CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati Head Coach Alan Koch likes to call the role, The Closer.

At some point during the second half of FCC’s games, the side will introduce a player who will make the difference for it over the final stanza of the match.

On Wednesday night against the Chicago Fire in the Round of 16 of the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in front of 32,287 fans at Nippert Stadium – the second-highest crowd in tournament history – Jimmy McLaughlin proved to be The Closer FCC needed.

Coming on in the 66th minute, the former Philadelphia Union winger came close on numerous occasions to earning FCC victory in both regulation and overtime before converting from the penalty spot as the host advanced to the Quarterfinals with a 3-1 shootout victory against the four-time Open Cup champions.

“Tonight, it just went according to plan when it needed to,” said McLaughlin. “This is the greatest soccer experience of my life, the biggest match I’ve been a part of, and something I will never forget. I’m honored to have shared this moment with everyone.”

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There might have been some surprised when McLaughlin, who has started 13 of his 14 appearances for FCC this season in the USL, began the game on the bench. In the end, Koch’s strategy paid off handsomely as all three of his substitutions had a major impact on the game.

Corben Bone, brought on against his former club with 13 minutes to go in regulation, almost ended the game in regulation when he beat the Fire’s high defensive line with a perfectly timed run from midfield, only to have his one-on-one chance saved by Chicago goalkeeper Matt Lampson. Andrew Wiedeman, who entered in the 102nd minute, had a goal ruled out on a tight offside call after an excellent move into the left side of the penalty area and finish to the right corner of the net.

But it was McLaughlin that provided the impetus for those opportunities to arrive. The winger finished with five shots for the contest, including three on target, as he was involved in most of FCC’s best attacking moves of the night. His shot in second-half stoppage time that appeared to carom off the left arm of Fire defender Johan Kappelhof in the penalty area left FCC fans frustrated, as did a pair of excellent near-post saves by Lampson to deny him late in regulation and overtime.

When McLaughlin slotted home his finish into the left corner to open the fourth round of the shootout, though, he set the stage for FCC goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt to deliver the coup de grace, and make FCC the first USL club to reach the Open Cup Quarterfinals since Orlando City SC in 2013.

“I was feeling it tonight and was flying high,” said McLaughlin. “I was happy I was able to put away a penalty kick so at least I got to see the ball hit the back of the net at least once.”

After playing his hand almost to perfection, and having his players execute at both ends of the field, Koch’s plan paid off handsomely.

“Emotions are running high, that’s for sure,” said Koch. “You don’t get many opportunities to play in Cup matches such as this. We feel pretty good right now, that’s for sure.”