FCC 2 Archives - Cincinnati Soccer Talk https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/category/fcc-2/ Covering FC Cincinnati and soccer in the Queen City. Sat, 29 Mar 2025 21:31:18 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 156148459 Preview: FC Cincinnati 2 looks to get their first win of the season against the Chicago Fire II https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2025/03/29/preview-fc-cincinnati-2-looks-to-get-their-first-win-of-the-season-against-the-chicago-fire-ii/ Sat, 29 Mar 2025 21:31:18 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=45720 FC Cincinnati 2 (0-2-0) will face Chicago Fire FC II (1-1-0 ) at NKU Soccer Stadium this Sunday, looking to secure their first win of the season. Chicago Fire FC II got their first win of the season against Toronto FC II on March 13. Then they signed 15-year-old midfielder Brody Williams on March 20th. […]

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FC Cincinnati 2 (0-2-0) will face Chicago Fire FC II (1-1-0 ) at NKU Soccer Stadium this Sunday, looking to secure their first win of the season.

Chicago Fire FC II got their first win of the season against Toronto FC II on March 13. Then they signed 15-year-old midfielder Brody Williams on March 20th. The Fire II may have more of an edge, but FCC 2 is ambitious for a win.

FCC 2 has been down on its luck lately. They haven’t found their rhythm, and don’t even have a goal this season. But this could be the spark FCC 2 needs to fight the Chicago Fire FC II. FCC 2 is hungry and a win on Sunday could satiate that hunger.

Series History

The past three meetings between these teams have held FCC 2 to a 1-3-4 record, with FCC 2 winning two games in penalty kicks. The most notable performance in these past three matchups is a stellar 5-0 victory at home, where FCC 2 dominated in almost every matchday stat, including red cards, with midfielder Amir Daley receiving the only red card given in the 83rd minute.

With this recent history, FCC 2 may be feeling confident, but it’s a matter of winning in regulation. The home-field advantage may make this a bit easier for the Orange and Blue.

Players to watch

Chicago Fire FC II

Trip Fleming (Midfielder):

Leading The Fire II with two goals and 180 minutes in two games, Fleming, who signed with the club in February of this year, is already making a name for himself. Fleming scored his first goal of his MLS Next Pro career in the team’s shutout against Toronto FC II in the 81st minute. Fleming also scored the lone goal in the season-opening loss against Huntsville City FC.

FC Cincinnati 2

Paul Walters (Goalkeeper):

Walters may only have one job, some may say, but saving four out of five shots on goal is an impressive stat for a team that’s yet to score a goal this season. FCC 2 is going to have to step it up on offense, or it will be a long season for the goalkeeper.

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March Madness: FC Cincinnati 2 falls to NY Pancyprian in PK’s https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2025/03/21/march-madness-fc-cincinnati-2-falls-to-ny-pancyprian-in-pks/ Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:08:06 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=45644 Similair to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, more commonly dubbed “March Madness”, the beauty of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup lies in it’s underdog stories. In fixtures that would not commonly be played, we get to see the best of football in America. From top-flight MLS sides, to Amateur sides from small neighborhoods in […]

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Similair to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, more commonly dubbed “March Madness”, the beauty of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup lies in it’s underdog stories. In fixtures that would not commonly be played, we get to see the best of football in America. From top-flight MLS sides, to Amateur sides from small neighborhoods in New York City, the U.S. Open Cup never fails to deliver.

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 begins its USOC campaign against a three-time winner https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2025/03/20/fc-cincinnati-2-begins-its-usoc-campaign-against-a-three-time-winner/ Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:52:55 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=45623 HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY—The glory of the Open Cup is returning—at least, it is for FC Cincinnati’s reserve team. A total of 16 MLS clubs qualified for the tournament, and unfortunately, the first team didn’t make the cut. But excitement is still there for the sickos. FC Cincinnati 2 will begin their campaign in the 2025 […]

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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY—The glory of the Open Cup is returning—at least, it is for FC Cincinnati’s reserve team. A total of 16 MLS clubs qualified for the tournament, and unfortunately, the first team didn’t make the cut. But excitement is still there for the sickos.

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

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FCC 2 fail to score for a second consecutive match following 2-0 loss to Revolution 2 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2025/03/15/fcc-2-fail-to-score-for-a-second-consecutive-match-following-2-0-loss-to-revolution-2/ Sun, 16 Mar 2025 03:34:56 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=45586 Match Summary Following their narrow 1-0 defeat to Toronto FC 2, FC Cincinnati 2 looked to bounce back against New England Revolution 2. Despite an improved defensive structure and a strong first-half performance, FCC 2 ultimately fell 2-0 after conceding two quick goals in the second half. The match remained level for over an hour, […]

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Match Summary

Following their narrow 1-0 defeat to Toronto FC 2, FC Cincinnati 2 looked to bounce back against New England Revolution 2. Despite an improved defensive structure and a strong first-half performance, FCC 2 ultimately fell 2-0 after conceding two quick goals in the second half.

The match remained level for over an hour, with both sides struggling to find a breakthrough. FCC 2 created some promising chances, but New England’s goalkeeper, JD Gunn, made several key saves to deny them. The deadlock was finally broken in the 69th minute when Hutchinson finished off a well-worked move, placing the ball out of reach of Nathan Crockford. Just three minutes later, Marcos Dias doubled New England’s lead, sealing the win for the home side.

Despite the result, there were positive takeaways for FCC 2. Their pressing looked more structured than in the previous match, and several players put in strong individual performances. However, the lack of cutting edge in the final third remains an area of concern for Tyrone Marshall’s side as they seek to find their first win of the season.

Notable Events

1’ – Kickoff.

25’ – Dangerous free kick for New England just outside the box. Nathan Crockford makes a great diving save to push it away from goal.

29’ – Kenji Mboma Dem takes an outside-footed shot from a tight angle, forcing a save from JD Gunn. Yorkaeff Caicedo tries to collect the rebound but is beaten by a defender.

35’ – Carson Locker, an FCC 2 debutant, makes a fantastic block inside the box to deny a close-range shot.

37’ – Nick Hagglund intercepts a dangerous cross, preventing a clear-cut chance for New England.

38’ – FCC 2 counter attacks immediately after Hagglund’s interception. Stefan Chirila delivers a pinpoint cross to Mboma Dem, whose header is saved by Gunn and put out for a corner.

42’ – Crockford reacts quickly to save a half-volley from Marcos Dias outside the box.

66’ – One-on-one chance for New England, but Crockford makes a crucial stop to keep the score level.

68’ – Caicedo attempts a long-range shot on a counterattack, but it drifts wide of the goal.

69’ – Mboma Dem takes a shot inside the box, but Gunn makes a diving save to deny him. Ademar Chavez nearly gets on the rebound, but New England clears.

72’ – Hutchinson receives a pass out wide, cuts inside, and scores past Crockford to make it 1-0 for New England.

75’ – Marcos Dias capitalizes on FCC 2’s unsettled defense, slotting home the second goal. 2-0 New England.

79’ – Stefan Chirila takes a free kick that beats the goalkeeper but rattles off the woodwork.

85’ – Chirila takes another free kick from 40 yards, forcing Gunn to tip it over the bar. FCC 2’s subsequent corner leads to nothing.

87’ – Mboma Dem tracks back and makes a perfectly timed tackle inside the defensive box on goal-scorer Hutchinson.

94’ – In frustration, Mboma Dem commits a late foul and receives a yellow card.

Player Standouts and Notes

Carson Locker – A tireless performer who gave everything for the team. His confidence and aggression in midfield were evident, and he played a key role in FCC 2’s buildup play.

Nathan Crockford – Showed impressive composure on the ball and distributed effectively with several line-breaking passes. He was fearless coming off his line and made multiple key saves to keep FCC 2 in the match.

Stefan Chirila – Once again demonstrated his technical ability and vision. He dropped deep to link play and created FCC 2’s most dangerous chances, including a free kick that hit the woodwork.

Brian Schaefer – Physically dominant at the back, he challenged opponents aggressively and won key duels. His presence was a bright spot in FCC 2’s defensive efforts.

Takeaways

FCC 2’s press looked more structured and organized compared to their opening match, which is a promising sign going forward. However, their struggles in the final third persisted, as they were unable to convert their chances into goals.

The match was highly competitive, especially in the first 20 minutes, as neither side could break the other down. It was an evenly matched contest for much of the game, but FCC 2 ultimately lacked the sharpness in attack needed to capitalize on their opportunities.

With two losses to start the season, FCC 2 will need to regroup and find ways to turn their strong defensive displays into positive results in the upcoming fixtures.

LINEUPS
NE: John David Gunn, Damario McIntosh (Joseph Buck 72’), Victor Souza (C), Keegan Hughes, Hesron Barry (Gabriel Dahlin 46’), Alex Monis, Eric Klein, Allan Oyirwoth (Cristiano Oliveira 63’), Gevork Diarbian (Olger Escobar 72’), Liam Butts (Damorney Hutchinson 63’), Marcos Dias

Substitutes not used: Maxwell Weinstein, Javaun Mussenden

Head Coach: Richie Williams

CIN: Nathan Crockford, Nick Hagglund (Noah Adnan 61’), Brian Schaefer, Andrei Chirila, Yorkaeff Caicedo (Will Kuisel 72’), Carson Locker (Xhosa Manyana 77’), Peter Mangione (C), Dilan Hurtado (Ademar Chavez 61’), Monsuru Opeyemi, Kenji Mboma Dem, Stefan Chirila

Substitutes not used: Slade Hall, Juan Machado, Connor Stout

Head Coach: Tyrone Marshall

STATS SUMMARY: NE/CIN
Shots: 10 / 7
Shots on Goal: 5 / 4
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 3 / 3
Fouls: 13 / 13
Offside: 0 / 1

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
NE: Hesron Barry (Yellow Card) 30’
CIN: Dilan Hurtado (Yellow Card) 36’
CIN: Kenji Mboma Dem (Yellow Card) 90’+4

OFFICIALS 
Referee: Rogelio Alvarez
Ast. Referees: Tom Felice, Eric Schreiber
Fourth Official: Kyle Averill

Next up

FCC 2’s next match is in the U.S. open cup and will be against the New York Pancyprian-Freedoms at Northern Kentucky University Stadium at 7:30 PM on March 20.

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FC Cincinnati 2 fall 1-0 in season opener to Toronto FC 2 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2025/03/10/fcc-2-fall-1-0-in-season-opener-to-toronto-fc-2/ Mon, 10 Mar 2025 04:07:41 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=45496 Match summary Just a day after the 2-0 senior team victory against Toronto FC, FC Cincinnati 2 faced off against Toronto FC 2 in the MLS Next Pro season opener for both sides. A lack of quality chances for FCC 2 saw Toronto FC 2 come away with a close 1-0 win away from home, […]

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Match summary

Just a day after the 2-0 senior team victory against Toronto FC, FC Cincinnati 2 faced off against Toronto FC 2 in the MLS Next Pro season opener for both sides.

A lack of quality chances for FCC 2 saw Toronto FC 2 come away with a close 1-0 win away from home, thanks to a well worked team goal that put Nathaniel Edwards into a position to tap in the only goal of the match. This FCC 2 side was only shut out on 4 occasions last season, but one of them was against Toronto 2, so there will be questions to be asked by Tyrone Marshall. 

Nonetheless, while this is an unfortunate, uncharacteristic result for this FCC 2 side, there were positive signs throughout the match. With a number of debutants tonight, it’s understandable to see problems with cohesiveness and communication. The talent is there in this squad and you can expect to see this side do well in the league this year. They will be looking to improve in the coming games in order to properly defend their first placed eastern conference MLS Next Pro finish from the previous campaign.

“We just need to be a little bit more aggressive, and get more in tune,” Tyrone Marshall said. “As you can see, we’re still not connecting yet in the final third and that’s just, again, a lack of playing together and a lack of training together, and you’re gonna see that throughout the league as we start the season just to get that cohesiveness.”

 

Notable events

 

10’ The first big chance of the match comes for Toronto FC 2 as Brian Schaefer gives away an unlucky foul in a really dangerous position right outside the Cincinnati box. Paul Walters made a fantastic double save to keep it 0-0. 

30’ Despite dominating possession during the opening 25 minutes of the first half, FCC 2 concedes first. A well-constructed array of passes opened up a through ball opportunity for Hassan Ayari of Toronto FC 2, who squared a ball across the face of goal for Nathaniel Edwards to fire home. 0-1 Toronto. 

39’ While ultimately the play was deemed offsides, Paul Walters makes another fantastic save to keep the game alive, this time in a 1v1 against Toronto FC 2 striker Charlie sharp. 

47’ Kenji Mboma Dem takes a long-ranged effort as a last-ditch attempt before half time is called. The shot is well placed considering the distance, but it’s comfortably saved by Toronto FC 2 keeper Adisa De Rosario.

56’ De Rosario plays a risky pass that is intercepted by Peter Mangione, who feeds Stiven Jimenez for a shot on goal. It beats De Rosario but is impressively cleared off the line by Reid Fisher. Despite gaining possession off the clearance, the attack comes to nothing, but momentum seems to swing in favor of FCC 2. 

60’ Two substitutes are made for FCC 2; Dado Valenzuela for former Portland Timbers man Tega Ikoba, as well as fullback William Kuisel, on for Yorkaeff Caicedo. All of whom, with the exception of Dado Valenzuela, making their FCC 2 debuts. 

73’ After an impressive display of technical dribbling by Valenzuela, the ball finds Kuisel. Kuisel fires a cross into the mixer, where it finds Mboma Dem, who sets up Brian Schaefer. His ranged effort skims over the top of the goal.

 

Player notes and standouts

 

Nick Hagglund: It’s good to see Hagglund back in action. A good display of accurate passing and leadership in that young back line are things you’d expect to see from a regular first team player. He was very aggressive in his press, at times finding himself in no man’s land, forced to thump the ball long to avoid giving the ball away in a dangerous area of the pitch.

Brian Schaefer: Showed real confidence and was the standout in defense. He had a really aggressive but meticulous press, bullied the Toronto forwards, commanded his defensive line, and did well to bring it out of defense – everything you want to see from your central defender, especially in a back five. Really consistent performer for Tyrone Marshall’s FCC 2. 

Stefan Chirila: Despite going goalless tonight, he showed really positive signs, doing really well to drop from his striker position in between the lines to link play. He displayed a real maturity for his age, being one of the youngest players on the field during the matchup. 

Mangione and Jimenez: Both showed good composure under pressure and did well to link play by finding players in space. They had good movement, leading the heart of the midfield’s press.

Yorkaeff Caicedo: Very lively display on his FCC 2 debut. He had lots of energy, runs into space, does well to shoot and cross the correct situations – everything you want to see from an attacking wingback.

Paul Walters: Should the first team need, they have amazing goalkeeping depth in Paul Walters. He had a great game, despite the loss. He commanded his back line, made some acrobatic saves, and distributed really well. Positive signs early on for Walters as he remains No. 1 for FCC 2.

William Kuisel: 17-year-old William Kuisel showed impressive technical skills and a high level of tactical awareness. In his limited time on the pitch, he completed some well-placed crosses and did well to recover when Toronto FC 2 counter attacked. 

Lastly, Gerardo “Dado” Valenzuela was the creative outlet the team had been missing all game. As soon as he came on, momentum heavily shifted in the direction of FCC 2. He looked really sharp, doing an impressive job of progressing the ball and winning 1v1 duels. It’s unfortunate he wasn’t able to get more time, likely down to his fitness and involvement with the first team. As soon as he came on, we looked unpredictable and silky in attack, and Toronto FC 2 was forced to sit back and defend deep, which made it extremely difficult for him and the rest of our attack to break down and find space in Toronto FC 2’s defensive third.

LINEUPS

CIN: Paul Walters, Nick Hagglund (Noah Adnan 46’), Brian Schaefer, Andrei Chirila, Monsuru Opeyemi (Dilan Hurtado 71’), Peter Mangione (C), Stiven Jimenez (Ademar Chavez 79’), Yorkaeff Caicedo (Will Kuisel 60’), Kenji Mboma Dem, Stefan Chirila, Tega Ikoba (Gerardo Valenzuela 61’)

Substitutes not used: Nathan Crockford, Xhosa Manyana, Juan Machado, Carson Locker

Head Coach: Tyrone Marshall

TOR: Adisa De Rosario, Reid Fisher, Lazar Stefanovic, Richard Chukwu (Ythallo 73’), Kobe Franklin (C), Nathaniel Edwards (Malik Henry 89’), Lucas Olguin, Michael Sullivan, Hassan Ayari (Andrei Dumitru 81’), Charles Sharp, Dekwon Barrow (Josh Nugent 73’)

Substitutes not used: Nathaniel Abraham, Antone Bossenberry, Micah Chisholm, Marko Stojadinovic, Stefan Kapor

Head Coach: Gianni Cimini

STATS SUMMARY: CIN/TOR

Shots: 9 / 10

Shots on Goal: 2 / 5

Saves: 4 / 2

Corner Kicks: 1 / 2

Fouls: 16 / 8

Offside: 1 / 1

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

TOR – Lazar Stefanovic (Yellow Card) 17’

TOR – Dekwon Barrow (Yellow Card) 40′

OFFICIALS 

Referee: Calin Radosav

Ast. Referees: John Krill, Jackson Krauser

Fourth Official: Salvador Flores

 

FCC 2 will be looking to bounce back during their next MLS Next Pro game against New England Revolution 2, who finished bottom of the eastern conference last season. This match takes place on Thursday, March 13, 5PM, at Gillette stadium. 

 

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FCC2 VS TFC2 Preview: New season, new beginnings, new prospects https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2025/03/08/fcc2-vs-tfc2-preview-new-season-new-beginnings-new-prospects/ Sat, 08 Mar 2025 15:06:44 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=45466 The first game of the MLS Next Pro season for FCC2 is taking place this Sunday, March 9, 2025, with FC Cincinnati 2 (FCC2) hosting Toronto FC 2 (TFC2). This season will be exciting for both teams as FCC2 and TFC2 have added new prospects to their roster. Although they won’t be playing Sunday night, […]

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The first game of the MLS Next Pro season for FCC2 is taking place this Sunday, March 9, 2025, with FC Cincinnati 2 (FCC2) hosting Toronto FC 2 (TFC2). This season will be exciting for both teams as FCC2 and TFC2 have added new prospects to their roster. Although they won’t be playing Sunday night, these new players will bring added international experience to their respective clubs for the upcoming season.

FC Cincinnati 2

For FCC2, the recent signing of the 18-year-old defender Yorkeaff Caicedo is an important addition to the team. Caicedo, who previously played for the Ecuadorian U-17 National Team, had 14 starts and 26 appearances for the club and helped Ecuador finish third in the 2023 standings. Caicedo has been a part of FCC2 pre-season training group and has made four appearances in the group’s pre-season matchups.

FCC2 announced the signing of Dilan Hurtado on Friday, March 7. Although Hurtado played in the team’s final preseason game against Indy Eleven, it is unclear if he will appear during Sunday’s game.

Toronto FC 2

For TFC2, two home-grown players will take the stage, and one may sound familiar to any Mid-American Conference (MAC) fans.

Malik Henry  split his collegiate career between the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and the University of Akron Zips and was originally selected 39th overall by Montreal FC in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. With only three appearances with the Tar Heels in his rookie year, Henry was able to produce two goals, 21 assists, and 71 appearances with the Zips. Also with the Zips, Henry was honored with many accolades including: Second Team All-Mid-American Conference (2021), All-Ohio (2021, 2023), First Team All-MAC (2022), Second Team All-BIG EAST (2023, 2024), Third Team All-East Region (2023) and First Team All-East Region (2024).

Micah Chisholm has experience not only from collegiate soccer, but also from playing across the pond. Chisholm made a name for himself with Hannover 96 II in Lower Saxony. With only six appearances, Chisholm helped his team lift the 2023-2024 Regionalliga Nord championship.

Both Chisholm and Henry come from Ontario, Canada—Chisholm from Markham and Henry from Hamilton.

MATCH INFO

When: Sunday, March 9 at 6 p.m.

Where: Scudamore Stadium

Watch:  MLSNextPro website.

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FCC 2 draws NY Amateur side for 1st Round of Lamar Hunt US Open Cup https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2025/02/06/fcc-2-draws-ny-amateur-side-for-1st-round-of-lamar-hunt-us-open-cup/ Thu, 06 Feb 2025 19:47:05 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=45142 While the FCC Senior Squad may not be participating in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup this year, the Orange and Blue will be represented in the historic tournament. Only 16 MLS sides will participate, in addition to 10 MLS NEXT Pro sides. FCC 2 is one of the five Eastern Conference teams hosting their […]

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While the FCC Senior Squad may not be participating in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup this year, the Orange and Blue will be represented in the historic tournament. Only 16 MLS sides will participate, in addition to 10 MLS NEXT Pro sides. FCC 2 is one of the five Eastern Conference teams hosting their First Round matchup, which is comprised of entirely Pro vs. Amateur fixtures.  Their draw is the New York Pancyprian Freedoms, and they’ll open play on 3/20 at 7:30PM at NKU Soccer Stadium in Highland Heights, KY.

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.

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FCC 2 vs NYCFC II preview: Orange and Blue look to increase winning streak to five https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2024/07/05/fcc-2-vs-nycfc-ii-preview-orange-and-blue-look-to-increase-winning-streak-to-five/ Fri, 05 Jul 2024 18:21:28 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=44192 FC Cincinnati 2 look to keep up their form in the lastest MLS Next Pro match

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FC Cincinnati 2 (10-4-1) hopes to make it three wins in three home games and to extend their winning streak to five matches on Sunday when they face off against New York City FC II (6-3-3) at Scudamore Stadium.

SERIES HISTORY

The Baby Blues lead the all-time series with a (3-0-1) record versus The Orange and Blue. The last time these two sides met FCC 2 came away with a 2-0 victory at home last season.

NYCFC II

The Young Pigeons currently sit in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 22 points, coming off a 3-1 win over Toronto FC II, NYCFC II is in great form winning their last three matches.

Sunday will be the battle of elite defenses, while FCC 2 has given up a league-low 17 goals, NYCFC II is right behind them with only 18 goals conceded in MLS NEXT Pro this season.

The offensive side for NYCFC II has been a bright spot this season, forward Taylor Calheira leads the team with 10 goal contributions, seven goals, and three assists. Mexican striker Jonathan Jimenez has tallied four goals and three assists on the year, along with fellow striker Ronald Arevalo, who leads the team with four assists and three goals.

Versatile, technical, and explosive attack, which is what NYCFC’s DNA has always been.

It’s worth noting The Young Blues have played the least amount of games in the East with 12, which may be a reason for their current place in the standings since the majority of the teams up the table have played 15-16 matches this season. There is plenty of time left in the season for NYCFC II to climb up the standings, they could make that start on Sunday with a statement win.

FC CINCINNATI 2

From setting the club points and home attendance record, It’s been all ‘sunshine and rainbows’ the last four matches for FC Cincinnati 2.

One of the bright spots has been forward Kenji Mboma Dem, who has scored back-to-back game-winning goals for FCC 2 in the last two games and has a total of six goal contributions since returning to the lineup for head coach Tyrone Marshall.

Stefan Chirila also returned from Injury against New England, having the MLS Next Pro All-Star will help bolster the FCC 2 attack even more along with the likes of Mboma Dem, Guilherme Santos, Ben Stitz, and Jesus Castellano.

Center-back Brian Schaefer has played every single second for The Orange and Blue this season, and with London Aghedo and Isiah Foster spending some time with the first team he has been more important than ever. He was arguably the Man of the Match the last two games and has been a crucial part in FCC 2 only conceding two goals in the last four games.

Last game, Marshall spoke about the team not only earning three points but also doing it with a shutout has been important for the team’s mentality and culture.

“I think it was important for the group as a whole. Because that’s one of the goal settings that we made prior to the start of this part of the season, to get better on the defensive side, have more clean sheets because we’ve been close a couple of times and penalty kicks,” Marshall said.

It’s been rinsed and repeated for FCC 2 during this stretch, and they look to get their 11th win of the season on Sunday. A win and a Philadelphia Union II draw or loss against New England would place The Orange and Blue in first place in the East.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Taylor Calheira – #99, NYCFC II

Calheira has been one of the most dangerous attackers in MLS NEXT Pro this season, while his impact on the team goes beyond the boxscore, he’ll have to find his name on the scoresheet on Sunday.

Piero Elias – #42, NYCFC II 

A box-to-box midfielder, Elias is very important in connecting passes in the midfield for The Young Pigeons. He can also create chances, as the NYC native has four assists on the year as well.

Brian Schaefer – #38, FC Cincinnati 2

Anchoring the backline, Schaefer has quickly become one of the leaders for FCC 2. His communication and ability to defend in one-on-one situations will be crucial against a very explosive NYCFC attack.

Stefan Chirila – #77, FC Cincinnati 2

Returning from injury, it’ll be intriguing to see what role Chirila plays either in the starting IX or off the bench for FCC 2. His ability to stretch opponents’ defenses has been missed, we’ll see what kind of chemistry he develops with Mboma Dem and others up front.

WHEN & WHERE TO WATCH

Kick-off for the match is set for 7 p.m. at Scudamore Stadium, you can watch on the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

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FCC2 completes sweep of Philadelphia Union II https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2024/06/07/fcc2-completes-sweep-of-philadelphia-union-ii/ Fri, 07 Jun 2024 21:35:28 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=43939 FC Cincinnati 2 traveled to Chester, Pennsylvania to take on the top of the table, Philadelphia Union II. After a 2-0 win, FCC2 was able to snap Union II’s home winning streak and complete the season sweep. The match started with Union II on the front foot, but they were unable to make much of […]

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FC Cincinnati 2 traveled to Chester, Pennsylvania to take on the top of the table, Philadelphia Union II. After a 2-0 win, FCC2 was able to snap Union II’s home winning streak and complete the season sweep.

The match started with Union II on the front foot, but they were unable to make much of their opportunities. This was the theme of the match as the typically high-scoring Union II was held scoreless for the first time all season. FCC2’s defense was able to squeeze the box and consistently win back possession. Importantly, when FCC2 won possession, they kept possession. 

“The key in stopping their attack was keeping the ball,” FCC2 manager Tyrone Marshall said. “If you don’t have the ball you can’t score. That was the aim, making sure we had the ball and that we were able to impose the type of game that we wanted to play tonight. We always knew they would have chances but limiting them to good chances is what we accomplished tonight.”

The second half is where the game took a turn. In the 63rd minute, FCC2 made two important substitutions, bringing on Moises Tablante and Kenji Mboma Dem. It didn’t take long for their impact to be felt. In the 69th minute, a long ball played to Tablante had him racing to beat his man to the end line. Once there, he played the ball back into the middle of the box where Mboma Dem shot a low left-footer to the near post. The ball beat the outstretched Andrew Rick for the match’s opening goal.

Union II tried desperately for a quick equalizer but was unable to find the necessary polish their final touches needed.

In the 88th minute, it was the super subs once again delivering for FCC2 by putting the nail in the coffin. A skillful slide tackle by Tablante found the ball deflected centrally to Ben Stitz. Stitz played it back out wide to Tablante who, once again, drove to the end line and passed the ball back into the center of the box. Mboma Dem again chose a low driving left-footed shot at the near post for the goal.

The final whistle sounded and FCC2 headed home with a huge three points. 

“We knew coming in that it would be a good challenge for us,” Marshall said. “The message to the boys was, look, let’s get out there and see where we are because this is one of the best teams in MLS NEXT Pro and the mentality was that we don’t lose two in a row. We let the game against Miami get away from us but, look, that’s in the rearview mirror.”

GOALS 

PHI – None

CIN – Kenji Mboma Dem (Tablante) 69’, Kenji Mboma Dem (Tablante) 88’

LINEUPS

PHI: Andrew Rick, Francis Westfield, Olwethu Makhanya, Neil Pierre, Jamir Berdecio (Gavin Wetzel 73’), Alex Perez (Cavan Sullivan 62’), Carlos Rojas (Nick Pariano 46’), Sanders Ngabo, Kyle Tucker (C), Leandro Soria (Edward Davis 46’), Sal Olivas

 Substitutes not used: Michael Sheridan, Ryan Zellefrow, John Andrus, Randy Meneses, Antonios Horozoglou

CIN: Paul Walters, London Aghedo, Brian Schaefer, Kipp Keller (Gaël Gibert 50’), Isaiah Foster (Moises Tablante 63’), Amir Daley, Malik Pinto (Kenji Mboma Dem 63’), Nico Benalcazar (C), Peter Mangione (Jesus Castellano 81’), Stiven Jimenez, Guilherme Santos (Ben Stitz 81’)

Substitutes not used: Hunter Morse, Alejandro Guido, Juan Machado

NEXT MATCH

MLS NEXT PRO – at Carolina Core – Saturday, June 15th at 7:30 pm – Apple TV+

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FC Cincinnati 2 routs Red Bulls II 4-1, moves up to third place in the East https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2024/05/20/fc-cincinnati-2-rout-red-bulls-ii-4-1-move-up-to-third-place-in-the-east/ Mon, 20 May 2024 13:39:49 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=43849 MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY – For the first time ever, FC Cincinnati 2 (6-1-3) took down the New York Red Bulls II (4-3-3) by a final score of 4-1 in a physical match at Montclair Soccer Park. FIRST HALF FC Cincinnati 2 came out of the gates firing and got on the board early. Jesus Castenallo […]

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MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY – For the first time ever, FC Cincinnati 2 (6-1-3) took down the New York Red Bulls II (4-3-3) by a final score of 4-1 in a physical match at Montclair Soccer Park.

FIRST HALF

FC Cincinnati 2 came out of the gates firing and got on the board early. Jesus Castenallo crossed the ball and found Ben Stitz who made a late run into the box and struck the ball with his left foot to give the Orange and Blue a 1-0 lead in just the second minute of the game.

Cincinnati also added a second later onto the first 45 minutes. Stefan Chirila earned a foul near the top of the box and bent in a perfectly placed free-kick into the back of the net to double FCC 2’s lead in the 28th minute.

Despite a 2-0 scoreline, the half was more even throughout the run of play, with NYRB II outshooting Cincinnati 7-6 in the first half. But, the Orange and Blue put four shots on target to the Red Bulls’ one. Possession was mostly even in the first, with 51-49 percent in favor of FCC 2.

A near-perfect first half came to a close, with FCC 2 up 2-0 over NYRB II.

SECOND HALF

The woes continued for the Red Bulls early in the second half. Right back Dylan Sullivan, who received a yellow card right before the end of the first, was late on a challenge just two minutes into the half and received a second yellow, resulting in a red card, putting NYRB II down to 10-men for the remainder of the game.

The Red Bulls did get back into the match despite being down a man, however. After substitute Tanner Rosborough was fouled by FCC 2’s Amir Daley to draw a penalty kick, Ibrahim Kasule stepped up and sent goalkeeper Paul Walters the wrong way to cut the lead in half and make it a 2-1 game in the 50th minute.

The Orange and Blue responded quickly to that penalty. Chirila got his brace off a tap-in by a cross sent in by Daley, to make it 3-0 Cincinnati in the 56th minute.

Moises Tablante joined in on the scoring too, adding a fourth for FCC 2 in the 76th minute to put the final nail in NYRB II’s coffin and extend the lead further to 4-1.

The scoreline remained the same to the end, as the Orange and Blue were able to hold on for their fifth straight victory.

REVIEW OF THE GAME

The stats were a lot closer than the scoreline on the afternoon. FCC 2 outshot the Red Bulls 13-12 and put two more shots on target, 7-5.

Possession slightly favored NYRB II 52-48 percent. In a match where the two sides playing styles clashed, passing accuracy was below 80 percent for both teams, with the Orange and Blue at 76 percent and the Red Bulls at 73 percent.

With the red card, the Red Bulls also committed 22 fouls throughout the match and also accumulated three yellow cards. Cincinnati fouled 12 times and received two yellows.

It’s safe to say Chirila is in the best form of his young professional career, with two goals and an assist this match and now four goals and two assists in his last four games. The 17-year-old forward has rewarded head coach Tyrone Marshall with his starts and will see if he receives a first-team call-up if he keeps this form up.

Walters, who was recalled from United Soccer League’s Hartford Athletic by FCC earlier in the week got the start for FCC 2, and he was certainly brilliant in-between the sticks throughout the match.

With 15 points in their last five matches, FCC 2 has now jumped up to third in the Eastern Conference, and is one point away from first place, with Philadelphia Union II and Chattanooga FC tied at the top with 2o points.

This team is on an absolute roll.

FC Cincinnati 2 Lineup:

(3-5-2)

GK: Paul Walters

D: Gaël Gilbert, Brian Schaefer, London Aghedo 

M: Amir Daley, Nicholas Benalcazar, Jesus Castellano (Alejandro Guido 69′), Peter Mangione (Nicholas Samays 86′), Moises Tablante

F: Ben Stitz (Guliherme Santos 65′), Stefan Chirila

New York Red Bulls II Lineup:

(4-4-2)

GK: Aidan Stokes

D: Dylan Sullivan, Aidan O’Connor, Juan Gutierrez Ruiz (Jair Collahuazo 61′), Omar Valencia

M: Ibrahim Kasule (Rafael Diaz 61′), Bento Estrela (Davi Alexandre 74′), Aiden Jarvis (Steven Sserwadda 46′), Mohammed Sofo

F: Frank Ssebufu (Tanner Rosborough 46′), Julian Hall

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