FC Cincinnati return to action this weekend with an away trip back to North Carolina for the second time in 12 days, this time to face Wilmington Hammerheads FC.
Admittedly, the #WILvCIN matchup might not initially jump off the screen as one of the most attractive fixtures in the USL this weekend with #3 vs #9. But upon closer inspection, it has plenty of potential to be an absolute thriller with both teams are chasing playoff goals -- albeit very different ones.
So what's the story heading into the match? Who should you keep an eye on? And where can you watch it? All of that, and more, can be found below.
WHEN IS IT HAPPENING:
Sunday, September 11th, 2016, at 3:00pm EDT.
GET TICKETS
THE OPPOSITION:
Wilmington Hammerheads FC were founded in 1996 and have served as a consistent pillar in the often tumultuous early history of USL. In their twenty years, Wilmington have twice been crowned regular season USL champions -- though both came in the short-lived USL Division 2 and its forerunner, the USL Pro Select League -- and they made the USL PRO Championship Final in 2012. There's also quite a few ties between the Hammerheads and FCC, with four former Wilmington players now plying their trade in Cincinnati: Corben Bone, Paul Nicholson, Ross Tomaselli and new signing Casey Townsend.
RECENT RESULTS:
FCC: Monday's last gasp victory at Nippert over Saint Louis FC was just the slump buster that Orange & Blue needed. After a winless August and thanks to results earlier in the holiday weekend, FCC entered the match languishing outside the top half of the Eastern playoff places for the first time all season. But thanks to a brace from Sean "Ugo" Okoli, FCC got back to their winning ways and lifted themselves back up to third in the table -- and more importantly, back into the home playoff places.
Wilmington: While FCC were happy to end a dip in form after a less than productive August on Labor Day, the Hammerheads ended an even longer run of poor form of their own this week. Their 3-0 win on Wednesday over Orlando City B was their first victory in eleven outings (1-6-4) dating all the way back to July 9th. The victory couldn't have come at a better time for the Hammerheads either, as the win over 8th-placed Orlando pulled them within just two points of the final Eastern playoff position currently in OCB's possession.
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
In the lone previous meeting between Wilmington and FCC -- way back on April 30th at Nippert -- the two sides split the spoils with a 1-1 draw.
WHO TO WATCH:
FCC: All eyes will once again be on the man who has lead the line for the Orange & Blue for most of this season, as Ugo Okoli continues his pursuit of the league scoring lead. With his two goals on Monday upping his tally to 14, he now lies in second place and will certainly be looking to match or eclipse it in North Carolina. Though with another yellow card accumulation suspension looming if he gets booked one more time, it will be interesting to see if that affects his play. And if you're looking for new signing Casey Townsend to make his FC Cincinnati debut against his old side, you'll have to wait a week longer. Per the acquisition agreement with Wilmington, he'll have to sit this match out.
Wilmington: When a team only gains one win in eleven matches, it can often be tough to identify which players will be the biggest threat for their opposition. And during that poor run of form, Wilmington's successes were very spread out: their 13 goals were scored by 9 different players. Unsurprisingly, Bruno Caldini Perone's 3 goals during the stretch -- one of only two players to score more than once during that 11-game period -- upped his team leading tally to 8. At the other end of the pitch, on-loan Atlanta United FC goalkeeper Eric Ati was dropped three games ago after going 0-5-2. His Montreal Impact-loanee replacement, John Smits, has fared better since, earning two draws and that long awaited win.
THE VENUE:
The Hammerheads call Wilmington's Legion Stadium home. Situated within the larger Legion Sports Complex that also features publicly accessible soccer fields and a baseball stadium for the Wilmington Sharks, a minor league summer baseball team for collegiate players, Legion Stadium is a 6000-seat soccer specific stadium that features a natural grass playing surface.
DIRECTIONS
FORECAST:
Predictably, warmer weather awaits FC Cincinnati on the North Carolina coast. Temperatures at the mid-afternoon kickoff are expected to be at or just below 90° F with humidity at a lofty 69%. No rain is currently predicted, but don't be surprised if the ocean-charged humidity spits out a quick shower or two.
HOW TO WATCH:
With Sunday's match taking place away from home, that means there will be no local television broadcast. However, like all regular season home matches, you can still watch the Orange & Blue on the free livestream broadcast on YouTube. And if you want to follow the conversation too, take in the stream in the USL Match Center.
HOW TO LISTEN:
Like the local TV broadcast, there is no local radio broadcast for 2016 FC Cincinnati away matches.
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.
