If you're scratching your head wondering why FC Cincinnati are playing a match tomorrow night at 7pm even though it's not on the schedule you printed out at the beginning of the season, your pocket schedule or the calendar magnet on your fridge, don't worry -- you're not crazy!
Our Wednesday evening match against Charlotte Independence is the rescheduled kickoff date and time after the original date back on May 21st was postponed due to excessive rain in the Charlotte area in late May.
And even though FCC qualified for the playoffs over the weekend, that doesn't mean this makeup match is devoid of importance. FCC could still improve their playoff lot with a win, and Charlotte are also jockeying to secure their own playoff place and potentially even earn themselves a home playoff date.
Oh, and there's also the small matter of settling who will get to keep the Queen City Cup Challenge, as well.
So take a peep below at all of the finer points to keep an eye on ahead of tomorrow's huge match away to Charlotte Independence.
WHEN IS IT HAPPENING:
Wednesday, August 31st, 2016, at 7:00pm EDT.
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THE OPPOSITION:
Located in the other Queen City, the Independence are a second year club hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina. Last season, they finished their inaugural season with a respectable 10-10-8 record that saw them narrowly finish outside the Eastern Conference playoff places. And in 2016, they're looking on pace to improve in year two.
RECENT RESULTS:
FCC: It's been an up and down August for the Orange & Blue. In the the four matches that they've played during the month, they've posted a record of 1-1-2 and have a goal differential of zero. The controversial loss at New York on Sunday night also snapped a five match unbeaten run for FC Cincinnati. The inconsistent results have seen the team slip to 4th in the Eastern Conference standings, though they are still clinging to one of the upper playoff seeds that would ensure a home playoff game. And with games in hand compared to 3rd-placed Richmond and 2nd-placed Louisville, there's still a path to improve their draw for the first opponents, too.
Charlotte: Heading into the match, FCC aren't the only ones who had an unbeaten streak recently broken as the Independence's six match run was ended when they lost 1-0 at Charleston on Saturday. However, prior to that they'd gone 4-0-2 and outscored their opponents 13-4. Even more impressive is that 4 of those matches came on the road, though against teams mostly propping up the bottom of the Eastern table. Regardless, the results have seen Charlotte climb the standings in recent weeks, now sitting 6 points adrift of FCC in 7th place.
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
The lone previous meeting between the two sides saw FC Cincinnati come away 2-1 winners in the first ever professional soccer match at Nippert Stadium back on April 9th.
So where does that leave us with respect to the Queen City Cup being contested between the two clubs?
- An FCC win or draw will see the Cup head back to Cincinnati.
- A Charlotte win where they shut out FCC will see the trophy stay in Charlotte. That includes if they win 1-0, as their superior away goals tally would trump the 2-2 aggregate score between the two teams.
- A 2-1 win by Charlotte would see both teams locked on total goals and away goals, meaning the teams would jointly hold the trophy until next season.
- A one goal win by Charlotte where FCC scores more than one goal would result in a tied aggregate score, but the trophy would go to Cincinnati due to superior away goal tally.
WHO TO WATCH:
FCC: On the offensive end of the pitch, rediscovering goal scoring form will be high on the priority list. The front foursome we've (mostly) seen deployed by Harkes in recent weeks -- Cummings, McLaughlin, Okoli and Wiedeman -- has only accrued four goals in its last four matches. Too, it will be interesting to see how the defense will react with likely two of the normal back five -- Hildebrandt and McMahon -- out of the match due to suspensions.
Opponent: Charlotte's recent run of results has seen them share the love within the team, with seven different goal scorers and six different players tallying assists. But the standout during that spell has to be forward Enzo Martinez (#19), who has 3 goals and 2 assists during their last six matches. The Uruguayan leads the Independence in scoring this season on the whole too, with 7 goals and four assists to his name.
THE VENUE:
Ramblewood Soccer Complex Stadium is a 4300-seater and the crown jewel of an 11-pitch soccer complex in the southeastern Charlotte suburb of Montclaire South.
DIRECTIONS
FORECAST:
On the positive side of things, dryer weather is expected in Charlotte tomorrow night than it was back in late May when FCC was first supposed to visit Charlotte -- there's only a 2% chance of precipitation as of the time of writing. But, it looks like we've traded the heavy rains for high heat and humidity. Temperatures before kickoff are expected to be around 90° F with a humidity of 44%.
HOW TO WATCH:
As has been the case for most of our away matches this season, there will be no match broadcast on local television.
That said, like all regular season home matches, the match will be available as a free livestream broadcast on YouTube as well as on the USL Match Center.
HOW TO LISTEN:
Just like with television, no FC Cincinnati away matches are being broadcast on local radio in 2016.
SOCIAL:
As is the case every match, you can follow along with the action on our Twitter feed at @fccincinnati. For live looks from before, during and after the match, follow us on Instagram and Snapchat by following 'fccincinnati', too. Halftime and full time updates will also be available on Facebook.
