SACRAMENTO, Calif. --- Seconds before the final whistle blew, Harrison Delbridge stung his former team with a goal that pulled FC Cincinnati even in an eventual 2-2 draw against Sacramento Republic FC Saturday evening at Bonney Field.
FCC trailed 2-1 on a pair of second-half goals by Sacramento but made one final push into the host’s territory in stoppage time. Evan Newton punched the ball away on a service into the box but FCC maintained possession and a final cross from Casey Townsend found the mark as Delbridge leapt to head the ball into the goal.
FCC took a first-half lead for the second consecutive game and Delbridge, who played with Republic FC in 2014, also factored in the play. Running his route on a set piece in the 21st minute, the defender was tripped in the box, giving Aodhan Quinn a penalty kick opportunity that he buried on the right side.
The one-goal lead was eventually erased as Republic FC pushed ahead with two goals in the second period. FCC turned the ball over near midfield in the 65th minute and James Kiffe, who was part of the duo that forced the turnover, was able to split a pair of defenders in the FCC box and take a shot that went under a diving Mitch Hildebrandt.
Wilson Kneeshaw had the go-ahead tally in the 82nd minute. A foul on FCC led to a Republic FC set piece Hildebrandt was up to the task, making the save on the initial attempt by Harry Williams, but the goalie was unable to corral the rebound and Kneeshaw proved to be opportunistic.
In the first half, FCC’s defensive unit was challenged early as Republic FC created several opportunities with a series of long passes. In the fifth minute, Trevin Caesar took a pass and had a run at the goal but Delbridge used a burst of closing speed to intercept the play. Republic FC was awarded a corner kick and had a chance but the shot was handled readily by Hildebrandt.
FCC’s first corner was earned in the 17th minute but the team was unable to create a scoring chance. Republic FC countered with a long pass to Tyler Blackwood, who took a shot from outside the 18 but his effort was wrapped up by Hildebrandt.
Andrew Wiedeman had a pair of chances for FCC, first in the 23rd, taking a shot from 20 yards out that went wide and again in the 26th minute as the forward was unable to bring down a pass from Jimmy McLaughlin in front of the Republic FC’s goal.
Republic FC had a solid chance in the 36th minute as Caesar collected a pass in front of the FCC defense but unable to turn, Caesar laid the ball out to an unmarked Jeremy Hall, who took the shot but saw that attempt smothered by Hildebrandt.
Caesar had one last shot in the half in the 45th minute, taking a pass from midfield and working the ball deep into the FCC box. The forward had the open look at the goal but was unable to keep the ball on frame, blasting it over the crossbar.
In the second half, Wiedeman was a threat for FCC. Working to get a shot in the in the 58th minute, Wiedeman’s shot was blocked by Julius James.
Kadeem Dacres was a spark off the bench. In the 73rd minute, he carried the ball through Republic FC traffic to take a shot that had to be knocked down by Newton.
He then had an opportunity in the 84th minute but his pass from the right side did not have the necessary angle and Republic FC watched the ball angle across the mouth of the goal and across the end line.
After over two weeks on the road, FCC returns to the Queen City and will take on UC (Mar. 11) and Xavier (Mar. 17) in a pair of final tune-ups before the USL season opens on Mar. 25.
Starting lineups
FCC: Mitch Hildebrandt, Matt Bahner, Austin Berry, Harrison Delbridge, Tyler Polak, Aodhan Quinn, Andrew Wiedeman, Corben Bone, Kenney Walker, Jimmy McLaughlin, Djiby Fall
SAC: Evan Newton, Julius James, James Kiffe, Alex Davey, Tyler Blackwood, Adam Moffat, Jeremy Hall, Trevin Caesar, Sammy Ochoa
Scoring Summary
21st: FCC - Aodhan Quinn (PK)
65th: SAC – James Kiffe (Trevin Caesar)
82nd: SAC – Wilson Kneeshaw
90+: FCC – Harrison Delbridge (Casey Townsend)
