2018 FC Cincinnati season
The 2018 FC Cincinnati season is the club's third season of existence, and their third in the United Soccer League (USL). It is FC Cincinnati's second season as a second-tier team in the U.S. soccer pyramid, as the United States Soccer Federation provisionally promoted the USL from Division III to Division II for the 2017 season. FC Cincinnati plays in the Eastern Conference of the USL.
2018 season | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
General Manager | Jeff Berding | |||
Head Coach | Alan Koch | |||
Stadium | Nippert Stadium | |||
U.S. Open Cup | 4th round | |||
Top goalscorer | Emmanuel Ledesma (16) | |||
Highest home attendance | 31,478 (September 29 vs. Indy) | |||
Lowest home attendance | 22,532 (May 5 vs. Atlanta 2) | |||
Average home league attendance | 25,717 | |||
| ||||
This is the final season of the club's USL incarnation. On May 29, 2018, Major League Soccer awarded the FCC ownership group an expansion franchise which will begin play in MLS under the FC Cincinnati name in 2019.[1]
On September 26, 2018, the club clinched their first USL Regular Season Championship with a 4–1 victory over the Richmond Kickers.[2]
Club
Coaching staff
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Head Coach | |
Assistant Coach | |
Goalkeeper Coach | |
Technical Director | |
Athletic Trainer | |
Strength & Conditioning | |
UC Health | |
Roster
On October 25, 2017, general manager Jeff Berding held a press conference to make the first announcements about the 2018 roster. The return of nine players from 2017 was confirmed at this press conference: Matt Bahner, Kenney Walker, Danni König, Corben Bone, Jimmy McLaughlin, Garrett Halfhill, Justin Hoyte, Sem de Wit, and Josu. Six additional players from the 2017 roster—Austin Berry, Mitch Hildebrandt, Djiby Fall, Harrison Delbridge, Andrew Wiedeman, and Paul Nicholson—were mentioned as still under consideration for 2018, pending contract discussions and future announcements. Berding also confirmed they would not renew contracts or exercise options for any other former players.[3] In the following weeks, Djiby Fall implied he would not be returning via Twitter,[4] and Paul Nicholson announced his retirement from professional soccer.[5]
The club began announcing new signings in November 2017. The team signed Israeli defender Dekel Keinan on November 10,[6] as well as Canadian forward Daniel Haber on November 15.[7]
On April 16, 2018, the club announced they had mutually agreed to part ways with defender Josu.[8]
On April 17, 2018, the club announced they had reach an agreement for the free release of defender Garrett Halfhill. Halfhill subsequently join the New York Cosmos B of the NPSL.[9]
On July 9, 2018, the club announced the free transfer of forward Daniel Haber to Ottawa Fury FC.
On July 30, 2018, forward Fanendo Adi was acquired from the Portland Timbers as the first MLS designated player for FC Cincinnati.[10] The club also announced the acquisition of midfielder Fatai Alashe from the San Jose Earthquakes.[11]
On August 1, 2018, the club announced the acquisition of defender Pa Konate from Serie A S.P.A.L.[12]
Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth.
Competitions
Win Draw Loss
Friendlies
February 6, 2018 | New England Revolution | 1–1 | FC Cincinnati | Bradenton, Florida |
3:30PM EDT | Bye Herivaux |
CIN Report NE Report |
Bone Trialist |
Stadium: IMG Academy |
February 10, 2018 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 0–1 | FC Cincinnati | Bradenton, Florida |
3:30PM EDT | Gorskie Morrell Hristov |
CIN Report TBR Report |
Walker Barrett Halfhill |
Stadium: IMG Academy |
February 14, 2018 | Chicago Fire Reserves | Canceled | FC Cincinnati | Bradenton, Florida |
10:30AM EDT | Report | Stadium: IMG Academy |
February 22, 2018 | Indy Eleven | 1–2 | FC Cincinnati | Westfield, Indiana |
1:30PM EDT | Ring Saad |
Report | Ledesma Haber König |
Stadium: Grand Park Event Center |
February 27, 2018 | Northern Kentucky Norse | 0–3 | FC Cincinnati | Highland Heights, Kentucky |
7:00PM EDT | Report | Ameobi Keinan Lasso |
Stadium: NKU Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,497 |
March 3, 2018 | FC Cincinnati | 2–2 | Nashville SC | Cincinnati, Ohio |
4:00PM EDT | Laing Welshman Seymore |
Report | LaGrassa Winn |
Stadium: Gettler Stadium |
March 7, 2018 | Cincinnati Bearcats | 0–1 | FC Cincinnati | Cincinnati, Ohio |
7:30PM EDT | Report | Cicerone |
Stadium: Gettler Stadium |
March 10, 2018 | FC Cincinnati | 1–2 | Sacramento Republic FC | Cincinnati, Ohio |
4:00PM EDT | Lasso Ledesma Keinan |
Report | Seiler Iwasa Bijev |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium |
March 24, 2018 | Dayton Flyers | Postponed | FC Cincinnati | Dayton, Ohio |
2:00PM EDT | Report | Stadium: Baujan Field |
July 28, 2018 | FC Cincinnati | 2–3 | Cincinnati, Ohio | |
7:30PM EDT | CIN Report | Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 16,135 |
USL
Results Table
March 17, 2018 1 | Charleston Battery | 0–1 | FC Cincinnati | Charleston, South Carolina |
7:00 EDT | Guerra van Schiak Griffith |
CIN Report CHS Report |
Smith Laing Lasso König Ryan |
Stadium: MUSC Health Stadium Referee: Elvis Osmanovic |
March 31, 2018 2 | Indy Eleven | 0–1 | FC Cincinnati | Indianapolis, Indiana |
7:00 EDT | Ferreira McInerney |
CIN Report IND Report |
Welshman Keinan Lasso |
Stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium Attendance: 17,535 Referee: Malik Badawi |
April 7, 2018 3 | FC Cincinnati | 0–1 | Louisville City FC | Cincinnati, Ohio |
7:00PM ET | Ledesma Keinan Laing |
CIN Report LOU Report Box Score |
Lancaster Ilić |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 25,667 (USL record for home opener) Referee: Joseph Dickerson |
April 15, 2018 4 | Bethlehem Steel FC | 1–1 | FC Cincinnati | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania |
3:00 EDT | Burke Chiluya |
BTH Report | Albadawi |
Stadium: Goodman Stadium Referee: Amber O'Connor Assistant referees: Gjovalin Bori Ben Pilgrim Fourth official: Michael Guzzetta |
April 21, 2018 5 | FC Cincinnati | 2–2 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | Cincinnati, Ohio |
7:00 EDT | König Ledesma Walker Keinan Laing |
CIN Report PIT Report Box Score |
Dover Vancaeyezeele |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 24,505 Referee: Greg Dopka |
April 28, 2018 6 | Ottawa Fury FC | 0–3 | FC Cincinnati | Ottawa, Ontario |
2:00 EDT | Reid |
CIN Report OTT Report Box Score |
Lasso Smith Walker Bone Ledesma |
Stadium: TD Place Stadium Attendance: 2,785 |
May 2, 2018 7 | Indy Eleven | 2–3 | FC Cincinnati | Indianapolis, Indiana |
7:00 EDT | Jack McInerney Ayoze |
CIN report IND report Box score |
Kenney Walker Jimmy McLaughlin Corben Bone Forrest Lasso Emery Welshman |
Stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium Attendance: 8,079 Referee: Marco de Oliveira Assistant referees: Joe Zawistowski Kevin Fikar Fourth official: Michael Nickerson |
May 5, 2018 8 | FC Cincinnati | 4–2 | Atlanta United 2 | Cincinnati, Ohio |
7:00 EDT | König Ledesma Keinan Bone |
CIN Report ATL Report Box Score |
Gallagher Kissiedou Carleton |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 22,532 Referee: Guido Gonzalez Jr. |
May 12, 2018 9 | Charlotte Independence | 4–1 | FC Cincinnati | Matthews, North Carolina |
7:30 EDT | Cato Ekra Voser Martínez Zayed |
CIN Report CLT Report Box Score |
Ledesma König Ryan Lasso Keinan |
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews Attendance: 2,314 Referee: Kevin Broadley |
May 19, 2018 10 | FC Cincinnati | 4–1 | North Carolina FC | Cincinnati, Ohio |
7:30 EDT | Smith Albadawi Ledesma König |
CIN Report NCFC Report |
Bekker Lomis |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 22,884 Referee: Victor Rivas |
May 26, 2018 11 | FC Cincinnati | 0–2 | Louisville City FC | Cincinnati, Ohio |
7:30 EDT | Barrett Ryan Keinan |
CIN Report LOU Report |
Lancaster Craig Davis IV Williams |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 26,495 |
June 2, 2018 12 | New York Red Bulls II | 1–2 | FC Cincinnati | Harrison, New Jersey |
1:00 EDT | Moreno Stauffer |
CIN Report NYRB Report Box Score |
Welshman Barrett Ledsema Ryan König |
Stadium: Red Bull Arena Attendance: 613 Referee: Ismir Pekmic |
June 9, 2018 13 | North Carolina FC | 0–2 | FC Cincinnati | Cary, North Carolina |
7:00 EDT | CIN Report NCFC Report |
Ledesma König Hoyte McLaughlin |
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 4,039 Referee: Mark Allatin |
June 13, 2018 14 | FC Cincinnati | 2–2 | Bethlehem Steel FC | Cincinnati, Ohio |
7:30 EDT | Albadawi Cicerone |
CIN Report BTH Report |
Jones Mbaizo Herbers |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 22,407 Referee: Marcos de Oliveira Assistant referees: Cory Richardson Benjamin Hall-Volpenhein Fourth official: Jason Ulrich |
June 16, 2018 15 | FC Cincinnati | 4–0 | Richmond Kickers | Cincinnati, Ohio |
7:30 EDT | Ledesma Albadawi König Welshman Keinan |
CIN Report RIC Report |
Cordovés Williams |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 28,026 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic Assistant referees: Jeffrey Swartzel Adrienne McDonald Fourth official: Luke Sobota |
June 27, 2018 16 | Toronto FC II | 3–3 | FC Cincinnati | Toronto, Ontario |
7:00 EDT | Akinola Bjornethun Boskovic Hamilton Campbell |
CIN Report TOR Report |
Albadawi Welshman Ledesma |
Stadium: Lamport Stadium Attendance: 288 Referee: Fabrizio Stasolla |
June 30, 2018 17 | FC Cincinnati | 2–0 | Ottawa Fury FC | Cincinnati, Ohio |
7:30 EDT | König Smith Albadawi |
CIN Report OTT Report Box score |
Oliveira |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 27,107 Referee: Daniel Gutierrez |
July 7, 2018 18 | Nashville SC | 0–0 | FC Cincinnati | Nashville, Tennessee |
8:30 EDT | Moloto |
CIN Report NSH Report |
Keinan |
Stadium: Nissan Stadium Attendance: 18,228 Referee: Lorant Varga |
July 14, 2018 19 | FC Cincinnati | 2–0 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Cincinnati, Ohio |
7:30 EDT | Ledesma König |
CIN Report TBR Report |
Flemmings |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 25,416 Referee: Malik Badawi |
July 18, 2018 20 | FC Cincinnati | 2–0 | Charlotte Independence | Cincinnati, Ohio |
7:30 EDT | Keinan Lasso Ledesma Welshman |
CIN Report CLT Report |
Duckett Zayed Voser |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 25,251 Referee: Jon Freemon |
July 21, 2018 21 | FC Cincinnati | 2–1 | New York Red Bulls II | Cincinnati, Ohio |
7:30 EDT | Lasso Barrett Smith |
CIN Report NYRB Report |
Tinari König Barlow Stauffer |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 23,602 Referee: Michael Radchuk |
August 4, 2018 22 | FC Cincinnati | 1–1 | Nashville SC | Cincinnati, Ohio |
7:30 EDT | König Lasso Walker |
CIN Report NSH Report |
Hume Mensah Davis |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 27,426 Referee: Ismir Pekmic |
August 12, 2018 23 | FC Cincinnati | 1–0 | Penn FC | Cincinnati, Ohio |
6:00 EDT | Ledesma |
CIN Report PENN Report |
Baffoe Tribbett Mkosana |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 24,249 Referee: Mark Allatin |
August 18, 2018 24 | FC Cincinnati | 3–0 | Charleston Battery | Cincinnati, Ohio |
7:30 EDT | Ledesma Bone Barrett Thomas |
CIN Report | Anunga Svantesson |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 27,142 Referee: Rosendo Mendoza Assistant referees: Benjamin Hall-Volpenhein James Duling Fourth official: Luke Sobota |
August 22, 2018 25 | Atlanta United 2 | 1–5 | FC Cincinnati | Lawrenceville, Georgia |
7:00 EDT | Bello Nicklaw Gallagher |
CIN Report ATL Report |
Bone Albadawi Konate Alashe Welshman |
Stadium: Coolray Field Attendance: 1,638 Referee: JJ Bilinsk |
August 25, 2018 26 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 1–2 | FC Cincinnati | St. Petersburg, Florida |
7:30 EDT | Taku Cole Poku Portillos Oduro Diakité |
Report | Ledesma Smith Barrett Newton |
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 5,963 Referee: Kevin Broadley |
September 1, 2018 27 | FC Cincinnati | 2–1 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | Cincinnati, Ohio |
7:30 EDT | Lasso Keinan Adi |
USL Report CIN Report |
Parkes |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 25,735 Referee: Joseph Dickerson |
September 11, 2018 28 | Louisville City FC | 0–1 | FC Cincinnati | Louisville, Kentucky |
7:00 EDT | DelPiccolo |
USL Report CIN Report |
Bone Richey |
Stadium: Louisville Slugger Field Attendance: 10,009 Referee: Joshua Brooks |
September 16, 2018 29 | FC Cincinnati | 4–3 | Toronto FC II | Cincinnati, Ohio |
4:30 EDT | Lasso Adi Bone |
Report CIN Report |
Endoh Johnson Hundal |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 27,275 Referee: Lorant Varga |
September 22, 2018 30 | Penn FC | 1–2 | FC Cincinnati | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
7:00 EDT | Calvano Paulo Osae |
CIN Report PENN Report |
König Ledesma Bone |
Stadium: FNB Field Attendance: 3,117 Referee: Thomas Snyder |
September 26, 2018 31 | Richmond Kickers | 1–4 | FC Cincinnati | Richmond, Virginia |
7:00 EDT | Eaton Cordovés Luiz Fernando Sekyere Shanosky |
CIN Report RIC Report Report |
Albadawi Ledesma Alashe Welshman |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 1,519 Referee: Nickrod Fateh |
September 29, 2018 32 | FC Cincinnati | 3–0 | Indy Eleven | Cincinnati, Ohio |
7:30 EDT | König Adi Mitchell |
CIN Report IND Report Report |
Matern |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 31,478 (USL record) Referee: Timothy Ford |
October 6, 2018 33 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 0–0 | FC Cincinnati | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
7:00 EDT | CIN Report PIT Report Report |
Lasso |
Stadium: Highmark Stadium Attendance: 3,205 Referee: Eric Tattersall |
October 13, 2018 34 | Nashville SC | 3–3 | FC Cincinnati | Nashville, Tennessee |
8:30 EDT | Hume LaGrassa Allen Akinyode |
CIN Report | Albadawi Bone |
Stadium: First Tennessee Park Attendance: 9,083 Referee: Marcos DeOliveira |
Postseason
October 20, 2018 First Round | FC Cincinnati | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (6–5 p) | Nashville SC | Cincinnati, Ohio |
4:00 EDT | Bone Smith Ledesma |
CIN Report Report |
Davis Bourgeois Tyrpak |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 20,217 Referee: Farhad Dadkho |
Penalties | ||||
Adi McLaughlin Smith Hoyte Lasso Walker |
October 27, 2018 Conference Semifinals | FC Cincinnati | 0–1 | New York Red Bulls II | Cincinnati, Ohio |
4:00 p.m. EDT | Adi |
Report | Moreno |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 16,617 Referee: Timothy Ford |
Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | FC Cincinnati (X) | 34 | 23 | 8 | 3 | 72 | 34 | +38 | 77 | Conference Playoffs |
2 | Louisville City FC (C) | 34 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 71 | 38 | +33 | 66 | |
3 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 34 | 15 | 14 | 5 | 47 | 26 | +21 | 59 | |
4 | Charleston Battery | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 47 | 34 | +13 | 56 | |
5 | New York Red Bulls II | 34 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 71 | 59 | +12 | 52 | |
6 | Bethlehem Steel FC | 34 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 56 | 41 | +15 | 50 | |
7 | Indy Eleven | 34 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 45 | 42 | +3 | 49 | |
8 | Nashville SC | 34 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 42 | 31 | +11 | 49 | |
9 | North Carolina FC | 34 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 60 | 50 | +10 | 47 | |
10 | Ottawa Fury | 34 | 13 | 6 | 15 | 31 | 43 | −12 | 45 | |
11 | Charlotte Independence | 34 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 44 | 57 | −13 | 42 | |
12 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 34 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 41 | |
13 | Penn FC | 34 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 38 | 47 | −9 | 37 | |
14 | Atlanta United 2 | 34 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 37 | 72 | −35 | 31 | |
15 | Richmond Kickers | 34 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 30 | 80 | −50 | 22 | |
16 | Toronto FC II | 34 | 4 | 6 | 24 | 42 | 77 | −35 | 18 |
Rules for classification: 1) total wins; 2) total goal differential; 3) total goals scored; 4) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 5) disciplinary points; 6) coin toss or drawing of lots
(C) Champion; (X) Regular Season League Champion.
U.S. Open Cup
May 16, 2018 Second Round | FC Cincinnati | 4–1 (a.e.t.) | Cincinnati, Ohio | |
7:30 PM EDT | Welshman Cicerone Bone |
CIN report DET report |
Carroll Lawson Williams |
Stadium: Gettler Stadium Attendance: 2,250 Referee: Eric Tattersall |
May 23, 2018 Third Round | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 1–3 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | |
7:00 PM EDT | Lubahn Chin |
CIN report PGH report Box score |
McLaughlin Laing Haber |
Stadium: Highmark Stadium Referee: Kevin Fikar |
June 6, 2018 Fourth Round | FC Cincinnati | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (1–3 p) | Cincinnati, Ohio | |
7:30 PM EDT | Smith |
CIN Report MIN Report |
Maximiano Warner Kallman |
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 15,486 |
Penalties | ||||
Walker de Wit Lahoud Albadawi |
Ramirez Martin Kallman Warner |
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2018 FC Cincinnati season. |
- "Cincinnati awarded MLS expansion club, will start play in 2019". MLSSoccer.com.
- "USL REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPIONS". FCCincinnati.com. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
- Kimura, Fumi (October 25, 2017). "Nine Return for 2018". FC Cincinnati. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
- Fall, Djiby [@baye_djiby] (October 31, 2017). "Thank Mr carld Jeff. Alan and all the staff my teammates people in the administration and the fantastic fans wish the klub all the best 🙏🙏🙏" (Tweet). Retrieved November 7, 2017 – via Twitter.
- Kimura, Fumi (November 6, 2017). "Paul Nicholson Announces Retirement". FC Cincinnati. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- Kimura, Fumi (November 10, 2017). "FCC Inks Maccabi Haifa Captain Dekel Keinan". FC Cincinnati. Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
- Kimura, Fumi (November 15, 2017). "FCC Signs Forward Daniel Haber". FC Cincinnati. Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
- Kimura, Fumi. "FCC JOSU AGREE TO PART WAYS". FCCincinnati.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- Switzer, D.J. "FC CINCINNATI RELEASE HALFHILL, JOINS NEW YORK COSMOS". FCCincinnati.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- "FCC ANNOUNCES ADI AS FIRST MLS DESIGNATED PLAYER". FCCincinnati.com. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- "FC CINCINNATI ADDS FATAI ALASHE FROM SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES". FCCincinnati.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- "FC CINCINNATI TAKES PA KONATE ON LOAN FROM SERIE A'S S.P.A.L". FCCincinnati.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.