FC Cincinnati and Orlando City B, each logged first-half goal as the two teams tied 1-1 Sat. night at Orlando City Stadium. With the draw, FCC (5-5-6) remains unbeaten in five consecutive matches.
Jordan Schweitzer opened the scoring for OCB in the second minute, getting a pass from Austin Martz, who took the ball down the right flank, cut back and avoided the tackle by Tyler Polak to find Schweitzer, who put the ball into the upper left corner.
Djiby, who had four shots, including three on goal in the first half, tied the game in the 16th minute. Jimmy McLaughlin kicked off the play with a ball from the backfield to a sprinting Andrew Wiedeman. Wiedeman pushed the ball forward, drawing out goalie Earl Edwards Jr. and slipped a pass to Djiby for the fourth time this season and the striker tucked the ball into the back of the net for his eighth USL goal of the year.
The Senegalese striker nearly scored three minutes prior in the 13th when Edwards sent a lazy pass up the middle that was intercepted by Djiby, who carried the ball for a one-on-one situation. However, Edwards won the duel, rushing to make the slide tackle and breaking up the play.
Kenney Walker caught Edwards on his heels in the 29th minute, blasting a shot from distance but tailed the ball just wide and out of the reach of Edwards, who was outstretched in front of the post.
OCB had a series of passes into the box in the 32nd minute but the FCC defense held firm before going on the offensive. Djiby received a pass and out-paced his defender to the right side of the box but Edwards made the kick-save on Djiby’s shot to deny the striker his second goal of the match.
McLaughlin and Wiedeman continued to pressure OCB’s defense, pairing up in the 44th minute as McLaughlin barreled down the middle of the field and got the ball to Wiedeman, who was able to fire off a shot from the top of the box that was knocked down by Edwards.
FCC used an 83-percent passing accuracy in the second half and out-shot OCB 7-1 in the period. Matt Bahner flicked a smooth pass into OCB territory in the 49th minute but the ball was just out of the reach of Djiby, who stretched out but could only poke it out of play.
Wiedeman looked to put FCC ahead in the 51st minute. Walker’s service on a free kick was cleared by OCB but headed back into the box by to Wiedeman, who volleyed the ball over Edwards but just missed the mark, landing the ball on top of the net.
OCB’s Albert Diqwa had a golden opportunity to give the home side the lead in the 67th minute. Receiving a pass from Zachary Ellis-Hayden in the box, Diqwa pushed ahead of FCC’s Austin Berry and took a shot from inside the six but was denied by Mitch Hildebrandt, who made the save on the point-blank effort.
Tyler Polak took his only shot in the 71st minute, sending a climbing drive that was parried out of bounds by Edwards for an FCC corner.
In the 84th minute, OCB was awarded a corner kick, their third of the match. Pierre Da Silva served the ball to the far post but Walker managed to send the ball out of play. OCB continued to work the left side of the field and sent a pair of crosses into the box but was unable to get a shot off.
Kadeem Dacres sparked an FCC attack in the 85th minute and was taken down by Da Silva to set up a free kick for Polak. Da Silva, who was carded for the foul on Dacres, was issued a straight red card after arguing the call and FCC gained the man advantage for the final three minutes of play.
Bahner challenged Edwards in stoppage time, taking a left-footed shot that was punched away by Edwards. FCC kept the ball in OCB’s defensive third as time ticked down but would not get off another shot.
FCC continues on the road at Tampa Bay Rowdies, a match that will be aired on ESPNU and scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m.
FC Cincinnati
