FC CINCINNATI vs. MINNESOTA UNITED FC
Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio
06.06.2018 | U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round
6:30 p.m. CT (Stream: US Soccer, Twitter: @MNUFCMatch)
When MLS teams enter the 2018 U.S. Open Cup this week, Minnesota United will get an early introduction to the league’s newest franchise at it travels to the Queen City to face current USL side FC Cincinnati on Wednesday in the fourth round of the longest running and most storied competition in American soccer.
The Loons meet the Orange and Blue on Wednesday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m. CT at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium. U.S. Soccer will stream the match live at ussoccer.com and fans can also follow along live on Twitter @MNUFCMatch.
Cincinnati was announced as MLS’s 26th franchise on May 29 and will begin play in 2019. The fervor from that announcement has yet to dissipate among a fan base that led the USL in attendance last year and has averaged 24,000-plus spectators this season — leading MNUFC Head Coach Adrian Heath to expect a raucous atmosphere on Wednesday.
“We know what is coming our way. It is not going to be a shock,” Heath said. “It is going to be a big crowd on the back of their announcement last week. They are going to be after it as they were last year when they went all the way to the semifinals. It is going to be a tough night and we have to be ready for it.”
USL Western Conference-leading FC Cincinnati has thrived as an Open Cup underdog in recent seasons. In 2017, it defeated MLS sides Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire en route to becoming the first lower division club since 2011 to make the tournament’s semifinals, where it took an early 2-0 lead at home before succumbing to New York Red Bulls, 3-2, in extra time.
In advancing to this season’s fourth round, the Orange and Blue have been carried by a high-scoring attack, providing another proving ground for Minnesota’s defense and a chance to get back on the horse after Sunday’s 4-1 loss at Sporting Kansas City. Cincinnati has scored seven goals in its two Open Cup matches — defeating Detroit City FC, 4-1, and Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 3-1 — and pace the USL’s Western Conference with 22 goals in 12 matches.
Road matches have not been kind to the Loons nor their defense this season. Minnesota is 1-6-0 away from home in 2018 and has conceded three or more goals in five of those seven contests, which has Heath and his staff searching for answers not just on the backline, but throughout the team.
“Whoever you are you have stretches in the game where you’re going to be under the cosh,” Heath said. “Invariably when we’re under the cosh for any period of time we look like we’re going to concede goals. We have to address that. We need to sit down and look at the videos, look at the goals we have conceded and see if we can come up with a different shape or do something different to make it better.”
MNUFC is 5-7 all-time in the Open Cup, including 0-1 in its MLS era, and has never advanced past the fourth round. The Loons are certainly playing Goliath to FC Cincinnati’s David, but after years of trying to punch above their weight class in the NASL, they know better than most the dangers hungry lower division teams present in knockout competitions — especially a team like Cincinnati that boasts plenty of MLS experience on its roster.
“We expect Cincinnati to be a highly motivated team,” Heath said. “Having been in this position myself as a USL coach in Austin and Orlando and going up against MLS sides in the Open Cup, I know how big and important these games can be for players and staff who aspire to play in MLS. With the incentive for the players with MLS around the corner for them next year, we expect a fully competitive group. We have to approach the match in a fully professional manner and the team that we put out will reflect that.”
After its Open Cup clash, Minnesota United will enjoy a pair of weekends off before resuming its MLS campaign on the road against Colorado Rapids on Saturday, June 23 at 8:00 p.m. CT. Pre-match coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. on FOX Sports North, streaming on FOX Sports Go and on MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN.
INJURY REPORT:
Minnesota United FC
OUT:
M - Sam Cronin (cervicogenic dysfunction)
M - Kevin Molino (left ACL tear)
M - Ethan Finlay (right ACL tear)
M - Rasmus Schuller (international duty)
D - Marc Burch (left knee surgery)
D - Jerome Thiesson (right leg injury)
QUESTIONABLE:
GK - Matt Lampson (right knee injury)
