Just four days after last stepping off the pitch at Nippert Stadium, FC Cincinnati returns again on Wednesday, July 18, with a midweek match against Charlotte Independence.
Slated for a slightly-later-than-normal start, kickoff has been pushed back to 8 p.m. to accommodate the match being picked up for a nationally televised broadcast on ESPN2. With that move, the live stream of the match will also migrate from ESPN+ to WatchESPN/ESPN3. And for fans in the local listening area, the action will also be carried live on ESPN 1530.
Tickets for the clash are still available online at fccincinnati.com or by phone at 513-977-5425.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND
Wednesday's fixture will be the second and final regular-season meeting in the third annual battle for the Queen Cities Cup, contested annually between FCC and the Independence. And heading into Wednesday's fixture, Charlotte is in the driver's seat to lift the cup for the first time following their lopsided 4-1 victory at the Sportsplex at Matthews back on May 12.
But while the Independence hold an advantage heading into the match, actually winning the trophy will be no easy task for the team that currently find themselves in a seventh-place tie in the Eastern Conference.
FC Cincinnati have boasted one of the league's highest-octane offenses all season, but the Orange and Blue's improved recent defensive performances have also played a big role in keeping them top of the Eastern Conference table. Evan Newton and his defensive corps have posted three consecutive shutouts, and they've combined to not allow a goal in their last 285 minutes of action.
Those sterling defensive showings have propelled FCC to an undefeated 5-0-3 record over their last eight matches. Meanwhile, Charlotte has posted a 1-2-2 record in the last five games, although they defeated third-place Nashville SC by a 1-0 score line on Wednesday in their last match out.
WHAT TO EXPECT
FC Cincinnati head coach Alan Koch has opted to go with the same starting 11 in each of his team's last three matches. But with the quick turnaround from Saturday's win over Tampa Bay and another home match looming next Saturday, squad rotation could be in order on Wednesday night.
But figuring out who to rest will be no easy feat. Forwards Emmanuel Ledesma and Danni König have continued their torrid run of form. Each bagged their ninth goals of the campaign in Saturday's 2-0 win over Tampa Bay, and remain tied for third in the USL's goals chart. And defensively, Koch could opt not to make any changes given the team's current shutout streak and the dangerous front line at Charlotte's disposal.
Despite their recent struggles, Charlotte forward Jorge Herrera (#10) has remained red hot. He's level with Ledesma and König's goal tallies of nine, scoring in four of the Independence's last five matches. And it's not unusual for Herrera to be flanked by one or both of Cordell Cato (#17) and Éamon Zayed (#9). That duo has eight and three goals, respectively, so far this campaign giving the visitors a lethal three-headed attack.
