CLEARWATER, Fla. – FC Cincinnati defeated the University of South Florida, 3-1, Friday afternoon at Walter Campbell Sports Park in the Orange and Blue’s first 2022 Preseason game.
FCC opened scoring in the 21st minute, when Brandon Vazquez received a through ball down the left side from Jonas Fjeldberg and slid the ball past the USF keeper into the back of the net.
In the 52nd minute, MLS SuperDraft selection Nick Markanich was taken down in the box for a penalty. Calvin Harris stepped up to bury the penalty kick one minute later to give FCC a 2-0 advantage.
The Bulls added a goal in the 80th minute, a header in the box off a free kick against the run of play.
The Orange and Blue gave the match its final scoreline in the 90th minute, when FCC Academy’s Harris Robledo crossed a ball from the left side into the box to Calvin Harris, who set up Quimi Ordonez for a goal in the match’s final moments.
“I told them before the game, it’s always important to get results,” Head Coach Pat Noonan said. “Regardless of who your opponent is, regardless of when it’s happening, it’s important to win games. I think certainly the result was good, there’s a couple of things that we could have done better in the final third to maybe score a few more … you get confidence by scoring goals and that was good to get three goals today.”
Lineup by half
First half: Luciano Acosta, Zico Bailey, Tyler Blackett, Jonas Fjeldberg, Ray Gaddis, Nick Hagglund, Alec Kann, Yuya Kubo, Haris Medunjanin, Harrison Robledo, Brandon Vazquez
Second half: Isaac Atanga, Avionne Flanagan (Robledo 73’), Nick Hagglund (Daniel Martin 61’), Calvin Harris, Stiven Jimenez, Nick Markanich, Morgan Marshall, Ben Mines, Ian Murphy, Quimi Ordonez, Kenneth Vermeer
FC Cincinnati return to Preseason game action Thursday, Feb. 3 against Philadelphia Union. The game kicks off at 11 a.m., and will be streamed on FCCincinnati.com.
FC Cincinnati's 2022 schedule can be viewed HERE. 2022's home schedule begins at TQL Stadium when the club hosts D.C. United in the home opener on March 5. Fans can get the best tickets at the best price to the best matches all season long, including the home opener, by purchasing season tickets at fccincinnati.com/tickets or by calling 513-977-KICK, that’s 513-977-5425.
Fans can also purchase half-season ticket packages, starting at just $170, and single match tickets to any of FC Cincinnati’s 17 home games are available now.
FC Cincinnati begin their fourth season of MLS competition in 2022, and their second playing at TQL Stadium. For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. Additionally, fans are encouraged to download the team’s official mobile app on the Apple App Store or Google Play for instant access to mobile tickets, team content and match notifications.
