FC Cincinnati 2 earned three points Sunday night at Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium with a 3-2 win against Sporting Kansas City II. The win keeps the Orange and Blue unbeaten at home this season with a 2-0-1 record.
FCC 2 improved to 2-1-1 (7 points) this season. Sunday’s matchup against Sporting KC II (2-2-1, 8 points) was the first interconference matchup in the club’s history.
Sporting KC II caught FCC 2 early in the match, scoring the opening goal in the 4th minute. Pau Vidal scored for the fourth-consecutive game, notching his fourth goal of the year after getting on the end of a low cross into the box. Alenis Vargas assisted on the Sporting KC II goal, his first of the year.
The Orange and Blue would settle into the match halfway through the first half as Ben Stitz scored his first goal for the club in the 22nd minute. Stitz capped the FCC 2 move with a skillful step over to create an inch of space and connected well to beat Carlito Saylon at the near post. Gerardo Valenzuela picked up his first assist of the season on the goal.
Valenzuela nearly doubled the host’s lead just minutes later with a long-range effort that forced a save from Sporting KC II goalkeeper Carlito Saylon. Valenzuela pulled the strings in midfield for the Orange and Blue on the night, picking up his third start of the season alongside Salim Adams and Darrell Turcios.
FCC 2 would later find a second goal of the opening half. Jesus Castellano grabbed his second of the season following a Sporting KC II turnover deep in their defensive third. Castellano found himself on the end of a poor pass, and after controlling near the penalty spot, put a well-placed strike past Saylon to make the match 2-1.
Kai Thomas headed home FCC 2’s third of the night in the 53rd minute from the team’s third corner. Jordi Govea, who came on as a halftime substitute, assisted on the goal with a well-placed ball that saw Thomas rise above the Sporting KC II defense for his first goal of the season.
But Sporting KC II would make it a game in the 62nd minute by way of Macielo Tschantret. A corner taken from the visitors made its way through the box, bypassing both teams, before meeting the back post run of Tschantret, who calmly slotted home.
The Orange and Blue were able to see out the rest of the match, holding Sporting KC II to their lone second half goal. FC Cincinnati Academy defender Haroun Conteh made his first start for FCC 2 in Sunday’s contest while David Garcia made his first appearance of the year for the Orange and Blue.
FCC 2 are on the road for their next match against New England Revolution II on Sunday, April 30 at 5 p.m. ET.
FC CINCINNATI 2 GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati 2 vs. Sporting Kansas City II
Date: April 23, 2023
Competition: MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season
Venue: Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium
Kickoff: 7:03 p.m. ET
Weather: 47 degrees, cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
CIN: 2-1-3
SKC: 1-1-2
CIN - B. Stitz (G. Valenzuela) 22’, J. Castellano 35’, K. Thomas (J. Govea) 53’
SKC - P. Vidal (A. Vargas) 4’, M. Tschantret 63’
LINEUPS
CIN: E. Louro, H. Conteh, K. Thomas, J. Akpunonu (S. Jimenez, 25’, J. Govea, 46’), D. Garcia, M. Marshall, G. Valenzuela (R. Mills, 76’), S. Adams, D. Turcios (N. Samways, 76‘), B. Stitz, J. Castellano
Substitutes not used: H. Morse, P. Walters, M. Dreas, O. Noverr
Head Coach: Tyrone Marshall
SKC: C. Saylon, N. Clarke, J. Bartlett (N. Mekideche, 67’), J. Rad, L. Rosa, M. Tschantret, V. Dias (M. Lenis, 46’), J. Coan, A. Draper (Y. Mejia, 72’), P. Vidal (K. Martinez, 46’), A. Vargas (A. Traore, 81’)
Substitutes not used: E. Bandre, A. Cunningham, C. Jones, K. Martinez Diego
Head Coach: Benny Feilhaber
STATS SUMMARY: CIN/SKC
Shots: 11 / 13
Shots on goal: 8 / 9
Saves: 7 / 5
Corner Kicks: 5 / 9
Fouls: 14 / 14
Offside: 4 / 2
Possession: 47.1 / 52.9
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – S. Adams (Yellow card) 13’
CIN – J. Akpunonu (Yellow card) 17’
CIN – J. Castellano (Yellow card) 35’
SKC – P. Vidal (Yellow card) 43’
SKC – M. Tschantret (Yellow card) 46’
CIN – J. Govea (Yellow card) 84’
CIN – N. Samways (Yellow card) 88’
SKC – J. Rad (Yellow card) 90+5’
OFFICIALS
Referee: Eric Tattersall
Ast. Referee: Jackson Krauser, Stephen Milhoan
Fourth Official: Kevin Fikar
