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FCC Grabs Late Equalizer Before 25,308

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 08/06/17, 1:07AM EDT

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USL regular-season record crowd sees thrilling 2-2 draw with OCB


Photo courtesy Erik Schelkun / FC Cincinnati

CINCINNATI – A USL regular-season record crowd of 25,308 saw Danni Konig score in stoppage time to earn FC Cincinnati a 2-2 draw with Orlando City B on Saturday night at Nippert Stadium. Cincinnati took the lead in just the sixth minute as Kyle Greig headed home a cross from the left by Josu at the top of the six-yard area. Two minutes later, Greig was pulled down going for a cross, and FCC was awarded a penalty kick, but Orlando goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. saved from Aodhan Quinn as he shot to the left corner. OCB then leveled the score as a long throw-in was headed to the top of the area, and Austin Martz volleyed into the left corner of the net. The teams then exchanged chances, as Hadji Barry almost gave OCB the lead moments later, heading a free header wide from eight yards out, while FCC’s Jimmy McLaughlin had a big chance saved by Edwards in the 26th minute. OCB’s Pierre da Silva forced a good save by FCC goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt six minutes later, but the visitors took the lead 10 minutes into the second half as Barry finished calmly on a breakaway as FCC got caught pressing upfield. Cincinnati pushed hard for an equalizer in the final half-hour, and a low cross flashed through the penalty area just eluded the finishing touch from Greig at the far post. FCC found its equalizer in the second minute of stoppage time, however, as Konig got onto the end of Kenney Walker’s cross, and looped his finish home.

Scoring:
6’ – CIN – Kyle Greig (Josu)
14’ – ORL – Austin Martz
55’ – ORL – Hadji Barry (Tony Rocha)
90+’ – CIN – Danni Konig (Kenney Walker)

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. FC Cincinnati got out to an outstanding start as recent addition Kyle Greig both found the net for the first time since his loan from Vancouver Whitecaps FC began, and then drew a penalty kick as his jersey was grabbed as he went for a cross by Jimmy McLaughlin. Reunited with Head Coach Alan Koch, who was Greig’s coach with WFC2 a season ago as the club reached the Western Conference Final of the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs, Greig’s industry and knack for finding the net gives Cincinnati another big weapon as it looks to push higher in the regular season’s final stretch.

  • 2. The first major turning point for the game was clearly the result of the penalty drawn by Greig, as Orlando City B’s Earl Edwards Jr. denied FCC’s Aodhan Quinn from the spot. Handed a reprieve by its goalkeeper, OCB found it feet as it had in the previous meeting between the clubs this season, and Austin Martz’s equalizer eight minutes after Cincinnati’s opener settled the side even more in the hostile environment. After earning five consecutive draws as part of a six-game undefeated streak, Hadji Barry’s goal in the 55th minute provided the perfect counterattack as FCC looked to push numbers forward early in the second half, and while the OCB defense finally cracked two minutes into stoppage time, OCB will certainly take a point from another big road game.

  • 3. Cincinnati came through late as its pressure over the final 20 minutes paid off with an opportunistic finish by Danni Konig that earned a valuable point, and sent a USL regular-season crowd of 25,308 into wild celebration. The commitment to ensure the side took a point was impressive after a long week for the players after Wednesday night’s magical Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Run victory against Miami FC, but also highlighted the amazing support the side has seen both at home and on the road this season. While they weren’t able to celebrate the record with a win, the crowd that filled Nippert Stadium should go home happy enough.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Kyle Greig, FC Cincinnati – Greig scored the opening goal of the game, and was Cincinnati’s most consistent threat as the side managed to grab a late point.

Upcoming Games:
FC Cincinnati
at Louisville City FC – August 12, 7:30 p.m. ET, Slugger Field
Orlando City B at Richmond Kickers – August 12, 7 p.m. ET, City Stadium

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