Note: The “On This Day” series recalls important dates in FC Cincinnati’s history.
2016 – FCC win inaugural home opener at Nippert Stadium
Thanks to Sean Okoli’s scissor-kick goal and hometown captain Austin Berry’s thumping header, the Orange and Blue won the club’s inaugural home match, 2-1, against the Charlotte Independence at Nippert Stadium.
A then-record crowd of 14,658 fans attended the match, which highlighted the city’s enthusiasm for soccer that ultimately helped Cincinnati secure an MLS expansion bid.
FC Cincinnati recently re-broadcasted the match last month, highlighting the club’s historic day. Okoli, who won the 2016 USL MVP award after scoring 16 goals that season, said “You wouldn’t have been able to predict something like that,” when describing how much FCC have grown so quickly.
Here’s the lineup former head coach John Harkes deployed in the win: Mitch Hildebrandt, Pat McMahon, Austin Berry, Harrison Delbridge, Tyler Polak, Kenney Walker, Ross Tomaselli, Corben Bone, Andrew Wiedeman, Sean Okoli and Jimmy McLaughlin. The three substitutes used were Omar Mohamed, Paul Nicholson and Derek Luke.
