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Cincinnati Too Much for NCFC

By USLSoccer.com Staff, 06/09/18, 9:12PM EDT

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Konig, McLaughlin net to secure 2-0 win in Cary, North Carolina


Photo courtesy of Rob Kinnan

CARY, N.C. – FC Cincinnati sits atop the Eastern Conference standings after securing a 2-0 victory against North Carolina FC from Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday. Danni Konig headed in the game-winning tally from the goalmouth after Russell Cicerone’s left-footed blast in the 37th minute was pushed up in the air by NCFC goalkeeper Alex Tambakis, who was not able to jump to his feet to catch or parry away the ball before Konig’s header. Jimmy McLaughlin secured the win in the 87th minute, finishing a chance after Tambakis made a save against Emery Welshman. The home side had numerous opportunities to score, especially in the first half, but Cincinnati’s back line and netminder Evan Newton were up to the task each time. Newton made two jaw-dropping saves towards the end of the first half to keep the clean sheet in tact, performing a diving stop to prevent a close-range header by Daniel Rios and pushing a left-footed strike from Marcel Kandziora over the crossbar. Rios, again, came close to scoring in the 83rd minute, hitting a low rocket towards frame, but Newton dived to his right and pushed the ball wide to earn the shutout. With the result, Cincinnati improves to 8-3-2 this campaign, while NCFC falls to 3-6-2 in 2018.

Scoring:

37’ – CIN – Danni Konig
87’ – CIN – Jimmy McLaughlin

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. Cincinnati claims the second and final meeting between it and North Carolina this regular season, having topped NCFC 4-1 at Nippert Stadium on May 19. Danni Konig, who scored the fourth goal in Cincinnati’s first match against NCFC, scored the first goal on Saturday to secure the victory. Konig has now scored in three consecutive away matches.

  • 2. While goalkeeper Evan Newton made a number of spectacular stops on the night, the Cincinnati back line turned in an admirable shift to record the team’s fifth shutout of the year. Newton recorded four saves, two punches and two clearances, but Forrest Lasso, Justin Hoyte, Patrick Barrett and Blake Smith shined, making a combined 21 clearances and 10 interceptions.

  • 3. North Carolina is now 2-4-0 at home after falling to Cincinnati. The Cary-based side has struggled to find consistent form this campaign, but a few players have been strong for the side despite some results. On Saturday, goalkeeper Alex Tambakis made four saves, including eye-opening one-v-one denials and acrobatic stops.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Forrest Lasso, FC Cincinnati – The defender completed 83.7 percent of his passes and recorded 11 clearances and two interceptions to help his side secure the 2-0 road victory.

Upcoming Games:

North Carolina FC vs. Ottawa Fury FC – June 13, 7 p.m. ET, Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

FC Cincinnati vs. Bethlehem Steel FC – June 13, 7:30 p.m. ET, Nippert Stadium

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