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USL Cup Playoffs Spotlight: FC Cincinnati

By CHRIS HOCKMAN - chris.hockman@uslsoccer.com, 10/18/17, 10:21AM EDT

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Cincinnati looking for better the second time around


Photo courtesy Brett Hansbauer / FC Cincinnati

CINCINNATI – After a nervous finish to the season, FC Cincinnati earned a second consecutive trip to the USL Cup Playoffs, but now faces a tough path that could take it on the road throughout the postseason if it is to claim the first silverware in club history. In 2016 as a No. 3-seed Cincinnati fell at the first hurdle, falling to the Charleston Battery at home in front of a then-USL record crowd of more than 30,000 fans. Now on the opposite end of that equation as the underdog going to face the No. 3-seed Tampa Bay Rowdies, FCC will hope to draw on the experience it gained in its remarkable run to the Semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup earlier this year as it looks to raise its level for the postseason. 

2017 USL Cup Playoffs: Quarterfinal matchup:
No. 3 Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. No. 6 FC Cincinnati – Saturday, Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m. ET, Al Lang Stadium

2017 USL regular season:
Records:
Overall:
12-10-10 (46 points) | Home: 8-2-6 (30 points) | Road: 4-8-4 (16 points)

Goals For: 46 | Goals Against: 48

Leaders:

Goals: 1. Djiby Fall 12; 2. Danni Konig 11; 3. Jimmy McLaughlin 5; 4. Harrison Delbridge 3

Assists: 1. Kenney Walker 7; 2. (tie) 6 with 3

Saves: 1. Mitch Hildebrandt 100

Clinched its postseason … Oct. 12, with Orlando City B’s 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies

Clinched the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference … Oct. 15 after Bethlehem Steel FC’s 1-1 draw with Saint Louis FC, coupled with Cincinnati’s 4-3 win against Toronto FC II one day earlier.

Defining moment: While it was the last match of the regular season, FC Cincinnati could well look back on the match against Toronto FC II as a season-defining moment as it moved the side into a much higher seed going into the postseason than appeared within reach in the final weeks of the season. Going in on a three-game winless streak, FCC came out flat and surrendered a two-goal lead to the last-place side in the Eastern Conference as Tsubasa Endoh struck twice for Toronto. Another slow start appeared set to keep Cincinnati in the eighth slot in the Eastern Conference, which contained with it the prospect of a postseason clash with River Cities Cup rival and No. 1-seed Louisville City FC, but Cincinnati responded to level as first Danni Konig and then Kenney Walker both found the net either side of halftime. FCC fell behind again, though, as Shaan Hundal produced a good lobbed finish on a breakaway in the 53rd minute. Once more Cincinnati responded, and drew level on Djiby Fall's 12th goal of the season. Then, with time winding down, a clever chipped pass found Justin Hoyte cutting in from the right behind the defense, and the former Arsenal player controlled and finished. In wet and windy conditions, facing a side with nothing to lose, Cincinnati earned the No. 6-seed in the Eastern Conference, and maybe the boost it needed entering the postseason.

Three keys to a championship run:
1. Djiby Fall Fronts Up:
Leading the club in goals, Djiby Fall will be a key part of a USL Cup run for FCC in the coming month. The mercurial forward came through repeatedly in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, finishing tied for the tournament lead with four goals in addition to his regular season hail, and the physicality he brings will worry opposing defenders. It’s hard to stop Fall, who has an even spread of goals this season. The veteran can score with both feet, notching three off his left and four off his right, and with his head, which has produced five goals, tied for the most in the USL. If he can keep his emotions in check, Fall can draw defensive attention that could open things up for strike partner Danni Konig, who himself finished with 11 goals on the season, to play with freedom and give Cincinnati a dual-scoring threat.

2. Mitch Says No: No goalkeeper made more saves in the 2017 USL regular season than FCC's Mitch Hildebrandt, who was the only goalkeeper to hit triple-figures in that statistic. With 100 saves, Hildebrandt has bailed out his side on plenty of occasions, keeping his side in matches and even single-handedly holding onto points for the club throughout the season such as in their late-season 1-0 win against the Charlotte Independence that saw Hildebrandt save a stoppage-time penalty kick. With a strong defense crucial to any postseason run, the 2016 USL Goalkeeper of the Year will give his side confidence, and his form in penalty shootouts could be a big edge should FCC head past extra time.

3. Don't Blink: The fatal flaw for Cincinnati this season has been getting out to slow starts. Last Saturday's game with Toronto was another example of a game that saw Cincinnati need to be spurred into action, as was its comeback 2-2 draw against Saint Louis FC earlier this year. Going on the road that challenge has been even greater, where the side scored only three goals in the first half of its 16 away regular-season contests this season, the lowest mark in the league. Ensuring the side is firing on all cylinders in the opening half-hour is going to be essential if Cincinnati is going to find a way to make a run to emulate its success in the Open Cup. 

QUOTABLE:
"We have put together an excellent run of results on the road over the last few weeks, and we are excited to start the playoffs next weekend.” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Alan Koch to WLWT5 following the Toronto FC II win on October 14th.

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