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Cincinnati Finds Attacking Groove in Comeback

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 05/03/18, 12:58PM EDT

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Victory against Indy made statement as FCC moved into second place in East

INDIANAPOLIS – While FC Cincinnati had brought its three-game winless streak to an end this past Saturday, there was still a feeling within the squad that there was something more to prove in its performance against regional rival Indy Eleven on Wednesday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.

After coming back from a first-half deficit to take a 3-2 victory before a crowd of 8,079 fans in the USL Game of the Week, the visitors felt they had accomplished just that as goals by Kenney Walker, Jimmy McLaughlin and Corben Bone paved the way to a fourth road win of the season.

“A night like tonight, you find out guys are ready to play,” said Walker. “They know that they can step up and play, but to go out and do it is something else. And they proved that tonight. It’s a good result for the club and the boys and the guys that haven’t gotten minutes that got out there and played. It’s a great night for them.”

McLaughlin was at the forefront of those that had seen limited minutes so far this season, with Wednesday night marking his second start in 2018 after minor injuries had put a damper on his start to the season. His first goal of the season came at an ideal moment for Cincinnati, with Indy having taken the lead after a good spell of pressure that began midway through the first half. A well-placed volley from Bone’s lifted through-ball got the visitors level at the break and set the stage for a strong second-half performance.

“We gave up two goals and that would’ve been an easy moment for this team to quit, honestly,” said McLaughlin, who also notched two key passes on the night. “When a team comes back on us on the road it’s never easy. But we came together as a group and we knew we were capable of getting three points on the road and we got it done. We’re having a blast out there; it’s fun playing with this group of guys.”


FC Cincinnati's Jimmy McLaughlin scored his first goal of the season to help the side's rally to a 3-2 victory. | Photo courtesy Trevor Ruszkowski / Indy Eleven

Bone’s goal nine minutes into the second half proved the winner as Cincinnati’s defense limited Indy’s clear looks on goal in the final half-hour. A late scare arrived with eight minutes to go as Soony Saad produced a wicked shot that left FCC goalkeeper Spencer Richey flat-footed as it swerved just over the top-right corner, but overall the hosts finished with only one shot on goal, a long-range effort by Nathan Lewis, and two shots inside the FCC penalty area in the second half.

With Cincinnati having scored eight goals in its past three games, the side appears to be closing in on the preseason expectations that were set after a busy offseason of signings.

“I think we’re in a groove right now,” said Bone. “The offense is clicking, the defense is clicking. We’re playing really well as a team, scoring goals. So, I think we’re in a good place right now. We just have to keep it going moving forward. We have another game on Saturday, so it doesn’t stop. Just continue this momentum and we’re in a good place.”

With a quick turnaround to Saturday’s game at Nippert Stadium against ATL UTD 2, Cincinnati’s players are ready to get back to work and replicate their road success on home turf.

“We’ve got to go out and do the dirty work again and hopefully find some more goals and get a result at home for the home fans,” said Walker. “We’ve had a loss and a tie at home, so we’re looking for that first win at home.”

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