Photo courtesy Brett Hansbauer / FC Cincinnati
CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati saw its bid at a deep run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup come to an end as it was unable to come through from the penalty spot after finishing scoreless against Minnesota United after 120 minutes as a pair of saves by United goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth ushered the visitors through 3-1 on penalties before a crowd of 15,486 fans at Nippert Stadium in the tournament’s Fourth Round on Wednesday night.
Minnesota took an early advantage in the shootout as Christian Ramirez’s shot found the right corner just past the dive of FCC goalkeeper Spencer Richey before Kenney Walker hit the crossbar with the first shot for the hosts. The visitors doubled their advantage in the second round as FCC’s Sem de Wit had his shot saved by Shuttleworth after Collin Martin had converted for Minnesota, and while Michael Lahoud’s goal in the third round and Richey’s save to open the fourth round on Collen Warner kept the hosts alive, Shuttleworth denied Nazmi Albadawi with the following shot to send Minnesota through.
Cincinnati outshot their opponents 15-10 through regulation and extra time, and produced the first real look on goal in the 15th minute when De Wit stepped forward and fired a long-range shot that was comfortably saved by Shuttleworth. The center back again went close after a free kick by Walker saw De Wit sent his finish wide of the left post.
The hosts again called Shuttleworth into action in the 28th minute as a cross from the left by Walker found Russell Cicerone for a sharply-hit finish that United’s goalkeeper punched to safety. Moments later Minnesota threatened as Maximiano’s low shot toward the left was turned just wide of the post by Richey but the hosts quickly got back on the front foot as Jimmy McLaughlin found the side-netting with a shot from the left side of the penalty area 10 minutes before the break.
Cincinnati went close again 10 minutes into the second half as Emery Welshman found space to get on the end of McLaughlin’s cross from the left but was unable to redirect his header on target, and the hosts almost found an opening when they kept an attacking chance alive just past the hour-mark that resulted in Walker’s shot being deflected wide of the right post.
Minnesota threatened again with 20 minutes to go as Warner curled a shot just high and wide of the top-right corner, and United forward Abu Danladi forced a low save by Richey with a low shot to the left corner that was turned wide for a corner kick. Cincinnati then almost grabbed a late winner in regulation as Walker flashed a shot high after a half-cleared corner kick in the 89th minute, but the game headed to extra time.
The hosts came out positively in extra time and saw Welshman shoot over the crossbar from 20 yards after a good turn to create space in the 97th minute. Corben Bone also fired just high for Cincinnati five minutes later from the right side of the penalty area, while Danladi had a long-range shot saved by Richey just before the end of the first period as the game remained scoreless, but then neither side was able to create a clear chance to grab victory in the second 15 minutes as the game went to a shootout that would see Minnesota book its place in the Round of 16.
Scoring:
None
Penalty Shootout
CIN – 6-Kenney Walker, missed; 51-Sem de Wit, saved; 19-Michael Lahoud, goal; 5-Nazmi Albadawi, saved
MIN – 21-Christian Ramirez, goal; 17-Collin Martin, goal; 14-Brent Kallman, goal; 26-Collen Warner, saved;
FC Cincinnati: GK Spencer Richey; D Matt Bahner, Sem de Wit, Dekel Keinan, Blake Smith; M Kenney Walker, Corben Bone (Nazmi Albadawi 106’), Michael Lahoud, Jimmy McLaughlin; F Russell Cicerone (Daniel Haber 77’), Emery Welshman (Tomi Ameobi 98’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Evan Newton, Forrest Lasso, Will Seymore
Minnesota United FC: GK Bobby Shuttleworth; D Eric Miller (Carter Manley 13’), Michael Boxall, Brent Kallman, Tyrone Mears; M Collin Martin, Collen Warner, Maximiano (Frantz Pangop 99’); F Miguel Ibarra, Abu Danladi, Christian Ramirez
Substitutes Not Used: GK Matt Lampson, Alexi Gomez, Wyatt Omsberg, Mason Toye
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