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Gameday Report: July 18, Week 19

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 07/18/18, 11:09PM EDT

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Early goals lift FCC past Independence before 25,251; Orange County sweeps past Rangers


Photo courtesy Erik Schelkun / FC Cincinnati

THREE THINGS THAT MATTERED

1. FC Cincinnati showed again why it sits at the top of the Eastern Conference as it continued its strong homestand with a 2-0 victory against the Charlotte Independence in front of a crowd of 25,251 fans at Nippert Stadium that extended the club’s lead over second-place Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. FCC kept Charlotte at arm’s length after both Dekel Keinan and Forrest Lasso scored their first goals of the league season for the side in the opening 20 minutes, and now sits level on points with Western Conference-leader Real Monarchs SLC in the race for the USL Regular Season Championship.  

2. Orange County SC made a major statement with its 4-0 victory against the Swope Park Rangers, putting together a strong display against a Rangers side that prior to its back-to-back defeats at Children’s Mercy Park in the past week had sported one of the best home records in the league. Orange County’s decisive finishing made the difference in the contest, which saw the visitors move into third place in the Western Conference standings.  

3. The New York Red Bulls II claimed their third consecutive victory to wrap up an important homestand that saw the side strongly boost its position in the Eastern Conference standings. Now into the top four ahead of Saturday night’s visit to FC Cincinnati, the Red Bulls II are playing with the kind of confidence that was present early on this year at a key point of the regular season.

GAME REPORTS

SWOPE PARK RANGERS (0), ORANGE COUNTY SC (4)

Thomas Enevoldsen scored his league-leading 11th goal of the season as Orange County SC swpet to a 4-0 victory against the Swope Park Rangers at Children’s Mercy Park. Orange County took the lead in the 13th minute as a clever slipped pass by Mats Bjurman played in Michael Seaton, who finished low to the left corner of the net. Swope Park almost found an equalizer early in the second half as a deflected cross came to Tyler Blackwood in the right side of the penalty area, only for Luis Lopez to make the save at his near post, but following that the visitors pulled away to victory. Enevoldsen struck with 19 minutes with a powerful strike from the right side of the penalty area, and after Giovanni Godoy had produced an excellent low finish in the 79th minute, Aodhan Quinn converted from the penalty spot after Bjurman was fouled in the penalty area to wrap up an impressive road victory.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match
Giovanni Godoy, Orange County SC
– Godoy had a goal and assist to help Orange County to victory after coming on to positive effect as a substitute in the 67th minute for the visitors.

FC CINCINNATI (2), CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE (0)

FC Cincinnati scored a pair of early goals to take a 2-0 victory against the Charlotte Independence in front of a crowd of 25,251 fans at Nippert Stadium in the USL Game of the Week on ESPN2. FCC opened the scoring in the seventh minute as Dekel Keinan scored from close range after Forrest Lasso’s near-post header from a corner on the right came back off the crossbar. Lasso then added to the lead in the 20th minute, rising to head home at the back post off a free kick from the left by Kenney Walker. The Independence almost halved the lead in the 33rd minute when Cordell Cato flashed a shot just over the crossbar from the right, but Cincinnati continued to threaten in the second half as Charlotte goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra had to make a good save to keep out Emery Welshman in the 66th minute and Emmanuel Ledesma curled a shot just wide seven minutes later, only for the hosts’ early goals to prove enough to take all three points.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match
Forrest Lasso, FC Cincinnati
– Lasso almost bagged the opening goal of the game as he hit the crossbar and made no mistake with his header on the second, while winning 14 of 18 duels overall.

NEW YORK RED BULLS II (2), BETHLEHEM STEEL FC (1)

The New York Red Bulls II moved into the top four in the USL’s Eastern Conference as they took a 2-1 victory against Bethlehem Steel FC on Wednesday night at MSU Soccer Park. The Red Bulls II took the lead in the 28th minute as Derrick Etienne Jr. lifted home a finish from Brian White’s through-ball past advancing Bethlehem goalkeeper Jake McGuire, but Steel FC hit back in first-half stoppage time as Anthony Fontana scored with the final chance before the break. New York regained the lead with 12 minutes to go, however, as Amando Moreno picked up possession on the left side of the penalty area in a little space, and he cut back onto his right foot and fired home into the far corner. Moreno’s goal proved the difference as despite having chances on the counterattack Steel FC was unable to register an official shot on goal in the second half as its winless streak reached four games.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match
Amando Moreno, New York Red Bulls II
– Moreno provided a big boost of energy for New York’s attack after coming on as substitute, finishing the game with seven shots as well as the game-winning goal.

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