CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati earned its first-ever win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies, claiming a 2-0 win on Saturday night in front of 25,416 fans at Nippert Stadium.
Following a physical, scoreless opening 45 minutes from both sides, FC Cincinnati (11-3-5, 38 pts.) broke through to take the lead. Emmanuel Ledesma netted the Orange and Blue the eventual game-winning tally in the 54th minute, heading in an angled cross from Corben Bone.
Seconds after subbing on for Ledesma, Emery Welshman helped key a counter attack advanced into Tampa Bay territory with Danni Konig running with him along the left side. Welshman played a square ball across to Konig that split a trio of Tampa Bay defenders and Konig made no mistake with a rising shot from close range to push the FCC lead to 2-0.
Cincinnati’s Evan Newton stopped both of the Tampa Bay (6-8-4, 22 pts.) shots on target for his seventh shutout of the season and the team’s eighth of the year. Overall, FCC has shut out its last three league opponents and five of its last seven USL foes. Tampa Bay’s Cody Mizell made two saves on Cincinnati’s four shots.
FC Cincinnati plays its next six games – including an international friendly against La Liga’s RCD Espanyol – at Nippert Stadium between July 18 and August 18. Next up, on Wednesday, July 18, the Orange and Blue will host the Charlotte Independence at 8 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPN2, carried live on ESPN 1530 and streamed live on WatchESPN.
In the middle of the homestand, FCC will also host an international friendly against La Liga’s RCD Espanyol on Saturday, July 28, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for all games – including the international friendly – are available at fccincinnati.com/tickets or by calling 513-977-KICK (5425).
FINAL: FC Cincinnati 2, Tampa Bay Rowdies 0
Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio
Saturday, July 14, 2018
SCORING SUMMARY
CIN - Emmanuel Ledesma (Corben Bone) 54’
CIN - Danni Konig (Emery Welshman) 84’
FC Cincinnati: Evan Newton, Blake Smith (Matt Bahner 94+’), Forrest Lasso, Dekel Keinan ©, Justin Hoyte, Michael Lahoud, Kenney Walker, Corben Bone, Nazmi Albadawi (Jimmy McLaughlin 90’), Emmanuel Ledesma (Emery Welshman 84’), Danni König
Bench: Spencer Richey, Will Seymore, Paddy Barrett, Russell Cicerone
STATS: Shots 19, Shots on goal 4, Fouls 20, Offsides 0, Corner kicks 10, Saves 0, Possession 58.1%
Tampa Bay Rowdies: Cody Mizell, Max Lachowecki, Kyle Porter, Tamika Mkandawire, Hunter Gorskie, Joe Cole ©, Afrim Taku (Leo Fernandes 61’), Dom Oduro, Kwadwo Poku (Leon Taylor 71’), Junior Flemmings, Stefano Bonomo (Georgi Hristov 77’)
Bench: Akira Fitzgerald, Martin Vingaard, Michael Nanchoff, Sebastian Guenzatti
STATS: Shots 10, Shots on goal 3, Fouls 13, Offsides 0, Corner kicks 6, Saves 0, Possession 41.9%
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
TPA - Junior Flemmings (caution) 23’
FCC - Emmanuel Ledesma (caution) 63’
Referee: Malik Badawi
Weather: 91 degrees, clear
Attendance: 25,416
HOW IT HAPPENED
14’ | Tampa midfielder Afrim Taku was whistled for a foul after tripping up Emmanuel Ledesma outside the box. On a free kick from about 25 yards, Ledesma had his eyes on the goal, but his left-footed shot missed just high of the net and simmed off the top netting.
31’ | Ledesma again found himself in search of a tally, this time dribbling on the right flank and crossing it to Corben Bone at the top of the box. Bone shook off two Rowdies defenders for a shot on target that was saved by goalkeeper Cody Mizell.
41’ | Blake Smith dribbled along the left side and crossed a ball into the box, which led to a Danni Konig header that sailed just wide right.
43’ | Following the Orange and Blue’s attempt at the net, Junior Flemmings took it the opposite direction on a headed pass from Tamika Mkandawire. Flemmings managed to split two FCC defenders and tried one at the 18-yard marker, but a diving save from Evan Newton kept things scoreless at the break.
54’ | FCC GOAL -- After Cincinnati broke through the midfield and played it out wide left, Smith and Bone traded possession before Bone dribbled inside near the corner of the area and sent an angled cross in as Ledesma powered into the mixer. Ledesma flashed in front and powered a headed goal home to put FCC on the board.
84’ | FCC GOAL -- The backline held firm in their own territory and the Orange and Blue spurred a counter. After Nazmi Albadawi played it through the center of the field, he played Emery Welshman into space on the right side of the center circle. Welshman carried into the Tampa Bay end, drawing a pair of defenders, before threading a through ball between three Rowdies to Konig on the other side of the 2-on-4. Konig connected with pace and powered in Cincinnati’s second goal of the game.
GAME NOTES
Saturday’s win against Tampa Bay pushed FCC’s unbeaten streak to eight games … in that run, the Orange and Blue have posted a 5-0-3 mark … including the win over Tampa Bay on Saturday, FCC is 3-0-1 at home during their unbeaten run … the longest unbeaten run in club history is 12 games in 2016
Cincinnati has now shut out its last three opponents and has a 285-minute shutout streak intact headed into Wednesday’s game … at home, the FCC home shutout streak now sits at 290; the last goal allowed at home was in the 69th minute against Bethlehem Steel FC on June 13
Both Ledesma and Konig tallied on Saturday, both pushing their season goal totals to nine goals apiece … after tonight’s Eastern Conference games, the duo is tied for second in goals in the USL
For the third straight game, head coach Alan Koch started the same 11 players … this is the first time this season FCC has put out the same 11 players three games in a row
Tonight’s win marked Cincinnati’s first-ever victory over Tampa Bay … Tampa came into today’s game 3-0-1 against Cincinnati, including a 1-0-1 mark at Nippert Stadium in USL regular-season play
POSTGAME QUOTES
FCC Head Coach Alan Koch
“Happy with the performance; happy with the result. Happy with how our players managed the game, the patience that they showed during the course of the game. I think in the first 45 minutes, Tampa came in and had a plan and to slow the game down as much as they could. Our guys remained composed and in the second 45 minutes obviously created the chances to win the game.”
On Evan Newton and the back four...
“It’s a team game, we know that ... I’m very happy for the guys scoring, but they don’t score without the people working behind them ... we see the work that everybody else does to set them up for success. Flipping it over, the clean sheet, very happy for Evan [Newton], happy for the back four. Everybody gets the same credit for the clean sheet ... The thing we were most happy with tonight is our guys went out and managed the game.”
On backline against Tampa attack...
“The group that Tampa brought in and loaded up with for the second half of the season can be very dangerous and you could see that tonight. We nullified their threats for the most part during the course of the entire 90 minutes.”
FCC Center Back Forrest Lasso
On the play from the back four...
“It takes all of us. You always say, the defending starts up top. With the guys up top are running their butts off for us, it makes our jobs easier. It takes all 11 … If you look specifically at the way the back four played tonight, it’s just communication and putting your heart on the line wanting to get the job done.”
On the group’s communication...
“Major factor. We have an incredible fan base, which makes it more difficult from time to time. Just being a step ahead. As the back four you can kind of see the whole field in front of you and you can kind of simplify the game a little bit.”
On the FCC attack...
“I think if you ask any defender on the squad if they’d rather get a clean sheet than score a goal, any day of the week. That’s like a Christmas present for us.”
FCC Forward Danni Konig
On his goal in 84th minute...
“I don’t remember totally how it started, but I think we got the ball around the middle and Emery (Welshman) got free on the inside and played an amazing ball to me and I finished it off.”
On he and Ledesma’s flurry of goals...
“It’s the whole team … it’s a team effort and, today, this was a very strong team effort.”
On halftime adjustments...
“Like I said, I feel like the first half we had our chances … We just have to continue grinding and working hard and then we’ll get the goal.”
FCC Midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma
On his header goal...
“A long time ago [was last time I scored a header]. I never score with my head … That was an amazing ball from ‘Magic’ (Corben Bone)”
On defensive responsibilities...
“I think tonight we played really good, we played compactly. We were focused at all times and it was a lot of hard work, teamwork altogether. I think about ‘Player of the Month,’ and I think it’s a ‘Team of the Month’ (award).”
On bounce-back performance following draw at Nashville...
“Nashville is a really good team and we played on the road in the grass, which wasn’t [ideal]. Sometimes, this happens. When you play against a good team in the grass, you have to manage everything. If you get a point, that’s good. One point is better than nothing.”
