Coming into Thursday night’s match between FC Cincinnati 2 and New York Pancyprian Freedoms, it was expected by many fans that the 2 side Orange and Blue would come away victorious. After all, it was an MLS NEXT Pro side versus an Amateur side. Surely this should be an easy victory? Instead of what was expected, the fans that braved the chilly late March weather were treated to the magic of the Open Cup on full display.

FIRST HALF

The Orange and Blue lineup consisted of only one first team member, that being the keeper Paul Walters. The rest of the XI were comprised of a group that has undeniably struggled so far this season. Yet there was a sense of hope that tonight, on FCC2’s biggest stage to date, the squad would finally gel.

From the opening kickoff it was quite clear what NYPF’s plan was. They were content with allowing FCC2 to control posession, relying on opportune counterattacks to make up their offense. Thusly, the opening half hour of the match consisted of FCC2 controlling the ball and setting themselves up for a number of good chances. Unfortunately, nothing came of these chances, with a number of them being shots that were close or crosses that just couldn’t find a foot.

A lot of these offensive struggles can be speculated on NYPF’s defensive structure. In a format that at times saw as many as six players on the back line, it was understandable that there would be some adjusting to do. Ultimately the first half ended 0-0, with neither side able to crack the other.

SECOND HALF

Coming out of the intermission, it was clear that FCC2 needed to make some adjustment if they wished to advance. The opening five minutes proved promising in this direction, as the Orange and Blue had a shot blocked and another shot kept off the score sheet only by the acrobatics of the NYPF keeper Joshua Levine.

The next 10 minutes leading up to the hour mark however, proved to be much of the same from the first half. FCC2 controlled posession, with NYPF occasionally making darting attacks that ultimately ended in nothing. Just past the hour mark, Tyrone Marshall made a trio of changes, replacing Noah Adnan, Carson Locker, and Kenji Mboma Dem with Juan Machado, Ben Augee, and Ademar Chavez respectively.

The next 20 minutes were quiet, with neither side making much noise. No matter what, the backline for NYPF remained uncrackable. The few runs and balls that did manage to get past were summarily cleared long. In the final five minutes FCC2 saw two great chances go unfulfilled, as a open shot went wide and a would-be goal was called back for a very close offsides.

At the end of regulation the two sides were left in a scoreless draw.

EXTRA TIME

The first of the two extra time periods was mostly quiet, with both sides garnering one big chance apiece. FCC2’s chance came in the form of a posted shot from Yorkaeff Caicedo, while NYPF’s came from a run up the middle that ended with a shot being fired over the post.

The second of the two extra time periods followed the same manner, with both sides making brief ventures into attacking position. But as someone who was at this match, that second half of extra time had a feeling of resignation to it. Sure, both sides were still pushing, looking to get a winner, but there was this gut feeling that this match would be decided from the spot.

PENALTY SHOOTOUT

FCC2’s keeper on the evening, Paul Walters, entered this shootout with a 3-1 record in them in his career. He had conceded 13 goals, while saving seven. The shootout on this chilly night at Scudamore Stadium went as follows:

Round 1:

FCC2: Tega Ikoba (Make)

NYPF: Joseph Holland (Make)

Round 2:

FCC2: Ademar Chavez (Make)

NYPF: Luis Argudo (Miss – Post)

Round 3:

FCC2: Juan Machado (Make)

NYPF: Junior Rosero (Make)

Round 4:

FCC2: Brian Schaefer (Make)

NYPF: Jack Sluys (Make)

Round 5:

FCC2: Brandon Kristel (Miss)

NYPF: Jordan Bailon (Make)

Round 6:

FCC2: William Kuisel (Miss-Post)

NYPF: Jens Hoff (Make)

NYPF wins 5-4.

Ultimately, the Orange and Blue found themselves on the short end of a cupset.

All in all this match was one that was interesting to watch. Perhaps it’s just the “drama of sport” lover in me, but from the start of the second half on, I had a feeling this one was destined for something memorable. Indeed, it was memorable, and now NYPF will look to march on in pursuit of their fourth ever Open Cup trophy.

QUICK RECAP

LINEUPS

CIN: Paul Walters, Andrei Chirila, Brian Schaefer, Noah Adnan (Juan Machado 64’), Yorkaeff Caicedo (Will Kuisel 101’), Peter Mangione (C), Carson Locker (Ben Augee 63’), Dilan Hurtado (Xhosa Manyana 84’), Monsuru Opeyemi (Brandon Kristel 105’), Kenji Mboma Dem (Ademar Chavez 64’), Tega Ikoba

Substitutes not used: Nathan Crockford

NYPF: Joshua Levine, Rikard Cederberg, Matthew Forester (Alexsi Morel 96’), Devin Heanue (Jens Hoff 105’), Jack Sluys, Luis Argudo (C), Jordan Bailon, Augustus McGiff (Pablo Herrera 36’), Joseph Holland, James Thristino (Sameer Fathazada 46’), Nicholas Zielonka

Substitutes not used: George Angelidis, Junior Rosero, Konstantinos Xiouros

STATS SUMMARY: CIN/NYPF

Shots: 24 / 12

Shots on Goal: 7 / 2

Corner Kicks: 4 / 3

Fouls: 14 / 10

Offside: 6 / 1

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

CIN – Andrei Chirila (Yellow Card) 6’

NYPF – Augustus McGiff (Yellow Card) 26’

CIN – Xhosa Manyana (Yellow Card) 84’

Next Match: MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season, vs. Chicago Fire FC II, 4 PM EST March 30th, MLS Season Pass

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FC Cincinnati 2 will begin their campaign in the 2025 US Open Cup with a Round One match against the New York Pancyprian-Freedoms.

THE PANCYPRIAN FREEDOMS

The NY Pancyprian Freedoms are one of the most storied amateur clubs in American soccer. They were founded in 1974 by Greek-Cypriot immigrants in Queens, and still have multiple players with Greek backgrounds. Pancyprian is a nod to their heritage and means “nationwide Cyprus.” They boast the third most titles in the history of the US Open Cup, lifting the famed trophy in 1980, 1982, and 1983. Additionally, they are the recent winners of the USASA National Amateur Cup, which booked their ticket to this season’s USOC.

They are competing in the American Premier Soccer League, a semi-pro league in the fourth division of US Soccer. It has a pro-rel system that is affiliated with various other amateur divisions. The league recently broke its regional partnership with NISA Nation and is looking to expand out of the Northeast to the Southeast.

This season, the Pancyprian Freedoms have impressed in the APSL’s Metropolitan Conference; their record is 11-2-1, and with 34 points, are three points clear at the top of the table. They have scored the most goals in their conference with 49—an average of 3.8 goals per game—and conceded the least with 13. They were also champions of the Metropolitian Conference last season, with a record of 17-1-2.

They boast a high-caliber squad for a fourth-division club. Their attacking midfielder/forward, Joseph Holland, was born in England and plied his trade for a few USL clubs. James Tristino, a midfielder, ended ’24 with 10 goals and 8 assists in 12 games—this was enough for him to be the assist leader in the EPSL. Luis Argudo, a winger, made 30 plus appearances for Columbus. Josh Levine is a 6’3” shot stopper who started at Penn State.  Junior Rosero, a striker, has been a journeyman; he scored five goals and three assists in 10 NISA matches for Gold Star FC.

Pancyprian Freedoms may be amateur, but nothing about them feels like it; as director Paul Kontonis said, “[We] are known for playing with quality and purpose, we are a team with long history and we never give up!” They will be eagerly anticipating this match as another chance to assert themselves on the national stage.

THE ORANGE AND BLUE

In yet another offseason of rebuilding, FC Cincinnati 2 lost around five starters in Santos, Benalcázar, Tablante, Gibert, and Stitz. They would opt to sign talent from abroad, but also domestically with players like Tega Ikoba and Nate Crockford, as well as internally with academy and SuperDraft signings.

As a result, they have gotten off to a disappointing start under Tyrone Marshall. With a record of 0-0-2, they sit at the bottom of the East in MLS NEXT Pro. They dominated possession in their season opener against TFCII but were still beaten by a goal in the 30th minute. In their second match against New England II, they continued to find chances on goal but lost 0-2 after collapsing in the second half. They have yet to score—but this could be due to new signings that haven’t gelled yet.

Having to replace multiple players from the lineup has been the offseason theme for FCC2. Just like the ’23 season, they will need to relearn how to play as a unit, and this is a match where they can do so. What better place than a national tournament where more eyes than ever are on them?

Many fans of the Orange and Blue fondly remember the Cinderella run in the 2017 US Open Cup; led by Alan Koch, that team would make it to the semi-finals after upsetting Columbus and Chicago as a USL team. While Noonan’s boys won’t get a chance in this edition, maybe it will be FC Cincinnati 2 who will recapture some of that lower league nostalgia by making a run?

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tega Ikoba is FCC2’s player to watch. He was a quality addition to an already dynamic attack, having a couple appearances for Portland. This season, he will be leading the line as a lanky 6’3’’ striker. I anticipate him finding the back of the net.

In last season’s winning National Amateur Cup campaign, the Pancyprian Freedoms had four players tied for top goal scorer. One of those players was the aforementioned Joseph Holland. He is currently tied for second as the APSL’s top scorer with 13 goals in 10 games—as of May last year, he had 20 goals and four assists in 10 EPSL games. Needless to say, he is their player to watch.

WHAT TO EXPECT

There is no reason to underestimate the Pancyprian Freedoms. Not only are they top among active clubs in the APSL but also have bragging rights in this tournament. Their squad is high-caliber, boasting international and collegiate-level players alike. It will not feel like playing a fourth-division club.

Never before has FCC2 played in any tournament other than MLS NEXT Pro; this is their highest stage yet, and one where they can make a real impact. These players all have something to prove; they will be representing FC Cincinnati.

FC Cincinnati 2 may be favored to return to winning ways, but there is always magic in the cup. A cupset can occur in any match, even ones where teams are separated by multiple levels on the pyramid. Koch’s 2017 squad proved this.

Special thanks to Paul Kontoni, NY Pancyprian Freedoms club director, for agreeing to an interview with Cincinnati Soccer Talk and providing information about the NY Pancyprian Freedoms.

MATCH INFO

WHERE: Scudamore Stadium

WHEN: 7:30 PM EST

WATCH: @USSoccer on YouTube

The post FC Cincinnati 2 begins its USOC campaign against a three-time winner appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Who is NY Pancyprian Freedoms?

Now you may be wondering, like myself, who are the NY Pancyprian Freedoms? That was my first thought, and after looking into them, I have to admit they have quite an interesting history. Founded in 1974 by the Greek-Cypriot community in Astoria, Queens, the club has been a mainstay at the top levels of amateur football in America since their inception. They compete in New York City’s Cosmopolitan Soccer League, a member of the United States Adult Soccer Association. In their time they’ve won eight Cosmopolitan League titles, most recently in 2019.

In addition to their League success, the Freedoms have ample experience in the Open Cup. They are one of the 63 teams to ever win the tournament, and they did so three times in the early 1980’s. In 1984, during their pursuit of a CONCACAF Champions Cup, they made it to the semi-final round before being disqualified along with slotted opponent CD Guadalajara, as the two sides couldn’t agree on match dates.

During their most recent Open Cup run, the team defeated New York Red Bulls U-23 before losing their second round matchup to Jersey Express. In addition to their Open Cup ventures, the side has won the USASA Open Cup three times (2008, 2010, and 2011).

Mainly comprised of players that have come up through the Eleftheria-Pancyprian Youth teams, the team boasts a lot of NCAA Division 1 soccer talent. This side is sure to prove a good challenge for FCC 2 and has proven itself as a dark horse in the past.

If you have nothing better to do, make your way down to Highland Heights on March 20th at 7:30 PM to see what is sure to be an electrifying fixture.

A previous version of this article misstated the name of the New York Pancyprian Freedoms as the New York Pancyprian FC.

The post FCC 2 draws NY Amateur side for 1st Round of Lamar Hunt US Open Cup appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

FC Cincinnati obtained their first win against New York City FC in all competitions, leaning on a Brandon Vazquez header to slip past NYCFC 1-0 in the Round of 32 for the U.S. Open Cup.

FC Cincinnati entered the contest having never beaten the Cityzens in eight contests, but they managed two strong points from draws last season against NYCFC. While the U.S. Open Cup is a knockout competition and not part of the MLS calendar, the win still counted for something.

FCC brought in a Starting XI with a surprising volume of starters from the last match against D.C. United—only Junior Moreno and Roman Celentano were held out of the full roster. NYCFC played a comparative number of traditional starters in their 4-2-3-1 formation, but Alfredo Morales was a late scratch due to an injury.

Much of the first half involved both teams trying to figure out how their mix of starters and bench players fit together. Both teams enjoyed a similar share of shots, but all three of FC Cincinnati’s attempts found frame. The strongest opportunity came from a Yuya Kubo rocket in the 32nd minute that had to be padded over the frame by goalkeeper Matt Freese.

New York City’s closest opportunity came in the 22nd minute. Tony Alfaro managed to sneak past the back line on a free kick, only for his header to dribble past the far post for a goal kick. However, the Cityzens maintained possession (43-57) and managed to carve yellow cards out of FC Cincinnati early on, forcing Obinna Nwobodo and Yerson Mosquera to play with caution.

Cincinnati finally solved the NYCFC defense in the second half. In the 56th minute, Alvaro Barreal’s corner kick found enough of Vazquez’s head to push past Freese. The forward’s third goal over all competitions gave FCC a 1-0 lead with much of the second half left.

New York City’s best opportunity came on their own set piece. In the 79th minute, midfielder James Sands found a header attempt in the box. While he was not tested too much, goalkeeper Alec Kann made himself wide enough to block the clear shot for clearance.

Kann’s second start in the Open Cup was also his second clean sheet in as many matches.

Much of the six additional minutes of extra time were cleaned out, with FC Cincinnati advancing to the Round of 16. The next opponent will be determined on Thursday, most likely against USL-side Pittsburgh Riverhounds, New York Red Bulls, or Columbus Crew SC.

Coach Pat Noonan noted the potential for winning a U.S. Open Cup trophy is there.

“When you win on a consistent basis, and when you win against top teams in the league, that should give the group belief that you can win trophies,” Noonan noted after the match. “I know that group in (the locker room) believes that and that we as a staff believe that.”

While FC Cincinnati await their next opponent in the Open Cup, the team gets a well-deserved rest this weekend before a match against CF Montreal at home. NYCFC retreats home to visit the New York Red Bulls for their first Hudson River Derby of the season on Saturday.

U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 matchup:
FC Cincinnati vs. New York City FC
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Result: FC Cincinnati 1, New York City FC 0.

BOX SCORE

FC Cincinnati Starting XI (3-5-2):

Alec Kann (GK); Ian Murphy, Matt Miazga (c), Yerson Mosquera; Alvaro Barreal, Malik Pinto (Marco Angulo 83’), Yuya Kubo (Luciano Acosta 67’), Obinna Nwobodo, Ray Gaddis (Alvas Powell 82’); Dominique Badji (Sergio Santos 76’), Brandon Vazquez.
Bench: Evan Louro, Joey Akpunonu, Nick Hagglund.

New York City Starting XI (4-2-3-1):

Matt Freese; Tony Alfaro, Maxime Chanot, Thiago Martins, Tayvon Gray; Justin Haak, James Sands; Talles Magno (Santiago Rodriguez 61’), Kevin O’Toole, Andres Jasson (Gabriel Pereira 61’); Gabriel Segal (Richard Ledezma 61’).
Bench: Cody Mizell, Braian Cufre, Stephen Turnbull, Nico Benalcazar.

Scoring Summary:

CIN – Brandon Vazquez 56’ (Alvaro Barreal)

Discipline:

YC – Obinna Nwobodo 12’ (CIN, foul
YC – Yerson Mosquera 20’ (CIN, foul)
YC – Matt Miazga 81’ (CIN, foul)
YC – Tayvon Gray 82’ (NYC, foul)
YC – Justin Haak 88’ (NYC, foul)

Next up:
vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17th, TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, OH)

The post The City Sleeps: FC Cincinnati bounce New York City FC from the U.S. Open Cup, 1-0 appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

While it is the “oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States”, the U.S. Open Cup had been on hiatus over the past two years due to pandemic protocols. However, the borders between leagues have been reopened, and the lower levels in the United States have participated in the first two rounds of the national tournament. Over 100 teams in total will participate for the first time in modern Cup history, leading to the final played in September.

FC Cincinnati comes into the Open Cup match with a slight bit of momentum during its heaviest schedule congestion. Despite going down to 10 players, the Orange and Blue managed a steadfast 0-0 draw against Atlanta United over the weekend. Possession was controlled by Atlanta, but FCC rode six solid saves by Alec Kann to swipe a point on the road.

Health could be a priority in this midweek matchup. Defenders Alvas Powell and Geoff Cameron were unable to start due to injury, leaving the back line in question. Forward Dom Badji got the start at left back for the first time this season, but John Nelson subbed on for Badji to make his first appearance of the year.

The first match in the USOC has traditionally gone well for FCC—since their debut in the competition in 2016, the Orange and Blue have averaged at least 2 wins every year in the competition (9-4) and have won their opening match all four years. While this is the first USOC match in TQL Stadium, FCC have played all of their opening matches at home and are 7-2 at home in USOC matches.

However, the last time FC Cincinnati faced USL Championship competition ended in a late disaster. The Orange and Blue crashed out of 2019 Open Cup competition in the Round of 16, losing to Saint Louis FC 1-0 on a last-second goal. Some of the faces in that game could come back to haunt FC Cincinnati…

THE OPPOSITION

Despite their lack of silverware in their trophy case, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC have shown they can be a solid fixture in USL soccer. The team has enjoyed peaks (a USL PDL regular season title in 2004) and valleys (temporary hiatus in 2007) since their debut in 1999. However, the arrival of Bob Lilley from Rochester altered the team’s playing style and landscape.

Lilley’s attention to defensive play made Rochester Rhinos a powerhouse in the old USL Pro league with three regular-season titles and a USL Cup in 2015. His promotion to Pittsburgh in 2018 turned a team that often missed the playoffs into a perennial playoff squad. After returning from hiatus in 2007, Pittsburgh averaged 1.27 points per game before Bob Lilley. Since his arrival, the team has averaged 1.90 points per game.

The 2022 USL Championship season has started well for Pittsburgh. The Riverhounds are currently second in the Eastern Conference (4-1-1, 13 pts.), behind only Lou City in the standings. However, their last match ended in a 1-0 loss to Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday night, their first loss of the season.

The team is led in scoring by forwards Dane Kelly and Albert Dikwa (who was on the Saint Louis FC squad that knocked FCC out of the Open Cup in 2019). However, the last real connection to FCC is forward Russell Cicerone, also from that 2019 Saint Louis FC squad. Cicerone enjoyed his best season in the USL Championship last year (16 goals and 8 assists in 32 matches).

Historically, Pittsburgh has yet to travel deep into the Open Cup. Pittsburgh’s deepest foray came in 2001 when the Riverhounds managed to upset Colorado 2-0 in the second round. Pittsburgh made it to the quarterfinals, only to bow out against Chicago 3-2. Since 2001, the Riverhounds have not made it past the fourth round of the Open Cup and have not beaten an MLS team. However, Pittsburgh did manage to win their opening match in the 2022 Open Cup, a 2-0 win over Maryland Bobcats FC.

As much as the bad blood between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh is felt more in baseball and football, the rivalry in soccer has been more one-sided. Lilley often had FCC’s number at Rochester, going undefeated in four matches (3-1-0). However, even Lilley has not been able to alter Pittsburgh’s luck against Cincinnati. Between 2016 and 2019, FC Cincinnati and Pittsburgh have played nine times. However, FCC has yet to lose to the Riverhounds (5-4-0).

FC Cincinnati and Pittsburgh have faced each other only once in the Open Cup. Back in 2018, the Orange and Blue marched into Highmark Stadium capitalized on goals by Jimmy McLaughlin, Lance Laing, and Daniel Haber to take a 3-1 victory home.

Due to the congested league schedules, the starting lineups could be a bit shaken compared to past listings. A victory would likely match up FC Cincinnati with either the winner of Detroit City vs. Columbus or Lou City vs. St. Louis City SC 2.

US Open Cup – 3rd Round

7:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 19th, 2022, TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

Expected Starting XI lineups:

FC Cincinnati (5-3-2): Alec Kann; Zico Bailey, Nick Hagglund, Ian Murphy, Tyler Blackett, John Nelson; Yuya Kubo, Junior Moreno, Alvaro Barreal; Brandon Vazquez, Brenner.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (3-4-2-1): Kevin Silva; Shane Weidt, Arturo Ordonez, Jelani Peters; Luke Biasi, Daniel Griffin, Marc Ybarra, Wyatt Borso; Russell Cicerone, Kenardo Forbes; Albert Dikwa.

Out-of-Market Video Stream: ESPN+
(As noted by FCC’s own Tommy Gerhalter on Twitter, ESPN+ appears to be the only outlet for viewing the U.S. Open Cup match.)

The post The U.S. Open Cup returns to Cincinnati, reigniting the rivalry with Pittsburgh appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

There’s nothing like that awesome feeling of knocking an opponent out of the U.S. Open Cup. The high experienced in 2017 from David slaying Goliath still hasn’t worn off, even though FC Cincinnati now walks amongst the MLS titans.

It’s been three full years since the USOC last kicked into gear, and while that year featured a satisfying win over a non-league rival—a 2-1 extra-time win over Lou City—it still ended in disappointment from a last-second heartbreaker. Time heals all wounds, and the Orange and Blue have had plenty of it—the USOC had been on hiatus for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Nevertheless, with the USL still brimming from three tiers of competitive soccer, the NISA and NPSL keeping their undercurrents active, and even MLS Next Pro providing two independent teams, this year’s USOC is bigger than ever. 103 teams will participate in this year’s tournament, and that doesn’t include the 80 local qualifiers who have already been eliminated in qualifying rounds.

Who are we expecting FC Cincinnati to encounter when the Orange and Blue enter in the third round? We have a few good ideas, so let’s suggest some games of interest in the first and second rounds…

(Most of the matches can be followed on ESPN+ or the U.S. Soccer YouTube channel.)

First-round (and potential second-round) matchups of interest

Des Moines Menace (USL-2) vs. Minneapolis City SC (NPSL)
Wednesday, March 23rd, 8:00 PM

[Winner to face Union Omaha (USL-1) on Tuesday, April 5th]

While FC Cincinnati has not faced any of these representatives from the lower levels, all have been strong presences in their own leagues.

The first-round matchup pits regional rivals who suddenly find themselves in the same USL League Two (USL-2) division. Des Moines has certainly been a “Menace” in the USL’s lower tiers since their founding in 1994. The Menace have been a model of consistency in the USL PDL and USL-2, winning their division six times in the last eight years. They claimed the USL-2 Championship in 2021 and are preparing for their USL Championship (USL-C) debut in 2024. Their best finish in the U.S. Open Cup was way back in 2005 when the team edged Pittsburgh, Charleston, and the old Atlanta Silverbacks before getting mauled by Kansas City in the fourth round.

Not to be outdone, Minneapolis City SC has their own brand of notoriety. If Des Moines is considered the “cream” of lower-league American soccer, Minneapolis City—“The Crows” to the locals—could serve as the “culture”. The squad has won their NPSL division each season since 2018, but was not able to advance further than their regional final. While their primary colors are black and white, their logo and brand were launched by Matthew Wolff, who also was responsible for the likes of LAFC and NYCFC.

While MCSC do not exactly have success in the USOC, their one legitimate appearance was in 2017, when they were disqualified before the tournament began. The Crows changed leagues in the 2016-17 offseason, a no-no to U.S. Soccer back then. However, MCSC declared their newest transition to USL-2 in September 2021, circumventing the issue this time. That means that Des Moines and Minneapolis will face each other in the first round, even though they are in the same USL-2 division this season.

Union Omaha await the winner of this matchup and are no pushover themselves. While “The Owls” have never played in the USOC due to COVID cancellations, Omaha has been a force in USL League One (USL-1). The team made it to the USL-1 Cup final in 2020, only for the league to cancel the championship. However, Omaha returned to the final in 2021 and went a step further to defeat Greenville Triumph 3-0 for their first title.

Cleveland SC (NPSL) vs. Chicago FC United (USL-2)
Tuesday, March 22nd, 7:15 PM

[Winner to face Forward Madison FC (USL-1) on Wednesday, April 6th]

A potential matchup with the winner of the first-round match between Cleveland and Chicago is obviously the more visible of the possibilities due to proximity, but neither team has actually faced the Orange and Blue.

Before you point out that FC Cincinnati defeated a Cleveland NPSL team on the way to the 2017 USOC semifinals, that team was AFC Cleveland. That NPSL team from Cleveland won the 2016 NPSL championship and pushed that legendary FCC squad to extra time before Djiby scored late to preserve a 1-0 win. This team from Cleveland rose from the ashes of the defunct AFC Cleveland squad after the 2017 season and has managed to perform just as well, going to the NPSL national semifinals two straight seasons.

Chicago FC United is more of an undercurrent in the USL PDL and USL-2 ranks, managing to penetrate the playoffs the past three seasons. The organization filled the void left by the departing Chicago Fire academy in 2017, serving as a main pathway to professional soccer in Chicago the same way that Kings Hammer operates for Cinicinnati. Their only USOC appearance was a 2017 mini-run where the team upset Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, only to fall to Christos FC in the third round.

The winner of this matchup will have to run through Forward Madison, one of the more colorful representatives of USL-1. The “Flamingos” are still trying for another run after narrowly making the 2019 USL-1 postseason and flaming out in the third round of the 2019 USOC against St. Louis FC. Surprisingly, Madison has a former midfielder of that fabled 2017 FC Cincinnati squad—Mélé Temguia just signed this month after three seasons with Alan Koch’s FC Edmonton.

Ocean City Nor’easters (USL-2) vs. Lansdowne Yonkers FC (EPSL)
Wednesday, March 23rd, 7:00 PM

 [Winner to face Rochester New York FC (MLS Next Pro) on Thursday, April 7th]

With the relaunch of the U.S. Open Cup comes the ghosts of its past.

Starting in 1913, much of the early USOC tournaments were held in the northeastern U.S. states. Teams from New York won many of those early tournaments (26 of the 106 championships to date), but a team from New York has not won the championship since 1999. (More on that to come.)

Ocean City is not the pretty name when it comes to recognition as a lower-tier team, but they have surprisingly made a lot of waves in the USOC. The Nor’easters have been a steadfast presence in the lower USL leagues and have participated in ten USOC tournaments since their opener in 1997. Their biggest year came in 2013 when they upset Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the second round and almost beat Philadelphia Union, losing 2-1 at the death.

While it is a long shot for a local qualifier, Lansdowne Yonkers FC have already some gold going into this tournament. The “Bhoys” from the Eastern Premier Soccer League won the 2021 National Amateur Cup to get an automatic bid this year. They may not go far, but Lansdowne did stir up press when they marched into the second round in 2016 and beat Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (a common theme, apparently) 2-0. The team Lansdowne lost to in the next round would be the team they could be facing if they were to win over Ocean City.

Sorta.

See, it’s been a while since we’ve spoken about the rhinoceros in the room. Rochester New York FC is actually the refurbished shell of the Rochester Rhinos, that once proud monolith of the USL. When people talk about the lower-tier teams that could upset and dethrone MLS talent, Rochester did it best. After getting by regional teams in the lower rounds, Rochester marched past Chicago, Dallas, Columbus, and Colorado to claim the 1999 U.S. Open Cup. No team outside of the MLS has won the tournament since that fateful day.

While Rochester would dominate the USL in the mid-2010s, claiming the 2015 regular-season and playoff USL crowns with a strangling defense, the team had a history of poor financial situations. After going on hiatus in 2017, the team was finally restructured under new ownership (including Leicester forward Jamie Vardy) and prepared for MLS Next Pro competition this season. Rochester New York FC will be the only independent non-MLS team to participate in the developmental league.

Second-round matchups of interest

Detroit City FC (USL-C) vs. Michigan Stars FC (NISA)
Tuesday, April 5th, 7:30 PM

Remember when Detroit City FC gave FC Cincinnati a serious challenge in the second round of the 2018 U.S. Open Cup? That 4-1 win at Gettler Stadium that took 120 minutes instead of the regulation 90?

While Detroit City took the first lead against FC Cincinnati in 2018, the Orange and Blue rode a hat trick from Emery Welshman to defeat Le Rouge in added extra time. There’s no doubt that DCFC and their vociferous fans remember that sting.

However, this is hardly the same Detroit City team from 2018. After winning half-season titles in NISA in 2020 and 2021, Detroit City, once the darlings of the NPSL, have made the step to USL Championship (USL-C) soccer. This means that the team is built for more matches, fuller March-to-October competition, and higher bounty.

So far, Detroit City’s new challenge in 2022 resulted in mixed reviews with an opening loss at San Antonio. However, a familiar name is captaining Le Rouge, as ex-FCC midfielder Antoine Hoppenot opened his account with Detroit City, scoring the game winner in a 1-0 home victory against Charleston.

Detroit City is likely tired of having to face teams from Michigan, having previously bested the Michigan (not Flint City) Bucks in 2016 and 2018. While this is the Michigan Stars’ first foray into the U.S. Open Cup, they are no stranger to Detroit, having played them in the NISA the past two years, handing Le Rouge a rare defeat in 2020. A win by either team could legitimately pit them against their first MLS-caliber competition in the tournament.

The big question—would Gettler Stadium be too small for a possible rematch?

Louisville City FC (USL-C) vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL-1)
Wednesday, April 6th, 7:30 PM

The pandemic has kept families and friends apart from each other for far too long. Perhaps a reunion is in order, even with the cousins that nobody wants to talk about.

Some would suggest that the less spoken about Louisville City’s successes in the USL-C would be for the better. During FC Cincinnati’s six years in existence, the Boys in Purple downstream have always seemed to have the last laugh. Two USL Cup titles on the resume would do that. The last laugh has been with Louisville City, who took a 3-0 preseason victory in 2021, one that was notoriously ignored by FCC and glorified by Lou City.

Lou City has enjoyed at least one win in the USOC since their debut in 2015, with their best finish happening in 2018. The eventual USL Cup winners managed four straight home wins, including a 3-2 shocker against New England Revolution, before bowing out against Chicago Fire in the quarterfinals. They have yet to defeat FC Cincinnati in their U.S. Cup matchups, losing both matchups at Nippert Stadium in 2017 and 2019.

While Lou City has been known to collect former FC Cincinnati players (quick—name all nine!), the only familiar names to FCC fans in this 2022 squad are midfielders Tyler Gibson and Corben Bone. Both have been instrumental in Lou City’s two home wins to start the season. A good portion from the 2017 and 2018 championship teams is still within the roster, including forward Cameron Lancaster and (infamous “bite-victim”) midfielder Niall McCabe.

While Chattanooga doesn’t necessarily share that same overlap and rivalry with FCC, the Red Wolves have gotten progressively better in the USL-1 trenches. Their third-place finish and semifinal appearance in 2021 were both team-high achievements. Their lone appearance in the USOC was a 2019 loss to South Georgia Tormenta’s reserve team in the second round.

A good deal of that successful 2021 team decided to stick around, including the team’s leading goal scorer, forward Juan Galindrez (10 goals in 27 games). The only name people might recognize is midfielder Rey Ortiz, the second of 2020 FC Cincinnati’s draft picks who was released at the end of the season. He signed in midseason in 2021, scoring a goal and two assists in 16 games.

It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for Chattanooga to pull an upset against the royalty of the USL-C. However, if Lou City completes its first order of business, as it usually has every Open Cup, the waters of the dormant “Dirty River” may flow once again this year.

Indy Eleven (USL-C) vs. St. Louis City SC 2 (MLS Next Pro)
Tuesday, April 5th, 7:30 PM

Not to put a blemish on either team’s name or history, but consider this matchup to be the perfect overlap of FC Cincinnati’s past, present, and future. The Orange & Blue started their first USOC quest with a 2-1 win against Indy Eleven’s NPSL academy team in 2016. However, FCC’s last Open Cup match was a 1-0 defeat at Saint Louis FC in 2019.

While FC Cincinnati fans may gravitate to Indy Eleven as the lesser of the local USL evils, Indy is hardly the team they were when FCC left in 2019. The squad has gone through managerial changes and moved back to the smaller Michael Carroll Stadium they first inhabited in 2014. Indy has failed to make the playoffs since 2019 and has not beaten an MLS team in the USOC yet.

Famed FCC alumni such as Kenney Walker, Manu Ledesma, and Evan Newton no longer play for the squad, but there are still some faint connections to FCC. Goalkeeper Bobby Edwards retired in the offseason, but stayed on as an assistant goalkeeper coach, while ex-FCC forward Jonas Fjeldberg signed with the team in February. So far, the Eleven have lost their first two matches to start the USL-C season.

While St. Louis City SC will join MLS in 2023, their “2” team has already started operations in the upcoming MLS Next Pro league. Interestingly enough, the only overlap with FCC’s past is their head coach—former Louisville City head coach John Hackworth is the director of coaching for the future MLS team and will helm the “2” squad for half the 2022 season.

St. Louis has announced a decent “2” team, already claiming ex-Philadelphia defender Josh Yaro for the 2023 MLS season. If STLSC2 can get by Indy, Yaro might lead his team into battle against Pat Noonan, his former assistant coach.

Any way you slice it, a match against either team would be a good opportunity to reignite rivalries in the Midwest.

What team would you like to see FC Cincinnati face in this year’s tournament? How far can the Orange and Blue advance?

The post The U.S. Open Cup is back! Six early-round matchups you should be watching appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Things are different yet similar between the two clubs. While FC Cincinnati made the jump to Major League Soccer, they are currently sitting at the bottom of the league. St Louis has seen their fair share of struggles during this season as well. While not as bad as FCC, St Louis is currently in ninth place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference. St Louis FC made the USL playoffs for the first time in their four years as a club last season.

Friendly Faces in Green Kits

For St Louis, this meeting is special for a few players. In this matchup, former FCC players get a shot at their old club. Matt Bahner, Russell Cicerone and Kadeem Dacres all played solid roles in the short history of FC Cincinnati. Cincy will need to be wary of the extra motivation those players have to knock their former club out of the competition. Look for that incentive to add more spirit than the usual matchday.

St Louis is coming off a big home victory over the Chicago Fire in the previous round and looks to make FC Cincinnati their next victim. Saint Louis wants to parallel and better the run that FC Cincinnati made in this competition just two years ago. Not just for the fans and the city. A USL Open Cup run, as Cincy fans know, thrusts the club into a national spotlight. Cincinnati’s last cup run earned them a spot on ESPN and brought a couple of MLS expansion committee members to Nippert. A victory over FCC will book them a spot in the quarterfinals against the winner of Atlanta/Columbus.

With the Gold Cup in full swing, FC Cincinnati will once again be without four of their key players. Without Kendall Waston, Allan Cruz, Darren Mattocks, and Alvas Powell, FC Cincinnati are going to once again be shorthanded. It is going to be crucial for guys like Frankie Amaya, Emmanuel Ledesma, and Kekuta Manneh to step up and carry the load during the absence of these key figures. Mathieu Deplagne has been one of the best players this season and will certainly be leaned on to lead the Orange and Blue to victory.

3 Keys to the Match

1. FC Cincinnati will be playing another ULS side and has the financial edge. FC Cincy needs to use their talent to take the game to St Louis and establish the match early. Fanendo Adi scored his first goal of the season in the last match and will be the top attacking option once again. The size, strength, and talent of the Designated Player will need to shine through for FC Cincinnati.
2. Survive, the match will be played on the road against a lower division side. Road games are never easy and FC Cincinnati will need to weather the storm for a full 90 and get out of there with a solid victory. Use the Louisville match as a lesson. It doesn’t matter what league players play in, they are still battling for a win.
3. Build off momentum from the last victory. This is the case for both sides. FC Cincinnati is coming off a victory over their rival, while St Louis is coming off a big win over an MLS side. Both sides will look to use that momentum as they head into this match. The club that uses that momentum in their favor will most likely be the one to move on.

Things have been really tough so far for FC Cincinnati but another solid run in the US Open Cup could be just what this club ordered. As always, stay tuned to Cincinnati Soccer Talk as we provide all news and reaction for anything involving the Orange and Blue.

@iamchrisasbrock for @CincySoccerTalk

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It took extra time, which should come as little surprise to anyone who has watched the “Dirty River Derby” in recent years, but in the 104st minute, Emmanuel Ledesma did well to win the ball in the air then got clear with a superb touch.

Ledesma said he wanted Fanendo Adi but he was trailing, so he picked out Kekuta Manneh at the far post who headed his cross into the net giving FCC an eventual 2-1 win in rainy Nippert Stadium.

“It was a good run by Kekuta,” FCC head coach Yoann Damet said. “It took a lot of patience for Manu to wait and put a good ball on the second post.”

Following his goal, Manneh somehow avoided a yellow card after he flung off his jersey in celebration as blue and orange smoke enveloped the Louisville goal below The Bailey.

The more than 200 LCFC fans who appropriately were seated adjacent to the MLS banner in the upper deck had a disappointing trek back down I-71.

“Last year, on social media, they talked too much,” said Ledesma of LCFC fans. “Now it’s time to go back home.”

It was a significant victory for FCC, not only because it was over a hated area rival and moved them into the round of 16 in the Open Cup, with the fifth-round draw coming on Thursday.

Damet also hopes the victory mark a turning point for his club which has lost four straight matches and currently resides in last place in the Eastern Conference.

“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs in the past weeks,” Damet said. “It wasn’t pretty, but we showed a lot of character.”

It was evenly-played first half by every measure but not exactly crisp. Both clubs were clumsy in their own end with errors leading to both goals.

Adi’s first goal since last September came in the 23rd minute when he scooped up a giveaway from City’s Paco Craig on the edge of the box and pounded it home for a 1-0 lead.

“I was happy tonight he was able to score,” Damet said. “I know what it’s like for a center forward, you want to score goals.”

Louisville equalized seven minutes later, however, when Lucky Mkosana slipped a shot past Przemyslaw Tyton to make it 1-1.

FCC just missed a second goal in the first minute of the second half when a free kick by Ledesma from about 30 yards out was headed off the post by Forrest Lasso.

Mathieu Deplagne nearly scored in the 70th minute again off a Ledesma set piece, this time a corner, but Niall McCabe deflected his header off the line.

It was the fifth time FCC went to extra time in U.S. Open Cup play. During the magical run in 2017, wins over Cleveland SC, Detroit City, and the Fire all went to extra time before another extra-time match was dropped to Red Bulls.

In their final season in the USL, FCC lost at Minnesota United on penalty kicks in the fourth round. Wednesday’s match would end more happily.

Making extra time that more challenging was that FCC didn’t have a full allotment of players on Wednesday with only 16 available.

Five players are preparing for the Gold Cup with their respective national teams with Alvas Powell and Darren Mattocks with Jamaica, Kendall Waston and Allan Cruz with Costa Rica, and Emery Welshman with Guyana.

It was confirmed by a club spokesman that Kenny Saief’s contract is in the process of being terminated. Saief currently is in Israel but he will be returning to his Belgium club Anderlecht to rehab his hamstring.

Damet had only five options on the bench including keeper Spencer Richey. Tommy McCabe was cup-tied. Greg Garza (calf) and Roland Lamah (hamstring) are out injured.

“It was tough,” Damet said. “We were 16 on the game sheet. It wasn’t pretty but we showed a lot of character.”

The “Dirty River Derby” was a heated affair when both clubs competed in the USL. FCC and LCFC were deadlocked 4-4-2 in the series coming into Wednesday’s match. FCC won the only prior U.S. Open Cup meeting 1-0 in the third round in 2017.

The Blue and Orange last played an MLS match on June 6, a 5-2 loss at New York FC, and doesn’t play its next league match until June 22 when it hosts LA Galaxy. But, a much-needed break will have to wait as FCC eyes its next U.S. Open Cup match next Wednesday.

“Everyone played with passion tonight,” Tyton said. “We wanted to win for the fans, so they still believe in us. Winning is confidence.”

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