CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati scored once in either half to earn a 2-0 victory against Saint Louis FC in front of 20,125 fans at Nippert Stadium on Saturday night. Cincinnati (5-5-5, 20pts) took the lead seven minutes in as Andrew Wiedeman was played in behind the Saint Louis defense. His shot was partially saved by Adam Grinwis, but the ball deflected off A.J. Cochran and into the net for an own goal. Grinwis had to come up big twice 10 minutes later to deny Corben Bone and Kenney Walker both fired on goal, while Jimmy McLaughlin hit the post for the hosts a minute before the halftime break. Saint Louis (4-5-3, 15pts) came into the game more in the second half, but FCC’s Matt Bahner forced a good claim from Grinwis in the 58th minute as he fired toward the far post as he entered the right corner of the penalty area. Eight minutes later Cincinnati doubled its lead as a deflected shot came to McLaughlin in the left side of the penalty area, and he slid a pass to the top of the six-yard area for Danni König to tap home. Saint Louis tried to apply pressure late to get back in the game, but FCC held the visitors to only three shots on goal as it closed out an important victory.

Scoring: 
7’ – CIN – Own Goal (A.J. Cochran)
66’ – CIN – Danni König (Jimmy McLaughlin)

• #CINvSTL: Full Match and Opta Box Score

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. Having drawn four of its opening eight home games of the season after last Saturday’s game with the Charleston Battery, FC Cincinnati needed to get the second half of its home slate off on the right foot. Thanks to an early own goal forced by FCC’s Andrew Wiedeman and a timely finish by Danni König soon after coming on as a second-half substitute, the hosts provided exactly the result they needed to get back into the top eight in the USL Eastern Conference. Cincinnati looked far more certain defensively, and as a result maintained their perfect record against Saint Louis FC in the all-time series between the two clubs.

• 2. Saint Louis was good in possession, but was unable to find enough of an edge in the final third to give Christian Volesky and Jose Angulo to give the side a chance to get back into the game. Only one of Saint Louis’ six shots on the night came from within the penalty area as neither Volesky or Angulo finished with a shot on goal for the contest. Saint Louis still has time to get itself into playoff contention, but after defeats to both Bethlehem Steel FC and FCC in its last two outings is going to need to be much sharper in attack to do so.

• 3. Cincinnati’s solid victory in front of another crowd of more than 20,000 fans at Nippert Stadium provides just the platform the side needed ahead of Wednesday night’s Round of 16 game in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against the Chicago Fire. With national television visiting Nippert Stadium for the first time, the occasion will be a special one for the second-year club as it gets the chance to add to its profile on the national stage.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Jimmy McLaughlin, FC Cincinnati – McLaughlin was dynamic throughout the contest, and provided the assist with an aware pass on FCC’s second goal to put the victory away.

Upcoming Games:
FC Cincinnati at Orlando City B – July 1, 8:30 p.m. ET, Orlando City Stadium
Saint Louis FC at New York Red Bulls II – July 1, 4 p.m. ET, MSU Soccer Park