FC Cincinnati drops decision with NY's late surge
Some will attribute part of Futbol Club Cincinnati’s loss Wednesday to a late officiating decision, as members of the team did after the game. Others might say New York Red Bulls II, a top team in the United Soccer League Eastern Conference, earned the win themselves via a late comeback against a first-year team still finding itself.
Either perspective still ends up at the same conclusion: A loss and three points dropped in the standings for FC Cincinnati during a crucial stretch against some of their nearest competitors in the standings.
New York Red Bulls II (12-1-5) stole the win late at FC Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium with goals in the 83rd and 86th minute to cancel out the host's 1-0 lead.
A win would have pulled third-place Cincinnati (10-4-4) to within a point of second-place New York, and they were just minutes away from accomplishing that when New York struck twice in quick succession.
Cincinnati went ahead in the 60th minute on midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin’s authoritative blast in the 60th minute.
Veteran forward Omar Cummings set up the goal with a cross that found McLaughlin with plenty of time and space to place the ball beyond the New York goalkeeper.
The goal was McLaughlin’s fifth of the year in all competitions. He sprinted to the sideline and did a jig with teammates and fans to celebrate.
“The goal from Jimmy was very opportunistic,” Cincinnati head coach John Harkes said after the game. “He had a chance like that against (Crystal) Palace and he was kicking himself. I said, ‘it’s going to come again,’ and he did extremely well.”
The celebration was short-lived as New York’s Justin Bilyeu slotted home a goal off a set piece after Cincinnati conceded a free-kick about 20 yards out. Bilyeu’s kick dribbled and swerved around the Cincinnati wall, past goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt.
“At times I thought (New York) was very fortunate,” Harkes said of the referee’s decisions throughout the game. “I thought (Harrison Delbridge) made a clean tackle at the top of the box.”
Cincinnati defender Austin Berry agreed, saying, “Unfortunately, the ref gave them another questionable, top-of-the-box set piece.”
For Hildebrandt’s part, he said the shot was one he should have saved, although it did swerve around the edge of the wall.
Florian Valot completed New York’s comeback just minutes later when he capitalized off a Hildebrandt misstep that saw him run into his post.
Hildebrandt said he was evaluated by team doctors after the game and should be fine for the team’s next game.
The fifth-best attended crowd of the season – 16,127 – booed heartily as Valot ran over to the NYRBII bench to celebrate what was eventually the game-winning goal.
FC Cincinnati couldn’t muster a shot as time ran out, sullying what should have been another festive occasion as the team accomplished another noteworthy attendance feat. With five home games still to play, Cincinnati broke the league’s single-season attendance record with 164,109. Sacramento Republic FC previously held the record of 158,516.
"The lesson is (the loss) sucks," Berry said, "but we've got a big game Saturday."
Cincinnati is now seven points adrift of New York in the standings and eight behind conference-leading Louisville City FC, which comes to Nippert Saturday to complete the teams' three-game season series. Kickoff Saturday is scheduled for 4 p.m.
On July 30, FC Cincinnati then hosts fourth-place Charleston Battery.
How UC's Big 12 bid impacts FC Cincy
FC Cincinnati President and General Manager Jeff Berding doesn't anticipate any problems arising from the University of Cincinnati's possible inclusion in Big 12 expansion. Not yet, anyway.
News this week that Big 12 commissioners decided to pursue possible league expansion re-opened the conversation about a possible UC move to the "Power Five" conference. And with that came local discussion of UC possible expanding Nippert Stadium's seating capacity again if it jumped to the Big 12.
The Enquirer reported on the possible stadium expansion in February.
Berding told The Enquirer Wednesday he's currently unaware of any plans by UC to expand Nippert Stadium's seating capacity, adding he's confident the university would run any such plans by FC Cincinnati should it come to that.
FC Cincinnati is in the first year of a deal with UC to play at Nippert for up to 15 years. The deal includes five renewable, three-year terms.
"The University of Cincinnati have been great partners and when something good happens to a partner, you're happy for them," Berding told The Enquirer.
Berding also said expanding Nippert's seating capacity could benefit FC Cincinnati, adding, "we probably could have sold more tickets for Crystal Palace last weekend."
Another attendance feat by FC Cincinnati
With Wednesday's crowd of 16,127, FC Cincinnati raised its total attendance for the season to 164,109, shattering the USL single-season attendance mark set last year by Sacramento FC (158,516). Cincinnati is averaging just more than 16,400 fans per game, which also paces USL.
Attendance figures (ranked by turnout):
1. 23,375 - May 14 versus Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
2. 20,497 - April 16 versus Louisville City FC.
3. 19,112 - June 18 versus Toronto FC II.
4. 17,380 - July 2 versus Bethlehem Steel FC
5. 16,127 - Wednesday versus New York Red Bulls II
6. 16,097 - May 28 versus Harrisburg City Islanders.
7. 14,658 - April 9 versus Charlotte Independence.
8. 14,267 - June 11 versus FC Montreal.
9. 11,318 - April 30 versus Wilmington Hammerheads FC.
10. 11,278 - June 4 versus Richmond Kickers.
Non-league attendance:
35,061 - Saturday versus Crystal Palace FC
8,668 - May 18 versus Indy Eleven NPSL (Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup).