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USOC: FC Cincinnati, Columbus Crew to meet in record-setting Open Cup match

By Jordan Jacobsen

May 31, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew SC forward Ola Kamara (11) celebrates his goal with teammates in the second half of the match against the Seattle Sounders at MAPFRE Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
May 31, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew SC forward Ola Kamara (11) celebrates his goal with teammates in the second half of the match against the Seattle Sounders at MAPFRE Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s a battle for Ohio as the Columbus Crew head to Nippert Stadium to face FC Cincinnati in the first ever meeting between the two sides.

Just hours after MLS hopefuls FC Cincinnati released their stadium renderings for a proposed 25,000 seat stadium as part of their MLS bid, FCC will host their MLS neighbors in their first ever meeting. Over 20,000 fans look to be ready to witness the inaugural meeting of what could end up becoming a new rivalry, an Open Cup record for most attended match in the Cup history.

The two Ohio sides will both looking for a statement victory in their first ever meeting. FC Cincinnati is the new, noisy neighbors averaging nearly 19,500 in attendance from their seven home games this season. Columbus, on the other hand, is averaging just over 13,000, the lowest average attendance in all of Major League Soccer. Expect the Crew to come out looking strong as they attempt to establish dominance over their USL competitors.

FC Cincinnati

Current Record: 4-5-4

Last Time Out: 1-1 draw against the Charlotte Independence. 

How They Got Here: 1-0 win against Louisville City FC. 

Player To Watch: Jimmy McLaughlin. The former Philadelphia Union homegrown play has had a good start to his second season with FCC. McLaughin leads the team in chances created with 17.

Why They Win: It’s been an up and down season already for FC Cincinnati, but they have played well at home for the most part. If the record-setting crowd can help create an advantage for the home side, then Columbus’s poor road form could be out on full display. That advantage will be useful for an FCC defense that will need to hold fast for the club to have a chance. The Cincinnati back line has only allowed 13 goals this season, and keeping the Crew off the scoresheet will give them a chance to either force penalty kicks or find the difference maker themselves.

Why They Won’t: FC Cincinnati has held their own against some of the top USL Eastern Conference sides at home, but they haven’t necessarily beat them at home. The club has drawn against Louisville City the Tampa Bay Rowdies, along with Charlotte, but only has two home wins this year, one of them against last-place Toronto FC II. They also haven’t been able to net a lot of goals, only making more than one against Bethlehem Steel (a 2-1 victory) and Saint Louis FC (a 4-0 win at home). It will be a tall task to get over the hump against visiting Columbus, and if it turns into a high scoring affair, FCC may not have the pieces to keep up.

Columbus Crew SC

Jun 3, 2017; Commerce City, CO, USA; Columbus Crew forward Federico Higuain (10) celebrates his goal with midfielder Justin Meram (9) and defender Waylon Francis (14) in the second half of the match against the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 3, 2017; Commerce City, CO, USA; Columbus Crew forward Federico Higuain (10) celebrates his goal with midfielder Justin Meram (9) and defender Waylon Francis (14) in the second half of the match against the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Current Record: 7-8-1

Last Time Out: 2-1 loss at Colorado.

Player To Watch: Kekuta Manneh. The electric winger has yet to establish a place for himself with his new club after being acquired by the Crew in a late March trade. Manneh could get a chance to feature in the Columbus starting XI and could use it as a springboard into a permanent spot with the first team.

Why They Win: The Crew have had a broad variety of results. Coming into this match, they have had a much-needed break from league play and should have fresh legs along with a full squad. With FC Cincinnati coming off a tough game on Saturday, the rest gives the Crew a chance to get their form back before heading on the road to play in another tough atmosphere at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. Don’t be surprised if the Crew send out a strong squad in an attempt to knock off some rust before heading down south for an Eastern Conference showdown.

Why They Won’t: Following a strong start to the season, the Crew has been on a downward spiral after an impressive home win against the MLS leaders Toronto FC in April. Since then, Columbus has lost seven of their last nine. A poor form and a hostile environment are a bad mix for a Crew team facing a motivated home side.

Next: Miami FC and Orlando City set for Florida Derby

Prediction and How To Watch

A motivated and inspired upstart taking on the old guard who wants to send them a reminder about where their place is? Throw in a sell-out crowd and a geographic rivalry and it doesn’t get much better than this. If Cincinnati can keep the Columbus attack at bay, this one could get longer than 90 minutes. Extra time and penalty kicks to go with Hollywood backstory? It’s only fitting. Along with the upset.

Columbus Crew 0 – FC Cincinnati 0

When: Wednesday, June 14, 2017. 7 pm ET

Where: Nippert Stadium. Cincinnati, OH.

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