90+3 ish, Full Time
We get a few more minutes of action and Stefan Chirila gets one more crack on net, but the shot is blocked and rolls away harmlessly.
Ref blows his whistle for Full-Time and we are done for the day. FC Cincinnati draw with Houston Dynamo FC 1-1 in game two of preseason action.
We will be back again next week with a live blog but we will hear from Pat Noonan later today on the result.
Until next time, I'm Carter Chapley, signing off.
90'
FCC nearly get the lead back after Bret Halsey cross in a pass from the left of the box and Opeyemi gets a head to it, but it goes just wide. Can't be much more time left now. My clock has us at 90 and we have't really seen stoppage time yet in preseason.
85' Houston goal
Houston get on the board and level the score. A pass over the top of the back line sends Brian Schaefer in a foot race with a a Houston forward and the attacker gets the upper hand. Evan Louro does his best to thwart it, but the attacker chips the keeper from maybe a couple steps outside the box and bounces a few times before rolling in.
Houston had been coming on of late but hadn't had a real shot since Louro's save earlier. But it only takes one.
1-1
79'
Evan Louro with another tremendous save, leaping up to punch a floating shot on target over the bar for a corner kick. That is his second really impressive stop of preseason and saves a sure goal. He then finishes off his buisness and snags the corner kick out of the air with ease to end the threat from Houston.
Those saves are just as impressive as the 35 miles of white sand beaches in the St. Pete/Clearwater area!
77'
Looks like another two subs are coming. FC Cincinnati 2 defender Brian Schaefer is coming on for the first time, and it appears Andrei Chirila -- after a brief rest -- has subbed back into the game. Miles Robinson coming off now as well. He put in an excellent shift today.
73'
Big chance from FCC but the Houston keeper makes a spectacular save to keep this a one goal game. Alvas Powell sends a ball forward over the head of the Dynamo defenders and Opeyemi flies forward to cause some havoc. He beats two CB's to the ball in a straight sprint and pokes the ball away from a third, but the charging keeper gets a hand to the shot as the Nigerian FCC2 player runs out of time/space and tries to get it past the final defender.
Still 1-0
71'
Had to relocate, my computer overheated, I'm told I didn't miss much.
65'
Looks like the big change is coming now. Trying to spot all the in's and outs, will probably just be easier to say who is on the field now. So let's try this:
Evan Louro
Miles Robinson
Alvas Powell
Amir Daley (FC Cincinnati 2)
Stivin Jimenz
Obinna Nwobodo
Bret Halsey
Niko Hämäläinen (unsigned)
Ben Augee (unsigned)
Monsuru Opeyemi (FC Cincinnati 2)
Stefan Chirila
54'
Stefan Chirila finally does get his shot on target, making a neat run through the box that Peter Mangione feeds him a pass to. The angle is tight, but he manages to get an attempt on target that forces the Houston keeper to dive to his right for the grab.
47'
Nearly another goal for FCC after pressuring the Houston Center Backs. Pavel Bucha jumps the passing lane from the goalkeeper to the defender and intercepts the pass inside the box. He tries to center a pass to a wide open Stefan Chirila but the pass is just out of the youngers reach. Would have been a wide open net but was just to far ahead of Chirila.
Houston clears it out the side and resets on defense.
46'
We are back underway at Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex!
Halftime, moments from restart
Looks like it won't be a full line change but we do have a few subs.
Andrei Chirila has come out for Alvas Powell, and Stefan Chirila has come on for Kévin Denkey.
45', on the dot, Half Time
After a brief final push from Houston, DeAndre Yedlin steps in to make an excellent interception and essentially ends the half. After taking possesion and playing it back to Miles Robinson, who is then fouled, the ref calls an end to the first half. My stopwatch says 45 minutes exactly.
Pavel Bucha gave FCC the lead and now we head into a 10 minute break. Last time, there was a full line change, we will see what happens this time momenterily.
40' FCC GOAL
Pavel Bucha gets The Orange and Blue on the board! Bucha picks the ball off the Center Backs foot at the top of the Houston box, takes a dribble forward and gets a shot off, beating the keeper and slotting in the shot just inside the post.
It's 1-0 FC Cincinnati!
*This segment has been edited for clarity on the goal. As stated earlier, hard to see/interpret everything in real time, so I consulted our Social Media team for a clip. This better reflects the goal scored.
35'
Another big chance for FC Cincinnati as Andrei Chirila sends a pass through enemy lines and springs Pavel Bucha to into a dangerous space. He centers a pass into the box, and after Peter Mangione's inital attempt is interuped a Denkey follow up is just wide.
As I'm typing, FCC win the restart back and earn a corner kick. Missed how but they are lining up for it.
30'
Houston gets their first bit of sustained pressure after a intercepted pass springs Houston on the counter. An initally very dangerous moment is avoided as the Houston player pulls the trigger to shoot from distance, even though they had numbers, and Celentano sees it all the way in and makes the save.
The restart earns Houston another oppertunity, but brilliant headed clearance at the last moment stops it any shot from getting on target and it goes out for a corner. Celentano then easily picks the corner out of the air, and the danger seems to come to an end.
25'
Pavel Bucha gets cleaned out on a slide tackle from behind and you can hear how bad that one hurt. Whistle goes and a foul called, giving FCC a free kick on a dangerous spot to the keepers left. Bucha is up and ok after some support from teammates.
Houston gets to the free kick and heads it away though. So moment thwarted. But getting closer.
20'
Houston's best moments have come when the keeper has taken long kicks and the front line wins a second ball for a quick breakout, but they have not really had an answer for FCC when playing in "open play" so to speak. Houston now sitting deeper and waiting for pressure from the FCC press looking for those "kick it deep" moments.
Best chance comes when Andrei Chirila wins the header but the ball lands at a Houston players foot. Play doesn't result in a shot on target but it forces the back line to retreat.
11'
Action coming fast and furious now. New best look for FCC comes when The Orange and Blue press high and force a turnover from the Houston keeper just outside the box. Tah Brian Anunga intercepts the pass out from the GK but the ensueing shot (I couldn't see who it was but I think it was Bucha but could have been Peter Mangione) is saved and out for a corner kick.
Corner is served well but nothing comes of it. We play on.
9'
Houston gets their first look after a cross in by Miles Robinson heads it away. The ensuing rebound results in a shot well wide. Looked dangerous, admittedly, but where it ended up shows there was not much risk.
8'
FC Cincinnati is controling play and having a far better time building through the middle third of the field than they did against CF Montréal. Best chance thus far comes just now when Miles Robinson puts a neatly placed pass forward to Pavel Bucha, who then turns and sends Kévin Denkey forward on a through ball.
It's just mistimed and Kévin tells Pavel it was just too early, but the two low-five in apprication for the attempt. There were two defenders in the area, but Denkey had the beat on both of them, was just a little far out of his reach and the keeper collected it.
nil-nil
1'
Kévin Denkey rolls it back to start things off and we are off and running!
11:55 am, 5 minutes from kickoff
Looks like FC Cincinnati will start with the ball in the first half and wear blue training tops with orange training shorts. Not unusual just something I like noting. Also FC Cincinnati will be playing from my right to left to start.
I'm told the match will be two 45 minute halves.
11:45 am, 15 minutes from kickoff
The lineups are in! FC Cincinnati will kick off in about 15 minutes and will lineup as such:
Roman Celentano
Trialist
Trialist
Miles Robinson
Andrei Chirila (FC Cincinnati 2)
DeAndre Yedlin
Obi Nwobodo
Brian Anunga
Pavel Bucha
Peter Mangione (FC Cincinnati 2)
Kévin Denkey
Last week when FC Cincinnati played CF Montréal, they did a full line change at half time so I would more think of this group as “the first 11” as preseason matches are intended to give opportunities for everyone, especially this early in preseason.
No word from Houston on lineups but will share here if they post on social media before getting to me.
From earlier...
Good morning and howdy! We are back in Clearwater, Florida, for the second of four FC Cincinnati preseason friendlies this spring. While we are back in Clearwater, FCC has driven a little farther inland to the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex to take on Houston Dynamo FC.
The DiMaggio Sports Complex is just steps away from the Philadelphia Phillies MLB Spring Training home. Still, today, all eyes are on footy as The Orange and Blue look to build on their 1-0 victory last week over CF Montreal.
It is a beautiful sunny, 70-degree day on the Florida coast and there isn’t a cloud in the sky, so weather is not a concern. Kickoff is scheduled for noon, and unlike previous matches, I have not yet been informed of any specific match details like length of time or mid-match stoppages. It is, though, fair to assume the match will at least be 90 minutes with a halftime break.
If you joined me for the first Live Blog, presented by Visit St. Petersburg, welcome back! If you are new to the blog, I’ll run through some important details of the coverage to better prepare you for what you are into.
Now, my personal notes as we go forward. This match is not streamed, nor does it have any video assistance for my usage. So, essentially, it is just me with my laptop. However, unlike the last match, where I was seated in my beach chair pitch side, there is a modest press box and bleacher seating at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex. So, I’ll at least be situated somewhat vertically above the field for a better perspective.
Also, I am watching and typing, and there is no video replay of any kind, so I may miss some things or perhaps misidentify stuff as we go. But if I realize an error is made, I will make sure to correct it and identify the mistake when I do. Similarly, there is no public clock for the match, so the timer on my phone will have to do for my usage, so assume everything is an approximation from that point of view.
Lastly, for those who may be visiting FCCincinnati.com from other fan bases. Welcome! I am not in contact with the Houston PR staff, but I may get some info regarding lineups and such. Typically speaking, most of these games also don’t have jerseys with last names (or even numbers in some cases), so I will not be able to identify key info on the fly. I am also going to respect the wishes of all opponent staff requests, so sometimes there is info I can see, but they have asked not to disclose it. So, to continue these blogs in the future, I will refrain.
I think that is all, so let’s have a great day in Florida. Follow along here for updates! I will be updating time stamps as we go, and the top of the blog will always show the most recent update. Lineups will be provided as soon as I get them!