A young season already underway, FC Cincinnati will again face the test of finding their feet on the road this weekend. A trip up the Ohio River awaits, and you can read all about what to expect, who to keep an eye on, and where you can watch in the full preview below.
WHEN
Saturday, April 1, at 5pm EDT
TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
OPPOSITION
A familiar foe who we faced twice on the road in the final weeks of the 2016 season, FC Cincinnati will be traveling to Pennsylvania to face the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
VENUE
Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
DIRECTIONS
FORM
FCC: The boys in Orange & Blue have just a solitary regular season match under their belts to this point, and it didn’t exactly go as planned. Though they were able to erase a first-half deficit through a Djiby header, a second-half penalty doomed us to a loss at Charleston Battery in last week’s first match of the season. That said, the team dominated possession throughout, created a hatful of chances and defended Charleston’s counter fairly well.
PR: Pittsburgh have just a sole match to their name as well, and things went a bit better for them following a back-and-forth 3-3 draw with reigning USL champion New York Red Bulls II. While giving up three goals in the opening and closing quarter hours of the match is likely cause for concern, bouncing back and leveling three times will give a side that finished second from bottom in 2016 some hope, too.
COACH
"We are looking forward to another challenge on the road against a very good opponent. Pittsburgh have an excellent coach and have brought in some quality additions to improve their team. We know that they will be an organized and hard-working group and like any game in the USL it will be difficult to play them on the road. We look forward to the challenge and the goal of earning 3 points on the road."
- Head Coach Alan Koch
PLAYERS
FCC: Despite the season opening loss last weekend on the road, the team looked solid for large stretches of the match. Building on a solid preseason, new signing Djiby officially opened his FC Cincinnati account in his league debut for the club. Defensively, Harrison Delbridge’s precisely-timed tackles were back, and new right back Matt Bahner showed well on his debut. But most eyes here in Cincinnati will be looking to see if new signing Justin Hoyte – a former Premier League defender for Arsenal and Middleborough who was announced earlier this week – will make his first appearance in Koch’s back line.
PR: Fresh off a Man of the Match performance against the Baby Bulls, watch out for Pittsburgh forward Corey Hertzog (#11). Leading the ‘Hounds in scoring in 2016 with 15 goals, Hertzog picked up where he left off last year by bagging a brace against New York, including a brilliant individual goal in the 9th minute.
HISTORY
Saturday’s match will be the fourth time FCC have faced the Riverhounds, and we’ve yet to lose in all three previous outings. The Orange & Blue hold a 2-0-1 record in the all-time series between the clubs, including a 1-0 win at Nippert in front of a then-USL record crowd, followed by a 0-0 draw and 1-0 win ten days apart at the end of last season in Pittsburgh.
WEATHER
While showers are expected to fall on the Pittsburgh area in the two days prior to the match, the precipitation is expected to clear out in time for Saturday’s early evening kickoff. However, the clearing rain will take with it the warmer temperatures that we’ve all enjoyed over the last few days. As of publication, the forecast is calling for an overcast 48° F that is expected to fall to near 45° by the final whistle.
WATCH
This weekend’s match will be broadcast live on Star 64 (WSTR). Most local providers’ station information can be found below:
Over the Air: Channel 64
Cincinnati Bell Fioptics: Channel 11 (SD) or 511 (HD)
Spectrum/TWC (OH): Channel 11 (SD) or 1011 (HD)
Spectrum/TWC (KY): Channel 11 (SD) or 915 (HD)
DirecTV: Channel 64
DISH: Channel 8354
Not in the local viewing area? No problem! Every match in the USL is available to stream as well, and this match is available for free on YouTube.
LISTEN
Away matches are not being broadcast on local radio during the 2017 regular season.
SOCIAL
As is the case every match, you can follow along with the action on our Twitter feed at @fccincinnati. For live looks from before, during and after the match, follow us on Instagram and Snapchat by following 'fccincinnati', too. Halftime and full time updates will also be available on Facebook.
