All posts tagged USL

FC Cincinnati versus Bethlehem Steel FC.

We tried something new for today’s FC Cincinnati match. We caught Cincinnati Metro‘s 17 bus from Northside to Clifton. And holy cow, did it ever make getting over to the match so incredibly easy…

We stopped the St. Clair like we always do before the match to watch the end of the Euro quarterfinal match between Germany and Italy. It went to extra time, and then penalties. And that was one of the more insane penalty shootouts that I’ve ever seen. It seemed like no one wanted to score. But the Germans survived to claim their spot in the semifinals…

With the shootout going so long and the FC|C match starting earlier than normal, we missed the teams walking out onto the pitch, national anthem and The Bailey’s tifo…

At the half, it was 0-0…

SPRINKLES!!!

GOAL! 1-0 FC Cincinnati! Jimmy McLaughlin!

Monkey leash backpack. Monkey leash backpack. Monkey leash backpack…

And that’s the way it would end 1-0 to FC Cincinnati!

FC Cincinnati extended their undefeated streak out to eleven straight games. They are 7-0-4 dating back to April. FC|C’s next home match is a friendly on July 16th as they play host to Crystal Palace of the English Premier League. This is going to be THE event of the summer. We have our tickets. And we can’t wait. Hope to see you at Nippert! 🙂

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by Thadd F. on July 2, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in #SUMMERinCINCY, FC Cincinnati, Sports

Tagged 2016, Bethlehem Steel FC, Cincinnati, FC Cincinnati, July, Nippert Stadium, Ohio, Soccer, University of CIncinnati, USL

Posted by Thadd F. on July 2, 2016

https://tplusg.com/2016/07/02/fc-cincinnati-versus-bethlehem-steel-fc/

FC Cincinnati versus Toronto FC II.

Before today’s match there was raucous atmosphere on South Market Street…

After a little pregaming at The St. Clair, we headed down into Nippert Stadium…

Tonight, FC Cincinnati was playing Toronto FC II…

FC|C’s current EIGHT match undefeated streak in USL started in Toronto back in near the end of April. We were very hopeful that FC Cincy could keep their streak going against them this evening…

This must be the only couple in Cincinnati that can perform the Canadian National Anthem. The same couple sang O Canada before last week’s match against FC Montreal…

And then The Bailey rolled out their tifo for tonight’s match…

And it was poignant perfection…

Here we go…

GOOOOAL! Tworonto.

At halftime, it was 1-0 FC II over FC Cincinnati…

SPRINKLES!

GOOOOAL! FC Cincinnati! 1-1!

GOOOOAL!! FC Cincinnati! 2-1!

And that’s the way this one would finish 2-1 to FC Cincinnati!

FC Cincinnati takes their NINE match undefeated streak on the road next weekend to River City Cup (Dirty River Derby) rivals, Louisville City FC. Louisville City is current on a twelve match undefeated run in USL. It’s the longest current streak in USL. FC|C’s streak is the second longest current streak in USL. The last team FC Cincinnati lost to… Louisville City FC back in the middle of April. This match is going to be huge! Kick-off is at 7:30 with the match streaming live through YouTube. And it may or may not be the ESPN3 USL match of the week simulacast on Star 64. 😀

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by Thadd F. on June 18, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in #SPRINGinCINCY, FC Cincinnati, Sports

Tagged 2016, Cincinnati, FC Cincinnati, June, Nippert Stadium, Ohio, Toronto FC II, University of CIncinnati, USL

Posted by Thadd F. on June 18, 2016

https://tplusg.com/2016/06/18/fc-cincinnati-versus-toronto-fc-ii/

FC Cincinnati versus FC Montreal.

Tonight, FC Cincinnati was playing host to one-win FC Montreal. FC Cincy was looking to continue on their SEVEN match undefeated run in the USL. When we got out of our Uber, Rhinegeist and The Pride were having a pregame party along South Market Street…

But we always stop into The St. Clair before every match. They have an amazing happy hour before every home FC|C match…

And then we head over to Nippert Stadium…

SPRINKLES!

O Canada…

SPRINKLES!

Here we go…

The game paused for a hydration break…

The USMNT took a 1-0 lead over Paraguay…

And FC Cincinnati was awarded a penalty!

GOOOOOAL! FC Cincinnati! Sean Okoli converted the spot kick for FC|C!

And at halftime, it was 1-0 to FC|C…

SPRINKLES!

And the second half is underway…

GOOOOOAL!! FC CINCINNATI! 2-0! Okoli again!

There were six minutes of time to be added on…

The USMNT won…

And there’s the whistle for full-time! 2-1 to FC|C!

FC Cincinnati runs their undefeated streak in the USL out to EIGHT matches! And Sean Okoli was named to the USL Team of the Week. FC Cincinnati will be back at home this Saturday, June 18th as they welcome some more of those Canadians into Nippert Stadium. Struggling Toronto FC II will be in town. I hope The Bailey can find a clever way to poke fun at the team from “We The North” and that there aren’t any Drake sightings at Nippert. 🙂

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by Thadd F. on June 11, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in #SPRINGinCINCY, FC Cincinnati, Sports

Tagged 2016, Cincinnati, FC Cincinnati, FC Montreal, June, Nippert Stadium, Ohio, Soccer, University of CIncinnati, USL

Posted by Thadd F. on June 11, 2016

https://tplusg.com/2016/06/11/fc-cincinnati-versus-fc-montreal/

FC Cincinnati versus Richmond Kickers.

This evening we hopped an Uber up to UC’s Nippert Stadium to watch our FC Cincinnati take on the Richmond Kickers…

Just before the match, the skies started to look pretty ominous…

It started pouring as the teams came out onto the pitch…

A little disappointing… no tifo from The Bailey for tonight’s match.

Oops. Richmond kick-off guys…

And 30 seconds into the match, it was delayed for lightning…

There was a rainbow over Nippert…

Finally, the teams made their way back to the pitch to warm up for the restart…

And after about an hour, we were back underway…

GOOOOOAL! FC Cincinnati!

My man, Sprinkles was waiting in the wings for halftime…

And at halftime, it was still 1-0 to FC Cincinnati…

SPRINKLES!

The second half gets underway…

We must have missed the attendance when it was announced at the match. But tonight’s titanic struggle was played before a crowd of 11,278! Another really great crowd!

The Kickers keeper came up for the last minute corner in the dying moments of regulation…

And Mitch said no! Amazing save by Mitch Hildebrandt! There were three minutes of time to be added on…

And wouldn’t you know it in the fourth minute of three minutes of time added on, the Kickers netted the equalizer. And that was the ballgame. It ended 1-1. FC|C snatched a draw out of the jaws of victory…

FC Cincy is still on a SEVEN match undefeated run in USL competition. And the boys will be back at home next weekend as they host FC Montreal at Nippert Stadium. 🙂

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by Thadd F. on June 4, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in #SPRINGinCINCY, FC Cincinnati, Sports

Tagged 2016, Cincinnati, FC Cincinnati, June, Nippert Stadium, Ohio, Richmond Kickers, Soccer, University of CIncinnati, USL

Posted by Thadd F. on June 4, 2016

https://tplusg.com/2016/06/04/fc-cincinnati-versus-richmond-kickers/

FC Cincinnnati versus Harrisburg City Islanders.

We went to see FC Cincinnati take on Harrisburg City Islanders at Nippert Stadium….

The Bailey unfurled their tifo for today’s match…

MITCH SAYS NO!

GOOOOOAL! Cincinnati! 1-0!

At half, it was still 1-0 to FC|C…

Sprinkles the donut was back again at halftime!

FC|C’s Harrison Delbridge took a pretty vicious elbow to the face…

And the guilty Harrisburg player was sent off as a result…

Tonight’s attendance…

16,097! Another really great crowd! And then Cincinnati was awarded a penalty!

GOOOOAL! Cincinnati! 2-0!!

And the match would end 2-0 to FC Cincy!

FC Cincinnati keeper Mitch Hildenbrandt celebrates with The Bailey after every win…

FC|C moves to 6-2-2 on the season. They are now on a seven match streak without a loss. And they went undefeated in the month of May. Going back to the April 24th win at Toronto FC II, they’ve posted a 5-0-2 record and they’ve outscored their opponents 12-5 including two straight league shutouts. In other words, FC Cincinnati is really on a roll right now! On Wednesday, FC|C travels to St. Pete, Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the third round of the US Open Cup. And then they’re back home on Saturday, June 4th to host the Richmond Kickers. See you there! 🙂

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by Thadd F. on May 28, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in #SPRINGinCINCY, FC Cincinnati, Sports

Tagged 2016, Cincinnati, FC Cincinnati, Harrisburg City Islanders, May, Nippert Stadium, Ohio, Soccer, University of CIncinnati, USL

Posted by Thadd F. on May 28, 2016

https://tplusg.com/2016/05/28/fc-cincinnnati-versus-harrisburg-city-islanders/

FC Cincinnati versus Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Tonight, we went up to Nippert Stadium with Cleve & Alyssa to take in FC Cincinnati’s fourth home match of the season. FC Cincinnati was playing host to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and they were having on Orange Out for tonight’s unveiling of FC|C’s new predominantly orange alternate third kit…

FC Cincinnati named some of the Bengal’s star players honorary captains for the match to further the Cincinnati-Pittsburgh sport rivalry…

This is one of my favorite parts of every match, where the teams come out of the tunnel and onto the pitch…

The Bailey unveiled their tifo for today’s match…

Elvis. “You ain’t nothing but a river dog.” Quality stuff.

Kickoff! Here we go…

The Bailey sat for the 16th minute in honor of the 16 Real Madrid fans who were murdered in Iraq by ISIS this week. The 16th minute of today’s match was also a moment of silence throughout the entire stadium…

Goosebumps.

GOOOOOOAL! CINCINNATI!

That Sprinkle donut was back again at halftime…

And the moment everyone was waiting for, tonight’s match attendance. It was announced before the match that over 20,000 tickets had been sold…

For the second time, FC Cincinnati set a new USL single game attendance record!

And at full-time, Cincinnati 1 Pittsburgh 0!

Another great match in a truly amazing atmosphere! FC Cincinnati broke their own USL attendance record. They had more people at their match than all but one MLS match including the Columbus Crew, who they outdrew by over 7000 supporters. FC|C is averaging 17,462 in attendance through 4 games, and the Crew is averaging 16,383 through 4 games. And on top of all that, FC|C moved into a tie for second place in the USL’s Eastern Conference! There’s something pretty incredible happening right now in Cincinnati! And we’re thrilled to be right in the middle of it! 🙂 #23375

FC Cincinnati’s next home match is on Wednesday, May 18th versus Indy Eleven of NPSL in the US Open Cup. Kickoff is at 7pm. See you there!

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by Thadd F. on May 14, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in FC Cincinnati, Sports

Tagged 2016, Cincinnati, FC Cincinnati, May, Nippert Stadium, Ohio, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Soccer, USL

Posted by Thadd F. on May 14, 2016

https://tplusg.com/2016/05/14/fc-cincinnati-versus-pittsburgh-riverhounds/

FC Cincinnati Orange Out!

FC Cincinnati is having an Orange Out for this Saturday’s match at Nippert Stadium against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Two proud sports cities will begin a brand new chapter in the long and storied Cincinnati-Pittsburgh sports rivalry…

FC|C’s really pushing hard for a crowd of over 25,000 for Saturday’s match! Get your tickets now! They’re going fast!

Hopefully, the weather will cooperate, and FC|C will be able shatter the USL attendance record they’ve already set! Kickoff is at 4pm! See you at Nippert on Saturday! 🙂

Oh. And here’s a letter from the FC Cincinnati’s owner Carl Lindner III…

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by Thadd F. on May 9, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in FC Cincinnati

Tagged 2016, Cincinnati, FC Cincinnati, May, Nippert Stadium, Ohio, Orange Out, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Soccer, USL

Posted by Thadd F. on May 9, 2016

https://tplusg.com/2016/05/09/fc-cincinnati-orange-out/

FC Cincinnati versus Wilmington Hammerheads FC.

Five years ago today, we went to a Reds game on our first. Tonight, we celebrated the five-year anniversary of our first date by going to watch FC Cincinnati’s third home match of the season at Nippert Stadium. It was a English evening for football, all grey and rainy…

FC Cincy was playing host to Wilmington Hammerheads FC…

Here we go…

Wilmington was awarded a penalty after an ill-advised sliding tackle right on the endline but still very much in the box…

And with that, it was 1-0 Hammerheads…

We moved to the landing just above our section so we could stand and try to pace off some our nervous energy…

At the end of the first half, it was still 1-0…

At halftime, kids got to take penalties on a sprinkled donut…

And the second half was underway…

FC Cincinnati pulled level! 1-1!

Game on!

It started pouring. We moved over under an overhang to escape the driving rain…

FC Cincinnati had a lot of great chances especially toward the end of the second half but couldn’t capitalize on any of their opportunities, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw in front of a crowd of 11,300…

FC Cincinnati has two matches coming up this week. They play away at Orlando City on Wednesday, and then away at Harrisburg City Islanders on Saturday. Both matches will be available to stream live through YouTube. 🙂

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by Thadd F. on April 30, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in FC Cincinnati

Tagged 2016, April, Cincinnati, FC Cincinnati, Nippert Stadium, Ohio, University of CIncinnati, USL, Wilmington Hammerheads FC

Posted by Thadd F. on April 30, 2016

https://tplusg.com/2016/04/30/fc-cincinnati-versus-wilmington-hammerheads-fc/

FC Cincinnati versus Louisville City.

We grabbed an Uber and headed up to UC early again to have a couple of pre-game happy hour beers at The St. Clair. What a difference a week makes with the weather. The area was absolutely buzzing with activity in a sea of blue and orange…

After a couple of beers, we made the short walk over to Nippert Stadium…

FC Cincinnati was playing host to Louisville City FC in what has been dubbed the River Cities Cup. But a lot of the fans have started calling it The Dirty River Derby, which I really like a whole better. With Louisville being just a hop-ship-and-a-jump down I-71, it makes sense that a rivalry has already started to form.

Here we go…

GOAL FC|C! 1-0!

Louisville City was awarded what I thought was a pretty cheap penalty when the ball bounced up and brushed an FC|C defender’s hand in the box…

1-1.

And it all kind of went downhill from there pretty quickly…

Louisville City were reduced to 10 men just before the end of the half on a second bookable offense…

It was just a gorgeous night for football…

And there was such an incredible atmosphere at tonight’s match. Nippert was rocking all evening despite FC|C playing from behind for most of the match…

FC Cincinnati managed to pull a goal back in just before the 90th minute. We headed out just before the end of injury time. And the match ended 3-2 to Louisville City…

But FC Cincinnati set a new USL regular season attendance record at tonight’s match!! I think that Cincinnati is definitely embracing their new sports team!

FC Cincinnati’s next home match is against Wilmington on April 30th, which happens to be the five-year anniversary of our very first date. See you at Nippert! 🙂

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by Thadd F. on April 16, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in FC Cincinnati

Tagged 2016, April, Cincinnati, FC Cincinnati, Louisville City, Nippert Stadium, Ohio, Soccer, University of CIncinnati, USL

Posted by Thadd F. on April 16, 2016

https://tplusg.com/2016/04/16/fc-cincinnati-versus-louisville-city/

FC Cincinnati’s inaugural home opener.

This evening was FC Cincinnati’s inaugural home opener at Nippert Stadium…

We grabbed an Uber up to UC. And stopped in for some prematch drinks at 4EG’s The St. Clair. When we first got there, it was pretty empty. By the time we left, you could hardly move in the place…

We started the trek over to Nippert Stadium…

Here we go…

FC|C’s Sean Okoli scored the first home goal in FC Cincinnati history at Nippert. And it was a stunner! Such a stunner that it made #4 on Sportscenter’s Top Ten…

It took the scoreboard operator a quick minute to get the goal up on the board…

At halftime, it was 1-0 to FC Cincinnati…

To say it was a very chilly evening was an understatement…

There were four minutes of time added on…

FULL TIME! 2-1 to FC Cincinnati!

It was such an incredible atmosphere for tonight’s match in front of 14, 658. FC|C head coach John Harkes had to be thrilled with the support…