnna Nwobodo breaks it up and sends FCC on a counter attack.
The build sees Kubo, Denkey, Bucha and Baird connecting along the outside of the box before a shot comes in but is saved by the keeper with a desperation kick out and it goes for a corner. Probably the best look of the match for FCC.
Oh, Atlanta changed keepers. That's a sub.
46'
We are back on the field and I can't spot any subs but will be on the lookout. FCC is now attack my direction and Atlanta will kick things off.
Halftime
That's the halftime whistle. FCC and Atlanta United go back to their benches with a nil-nil draw. We will take a short back and return for the second 45 minutes.
45'
Yuya Kubo is taken down in the box and, despite shouts for a penalty, no call comes so play continues.
On the rebuild from Atlanta, Pavel Bucha takes down an attacker and earns a yellow. So either he didn't get the yellow card earlier or their just are no red cards (doubt that). The free kick restart doesn't create much and play goes back the other way for FCC.
42'
Atlanta head injury check stops play. Looks like the player is up and walking but he's coming to the sideline for evaluation.
Update: He reentered 1 minute later.
39'
FC Cincinnati is undeniably controlling play and earn a big chance becuase if it but the Atlanta keeper keeps his team at equal with a tremendous save of his own.
Atlanta has had moments but the Five Stripes are trying to stay more compact and are exactly pressing FCC. Esspecially when a long pass goes over the attacking line for Atlanta and they have to chase something down.
34'
Yuya Kubo is shown yellow for a tackle.
30'
Short side free kick from Atlanta gets delivered from the space between the FCC box and the sideline and is chipped into the box. Miles Robinson gets there first to clear things away with a header.
On the build up the other way, Denkey is fouled from behind and calls for a yellow come but are never answered. You can tell frustrations on both sides are building. The ref encourages silence on the shouts.
29'
Obinna Nwobodo gets there late on a slide tackle and is shown yellow. This one is probably legit but the ref decides to give Nwobodo a chat before showing it to him.
24'
Alvas Powell puts an absoutle rocket of a shot attempt on from distance and it glides just high of the cross bar. Like maybe a ball or two high, would have been one of the wildest preseason goals I've ever seen. It looked like, from Van View, like he took it from well outside the box...but I'm told it wasn't that dramatic. So it's a goal kick.
On the restart Kévin Dnkey is fouled winning back the ball and FCC have a free kick in a dangeorus area. The attempt is put on frame and requires a diving save to punch it away for a corner kick.
19'
Play is stopped as an Atlanta player is down in their half. Missed it entirely. But it looks like after a minute or two of attention he is up and on the sidelines.
Play resumes.
15'
Atlanta win the first half chance on a dump and chase oppertunity that sees a numberless Atlanta United player attack the FCC goal from the short angle to the right of Roman Celentano. Miles Robinson is there though to block the shot and it goes out for a corner.
Now that I realize it, no Atlanta players are wearing numbers on their shirts. That makes sense.
The corner kick never makes it to the box as the ref calls a foul almost instantly after its served. Not really sure what happened but Pavel Bucha is in the back of the net so, draw your own conclusions.
11'
A little investigative work here for you. The last minute change of field was not due to another team or match on the main stage, the match was moved to this back field due to pitch conditions at the "stadium" and felt this field was more suited for the match today.
10'
Referee delays the start of play again after a ball goes out of bounds to chat with DeAndre Yedlin and a numberless Atlanta United player. The game has absolutely zero pace thus far and has just been a series of starts and stops, hard to really feel a rhythm developing yet.
FCC is controlling more of the play than Atlanta, but neither side has had anything close to a 'chance' yet.
5'
Yuya Kubo is taken down hard and a foul given but no card. The ref though does get more animated with the Atlanta United player responsible for not rolling the ball back to FCC. Which prompts some emotions.
Very different tone to this games start.
3'
Referee goes to the book early and gives, who I think to be, Pavel Bucha a yellow card for tackle. Seemed incredibly harsh but, it is what it is i guess.
FCC win the ball back on the restart and press forward.
1'
FC Cincinnati kick it off and we are playing!
Moments before kickoff
FC Cincinnati take the field and will be defending...my side of the field (?) first. FCC will also kick off, and are in the Canvas kit while Atlanta dons their red tops with black shorts
11:50 am, 10 minutes from kickoff
Lineups are out!
Of note, I’m told Luca Orellano is a last-minute scratch, coming down with an illness that has been running through the preseason camp. Luca is hardly the first to miss time with the illness as Kévin Denkey and Corey Baird were among others Pat Noonan has said missed action due to this bug.
I personally experience some illness symptoms but I, a writer and not an elite athlete, was able to continue tapping on the keyboard because that’s way easier than running for 90 minutes give or take.
Any ways here’s the lineup:
Lineup:
Roman Celentano
Alvas Powell
Miles Robinson
Trialist
Trialist
Pavel Bucha
Obinna Nwobodo
DeAndre Yedlin
Corey Baird
Yuya Kubo
Kévin Denkey
From earlier...
Good morning and hello! We have made the trek to Bradenton, Florida and are at IMG Academy for the fourth of four preseason friendlies FC Cincinnati will play this season as The Orange and Blue take on Atlanta United FC.
This is the final friendly before FCC head to Honduras for Concacaf Champions Cup play and will kick off at noon and be a standard 90-minute match. Unlike the last match, this game will not be streamed so I will be coming back with you to blog about all the happenings around the match for FCC.
If you joined me for the first three Live Blogs presented by Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater, welcome back! If you are new to the blog, I’ll run through some important details of the coverage to better prepare you for what you are into.
First, my personal notes as we go forward. This match, like most preseason matches, is being played without all the modern surroundings of an MLS match. It’s two squads, on a field, playing some soccer. So, I will be doing my best to cover this game relatively solo and unaided by more usual accommodations…like a public game clock or instant replay or really any video assistance of any kind.
Similarly worth noting, we have been assigned one of the back fields at IMG Academy for this match, rather than the main ‘stadium.’ So instead of having a press box or grandstand to sit on, it is again just me and my hat camped out pitched side. Another wrinkle is that due to spacing concerns, I am sitting behind the near facing net in the trunk of the minivan we drove here in, so I don’t have the best match view, but that won’t stop me from providing the best possible coverage I can!
If mistakes in my vision or interpretation do occur, I apologize immediately and I will make sure to go back and correct the public record and leave a note saying I did. Same goes for spelling or grammatical errors, I am trying my to write as fast and accurately as I can but we all make mistakes and I’ll correct mine when I see them.
My goal is to be helpful here, but also accountable. So, if I make a mistake, it is unintentional, but you deserve to know where I’ve made changes without gaslighting you.
Lastly, for those who may be visiting FCCincinnati.com from other fan bases. Welcome! I am not in contact with the ATL United PR staff, but I may get some info regarding lineups and such. Typically speaking, most of these games also don’t have jerseys with last names (or even numbers in some cases), so I will not be able to identify key info on the fly. I am also going to respect the wishes of all opponent staff requests, so sometimes there is info I can see, but they have asked not to disclose it. So, to continue these blogs in the future, I will refrain from doing so.
I think that is all, so let’s have a great day in Florida. Follow along here for updates! I will be updating time stamps as we go, and the top of the blog will always show the most recent update. Lineups will be provided as soon as I get them!