Kenney Walker provided the final tally in the 79th minute, finishing a rebound off Nazmi Albadawi’s initial shot to help the home side avoid a second straight loss at home. FCC tied Bethlehem Steel FC 1-1 last week on the road after dropping a 1-0 loss to Louisville in the home opener April 7.
“To rally from behind twice against a team that hadn’t conceded a goal this season is very challenging,” FCC coach Alan Koch said. “I’m obviously not pleased we gave up the early goal, but I’m proud of the way we came back and were able to get a point out of it. Embracing the tactical changes we made during the course of game allowed us to come back from behind twice. Having said that, I think if put together the quality 90-minute performance, we could have got ourselves a big-time three points tonight.”
Pittsburgh (2-0-3) got on the board in the sixth minute when Jordan Dover stepped in front of Lance Laing on a clear by Forrest Lasso, cut inside on an angle into the box and easily slipped a shot past Evan Newton and into the far post side netting.
FCC (2-1-2) continued to struggle with turnovers early on but eventually settled and began getting some penetrating runs into their offensive third. However, those runs only amounted to two first-half shots, as FCC couldn’t break through Pittsburgh’s back line.
Halftime adjustments moved right winger Emmanuel Ledesma to the left side and as Corben Bone pushed forward more, FC Cincinnati seemed to be better connecting in the attack. In the 59th minute, it led to a goal. Bone intercepted a Pittsburgh clearance at the top of the 18-yard box, quickly found Konig on the run in front of him on the right and Konig put away the equalizer.
“We were all angry and wanted to show we are all better than that (first half),” Konig said. “It was a pleasure playing that second half. It was some of the best soccer we’ve played as a team, in my opinion, in the time I’ve been here. … We showed fight and we got a point, and we’ll take that.”
Pittsburgh responded just as it seemed FCC was well in control, pressing for its first lead. The Riverhounds’ second goal also came off a turnover when Justin Hoyte’s pass fell short of his intended target. Kenardo Forbes found Thomas Vancaeyezeele running into the center of the box to bury a shot into the bottom right corner to make it a 2-1 lead in the 72nd minute.
It didn’t take long for Walker, a regular starter at center mid that past two-plus seasons, to show his value coming off the bench in the 60th minute for his first action since suffering a concussion at Indy on March 31. His goal was the sixth of his FCC career.
“That’s how we needed to play from the first minute because if we do that and put that together for 90 minutes it’s going to be tough to stop us and beat us, anywhere, home or away,” Walker said.
FC Cincinnati travels to Canada to play Ottawa Fury FC on Saturday. The next home game is May 5 against Atlanta United FC.
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