With one week remaining in the 2019 USL Championship’s regular season, FC Cincinnati have players on loan competing for a championship, playing for a 2022 FIFA World Cup berth and more.
Here’s a look at how FCC players performed the last two weeks in the USL:
Forrest Lasso
Position: Defender
Club: Nashville SC
Oct. 8 result: 2-1 win against Louisville City FC
This win headlined all players out on loan. In stoppage time, Lasso delivered a long ball into the box for Jimmy Ockford to provide the game-winning goal with a 92nd-minute header over Nashville SC’s (and FC Cincinnati’s) rival.
While he created that attacking opportunity, he was impressive on defense, winning all eight of his duels. Five of those were aerial duels. Additionally, he made 16 clearances and one interception.
Oct. 12 result: 2-0 win against North Carolina FC
Wearing the captain’s armband, Lasso helped Nashville earn another clean sheet with the 2-0 win. Overall, he completed 51 passes with a 72.5% passing accuracy. Similar to the Louisville win, he recorded eight duels won (five aerial duels). He also created a scoring chance, won three tackles and made five clearances.
Nazmi Albadawi
Position: Defender
Club: North Carolina FC
Oct. 5 result: 2-0 win against New York Red Bulls II
Albadawi’s assist to Robert Kristo provided a 50th-minute insurance goal for North Carolina FC in their home win. To set up the goal, Albadawi received the ball on the touchline, looked back and connected with Kristo.
In the win, Albadawi completed 36 passes (72.2% passing) and won four duels. More impressively, however, were his six – six – chances created. While only one led directly to a goal, they showed North Carolina’s ability to create opportunities against one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams.
Oct. 12 result: 2-0 loss against Nashville SC
The attacking midfielder didn’t play against Lasso and Nashville because he’s away on international duty representing Palestine in 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Palestine host Saudi Arabia on Tuesday in another group match during the second round of qualifiers. The next international match won’t be until November.
Logan Gdula
Position: Defender
Club: Hartford Athletic
Oct. 5 result: 2-2 draw against Swope Park Rangers
Other than earning a yellow card in the 83rd minute for a foul conceded, Gdula had an impressive showing in the draw. He made 50 passes with 86% finding teammates, while also winning three duels. As for other defensive statistics, Gdula made one tackle, three clearances and forced three interceptions.
Oct. 9 result: 4-0 win against Birmingham Legion FC
In his second match in five days, the defender was part of a 4-0 win and a clean sheet in Hartford’s penultimate home game. That night, the rookie completed 46 passes with an 80.4% passing accuracy, won two duels and made two tackles, in addition to two clearances and an interception.
Ben Lundt
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Louisville City FC
Oct. 8 result: 2-1 loss at Nashville SC
Oct. 12 result: 8-3 win against Swope Park Rangers
Lundt wasn’t in the 18 for either match, but was in Cincinnati before the Nashville game. Last Wednesday, the Orange and Blue announced they were picking up the option for the German goalkeeper next season.
One thing to note about that last match, Louisville City allowed three goals before scoring eight unanswered…
Hassan Ndam
Position: Defender
Club: Charlotte Independence
Oct. 6 result: 2-1 win at Bethlehem Steel FC
Oct. 12 result: 2-1 win at Memphis 901 FC
Although an on-loan player, Ndam spent the last half of 2019 with FC Cincinnati at the Mercy Health Training Center.
