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Late Goal Saves Point For FCC

By CHRIS HOCKMAN – chris.hockman@uslsoccer.com, 09/12/17, 8:30PM EDT

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McLaughlin scores in stoppage time for Cincinnati to seal draw in Harrisburg


Photo Courtesy Harrisburg City Islanders

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Harrisburg City Islanders just couldn't hold on as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati at FNB Field on Tuesday night. The City Islanders opened the scoring seven minutes in to the second half as Ropapa Mensah headed the ball forward for his strike partner Jonathan Mendoza, who shot across the face perfectly for the opener. FC Cincinnati pushed after conceding, and with almost the last kick of the game Jimmy McLaughlin was played through by Djiby Fall, allowing McLaughlin to beat his defender and just pass it in to the back of the net for the 1-1 draw. Harrisburg should have had the opening goal early in the first half as a perfect cross found forward Paul Wilson whose diving header went just wide of goal, which would be the only clear look at goal for either side in a tight first half of few chances. Only Harrisburg goalkeeper Brandon Miller denied Fall in the 68th minute as the Senegalese forward's header forced the keeper to turn and make a reaction save, just getting in the way of the ball. Fall was at it again just four minutes later, finally getting it past Miller but could only find the cross bar as FC Cincinnati continued pushing for an equalizer, which they eventually got.

Scoring:
51’ – HAR – Jonathan Mendoza (Ropapa Mensah)
90+6' - CIN - Jimmy McLaughlin (Djiby Fall)

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. FC Cincinnati has only won two away matches all season, a key part of why Cincinnati finds itself barely clinging on to a place in the USL Cup Playoffs. Unfortunately for Cincinnati, there is just one home match remaining for it for the rest of the season, meaning that record will have to improve with four matches on the road to close out the 2017 season.

  • 2. Conceding the late equalizer hurts the Harrisburg City Islanders dearly, as they could have been within striking distance of the USL Cup Playoffs places. Instead they now sit eight points back, and will have a lot of work to do to qualify.

  • 3. FC Cincinnati was the more threatening side, especially after going behind in the match. Two things contributed to not getting the win, firstly a poor conversion rate as it managed to get just 27.3 percent of its shots on target, with just a 10 percent rate going in to the final five minutes. The second was some strong defending from the City Islanders who didn’t miss a tackle in the whole match.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Ropapa Mensah, Harrisburg City Islanders – Ropapa Mensah provided the assist on Harrisburg's lone tally, to cap an active performance. Mensah created five chances in the match, with two shots of his own, and won five of his seven aerial duels.

Upcoming Games:
Harrisburg City Islanders  vs. Toronto FC II – September 16, 7p.m. ET, FNB Field
FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls II – September 17, 7p.m. ET, Nippert Stadium

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