After a scoreless 120 minutes of action at Nippert Stadium, MLS side Minnesota United FC moved on to the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 after advancing 3-1 on penalties past USL East leader FC Cincinnati Wednesday night.
After both FCC’s Spencer Richey and Minnesota’s Bobby Shuttleworth stopped all shots sent their way through regulation and extra time, Minnesota converted their first three penalties while Shuttleworth stopped two of FCC’s four efforts and another hit the crossbar.
After Minnesota took a 2-0 lead in penalties, FCC’s Michael Lahoud went high and converted his chance before Richey saved Collen Warner’s effort to keep the Orange and Blue alive. However, Shuttleworth saved Nazmi Albadawi’s final next attempt to push Minnesota through the fourth round.
FC Cincinnati returns to action on Saturday, June 9, when the team travels to face North Carolina FC at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised on CW Cincinnati and streamed live on ESPN+.
2018 LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP | FOURTH ROUND
Minnesota United FC 0, FC Cincinnati 0 (MUFC advances on penalties, 3-1)
Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
SCORING SUMMARY
None
PENALTIES SUMMARY
MUFC -- Christian Ramirez (good)
FCC -- Kenney Walker (crossbar)
MUFC -- Collin Martin (good)
FCC -- Sem De Wit (saved)
MUFC -- Brent Kallman (good)
FCC -- Michael Lahoud (good)
MUFC -- Collen Warner (saved)
FCC -- Nazmi Albadawi (saved)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
MUFC -- Maximiano (caution) 76’
MUFC -- Collen Warner (caution) 80’
FCC -- Blake Smith (caution) 115’
MUFC -- Brent Kallman (caution) 120’
FC Cincinnati (USL): Spencer Richey, Blake Smith, Dekel Keinan, Sem De Wit, Matt Bahner, Michael Lahoud, Kenney Walker, Jimmy McLaughlin, Corben Bone (Nazmi Albadawi 106’), Russell Cicerone (Daniel Haber 77’), Emery Welshman (Tomi Ameobi 98’)
Bench: Evan Newton, Forrest Lasso, Will Seymore
STATS: Shots 15, Shots on target 2, Fouls Conceded 16, Corner kicks 4, Offsides 3, Saves 4, Possession 34%
Minnesota United FC (MLS): Bobby Shuttleworth, Eric Miller (Carter Manley 13’), Brent Kallman, Michael Boxall, Tyrone Mears, Collin Martin, Maximiano (Franz Pangop 99’), Collen Warner, Abu Danladi, Miguel Ibarra, Christian Ramirez
Bench: Matt Lampson, Wyatt Omsberg, Mason Toye, Alexi Gomez
STATS: Shots 10, Shots on target 4, Fouls Conceded 16, Corner kicks 2, Offsides 2, Saves 2, Possession 66%
Referee: Eric Tattersall
Weather: 75 degrees, sunny
Attendance: 15,486
HOW IT HAPPENED
15’ -- Sem De Wit dribbled near midfield for FCC and saw an opening at the net where he tested Shuttleworth early with a shot on target from about 35 yards, but MNUFC’s Bobby Shuttleworth saved it at the left side of the goal.
28’ -- The Orange and Blue had another chance at the net, this time from the right side of the box when Russell Cicerone tried one with his right foot, but again Shuttleworth was in good position and blocked it out of play.
50’ -- Early in the second period, Jimmy McLaughlin took a pass from Walker and sprinted down the left flank to find Emery Welshman behind the Minnesota defense. From inside the box, Welshman missed wide left on his shot at the goal.
54’ -- FCC attacked from the left side again, but this time it was Blake Smith leading Bone downfield. Corben Bone crossed a ball to Welshman, who was planted inside the right part of the box, but his header try missed wide right.
102’ -- In extra time, Spencer Richey sent a goal kick downfield which bounced to just outside the top of the Minnesota box. A couple FCC players had a touch, and Bone came away with possession, but his right-footed try missed high over the crossbar.
GAME NOTES
With the tie, FCC is now (1-1-2) against MLS opponents in Open Cup play … additionally, the Orange and Blue has still never lost to an MLS team in 90 minutes, with the only defeats coming in extra time (New York Red Bulls in 2017 and Minnesota United FC in penalties)
This is the second straight year the Orange and Blue have advanced to at least the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup … in 2017, FCC advanced to the semifinals before falling to New York Red Bulls
Wednesday’s match was the second game FCC has taken its opponent to extra time in 2018 Open Cup play; the Orange and Blue advanced past Detroit City FC (NPSL), 4-1, in extra time in the second round.
Corben Bone started his 13th combined (USL and Open Cup) game for FCC, and is the only member of the Orange and Blue that has started all 12 USL matches this season.
Minnesota is the second MLS team that FCC has battled to penalty kicks. The Orange and Blue advanced past Chicago Fire on PKs in the 2017 Open Cup
FCC Head Coach Alan Koch
“For a second-tier club, to be quite honest, to go play like that against an MLS group, where I don’t think you could really tell a difference who was in the first tier, I’m very proud of our group of players. They’re giving everything they can for this club, fighting for us right now in the USL and they’re obviously fighting to be a part of the journey moving forward.”
“Incredibly proud. Penalty shootouts are an absolute lottery. We went through that last year obviously. Anything can happen in them, a lot of it is momentum. There’s no point in putting your heads down. They should be very proud of the effort they put in tonight.”
“It’s been an awesome Cup ride. Would have liked to have gone further, of course. A couple penalty kicks go a different way, and who knows where we go on this journey … the sky's the limit for this group this year.”
FCC Midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin
“It was a close game. Honestly, I think it could have gone either way … both teams created chances and both teams had a chance to win. I’m really proud of the guys, I thought it was a gutsy performance and something we can build on moving forward. We’re leaving with our heads held high.”
“(This roster) is special. There’s MLS quality on this roster. I think we have some guys who are incredible players and can play at the highest level. I think you saw that tonight. I don’t think any one player on their team stood out way more than any of us. That’s a credit to the coaching staff and everyone in the organization.”
“It’s bittersweet. We wanted this run to go on forever, especially with the success we had last year going to the semifinal. Now that it’s out of the way, we only have one focus and that’s the USL. There could be a benefit when all the efforts are going towards a USL championship.”
FCC Goalkeeper Spencer Richey
“(Field players) are expected to make them. The mindset is you try to save one or two, give your team a chance to win it, and let all the pressure be on the striker. It’s unfortunate tonight, their keeper made a couple nice saves. Thought the guys played well, and it’s a bit unfortunate.”
“It didn’t (feel like an MLS vs. USL matchup). Alan mentioned it was kind of one of those coin-flip games. You need a bit of luck to advance in these types of one-and-done tournaments. The team that ends up winning it, is probably a team that got a bit of luck throughout.”
“They put out a good squad. After 90 minutes, I feel like it could have been one-nil either way. And then after 120, as well, neither team had a bunch of clear-cut chances. It is what it is, unfortunately we have to put it behind us quickly and move on to North Carolina Saturday.”
