The guys review USA-Mexico and Indy Eleven-Jacksonville Armada FC before turning their focus to Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup match between USL side FC Cincinnati and MLS’ Columbus Crew SC — all while digesting the soothing tunes of Sarah McLachlan.
Thumbnail photo credit: Jason Squires/WireImage
Note: Impromptu use of musical snippets protected via the “fair use” clause under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976.
You can follow Soc Takes on Twitter @SocTakes.
CINCINNATI — When MLS’ Columbus Crew SC and the USL’s FC Cincinnati meet it’s called the “Hell Is Real Derby” for a reason. And no, it’s not just because of an awkward billboard that displays the phrase on Interstate 71 between the two Ohio cities. OK, so it is, but…
Photo credit: Matt Schlotzhauer/Indy Eleven
Tanner Thompson left last week’s game with a concussion. It’s a symptom of the plague of injuries that have befallen the Indy Eleven during the course of the season. While his injury is being taken seriously, it’s not a permanent setback. Thompson is expected to return to training next week.
All season long. One blow after another. This Indy team just cannot get healthy. Kwame Watson-Siriboe took a much harder hit against the Deltas in San Francisco. He’ll remain on the injury list for his concussion that seems to have been a greater concern than was Thompson’s. His return is unknown.
Mexican international Gerardo Torrado has shown some signs of aging. The 38-year-old midfielder is being treated for a lower back injury that has required a recent MRI. He was on the stationary bike last week but was not at training on Friday. He is on a week to week recovery plan. The fear for the Indy training staff is him picking up an additional injury due to compensating for the first one.
The fourth starting caliber player that will be unable to go this weekend is Lovel Palmer. There is no Rasta love from the NASL front office. They handed down a two-game suspension for extracurricular activities in Indianapolis a week ago. Indy chose not to appeal and I was told by an Indy official that the league informed them of a precedent for that type of suspension.
Wherever we’ve gone you guys always follow, I’d never stop fighting for this team, fans and city #IndyForever
— Lovel Palmer (@lovelpalmer7) June 11, 2017
Braun is back! Eleven forward Justin Braun has made his way back to health after missing several games with a calf strain. Soc Takes expects him to start in his first game back from injury.
“The return of Justin is an important part for us. If you remember last fall, he was out for five games and during that five game stretch we had two ties and three losses…The results aren’t on his back but we know we are better with him than without him. Let me put it that way.” – Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson
You can follow Aaron on Twitter @AGunyon.
CINCINNATI — When MLS’ Columbus Crew SC and the USL’s FC Cincinnati meet it’s called the “Hell Is Real Derby” for a reason. And no, it’s not just because of an awkward billboard that displays the phrase on Interstate 71 between the two Ohio cities. OK, so it is, but…
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Nashville SC advanced in 2022 U.S. Open Cup play Wednesday night on an 89th-minute goal from Hany Mukhtar. The visitors had equalized through Ake Arnaud Loba in the 39th minute after LouCity’s Brian Ownby opened the scoring in the 37th. Follow Robbie on Twitter: @RobbieMeh. Support Soc…
INDIANAPOLIS — With a checkered history in the U.S. Open Cup, the last thing the Indy Eleven wanted Tuesday evening was another early exit from the competition. A couple goals later, Indy saw itself painfully bounced once again, this time by way of a 2-nil defeat to visiting St….
Claim structural changes make competing impossible for college-reliant amateur clubs As a result of changes made by U.S. Soccer to the U.S. Open Cup schedule, several qualified USL League Two clubs are planning to withdraw from the competition entirely, citing a lack of available players in the early spring….
Well hello there, Soc Takes. It’s been a while. You may have noticed my as-of-yet unexplained absence the past few months. To make a long story short, I got dumped, took some vacations, got a promotion at work, met a new girl and went to a lot of soccer…
INDIANAPOLIS — It had been three years since the Indy Eleven exited the U.S. Open Cup with a tournament win in tow. After embarrassing road losses to amateur teams the past two years — the Michigan Bucks in 2017 and Mississippi Brilla in 2018 — Indy finally got off…
INDIANAPOLIS — 2019 enters its second month, and the staff at Old Bhoys HQ are plugging away with a ton of off-the-pitch work. Some recent accomplishments worth sharing on this space include finalizing the Bhoys’ 2019 UPSL schedule, as well as detailing the plans for competitions in this upcoming…
While FC Wichita’s players were on the field playing NTX Rayados in the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, someone broke into the locker room and robbed the team. Phones, wallets, passports and other valuables were stolen. The latest value estimate is $20,000. FC Wichita is an amateur team, and…
Recently on Twitter, my friend and former colleague Chad Irvine pinged me to ask if I might hop on my soapbox and write (complain) about the region designations for the 2018 U.S. Open Cup. If you’re unfamiliar, the tournament in the early rounds splits the bracket into regional groupings….
“Is John back on his rant soapbox again?” Yes, yes he is. “Well, what is it this time?” It’s simple. There is still no Women’s Open Cup. You see, the U.S. Open Cup is kind of the greatest thing in American sports. Every single year, teams from all over…
Our very own Nipun Chopra helps our good friends at Cincinnati Soccer Talk preview the pushed-back-due-to-weather U.S. Open Cup match between FC Cincinnati and Miami FC. Originally scheduled for July 12, a nasty storm delayed — and ultimately postponed — the game, forcing an August make-up date. Watch: Nipun…
The panel discusses the penultimate week of the NASL spring season in which Miami FC clinched the spring title with a 7-0 destruction of the San Francisco Deltas. The upcoming U.S. Open Cup match between Miami FC and FC Cincinnati also gets heavily previewed. LISTEN HERE Soc Takes is…
CINCINNATI — The Chicago Fire knew nabbing a win at Nippert Stadium in front of an expected crowd of 30,000-plus on an unfamiliar pitch wouldn’t be a cakewalk. They couldn’t have been more correct. After 90 minutes and 30 more of stoppage time, FC Cincinnati prevailed over Chicago in… CINCINNATI — When MLS’ Columbus Crew SC and the USL’s FC Cincinnati meet it’s called the “Hell Is Real Derby” for a reason. And no, it’s not just because of an awkward billboard that displays the phrase on Interstate 71 between the two Ohio cities. OK, so it is, but…
CINCINNATI — A potent striker returned to the FC Cincinnati lineup Wednesday night and immediately provided his club a huge boost. If you’re looking for a corny pop culture reference, you could say FC Cincy was “Gettin’ Djiby Wit It.” With a spot in the next round of the U.S….
WESTFIELD, Ind. — Usual suspects Kevin Johnston and Nipun Chopra return to the airwaves with ample U.S. women’s national team, Indy Eleven and FC Cincinnati chatter in Episode 6 of Soc Takes TV presented by Sogility on the ISC Sports Network. WATCH HERE Support Soc Takes on Patreon for…
WESTFIELD, Ind. — Co-hosts Nipun Chopra and Kevin Johnston ramble on about everything from FC Cincinnati and Indy’s Eleven Park development to the ISC Sports Network‘s sorely lacking hair and makeup budget. It’s the latest edition of Soc Takes TV presented by Sogility. WATCH HERE Support Soc Takes on…
CINCINNATI — Just a few days after Sporting KC suffered a 5-0 trouncing in Concacaf Champions League play at Monterrey, Peter Vermes’ side was tasked with heading to Nippert Stadium to take on expansion FC Cincinnati. An early Darren Mattocks penalty conversion by the hosts was canceled out by…
CINCINNATI — The Philadelphia Union outplayed and ultimately topped FC Cincinnati 2-0 at Nippert Stadium on Saturday in downright dreadful conditions. A clean sheet from Andre Blake and two strikes early in the second half, the first by Marco Fabian and the second by David Accam, who also assisted…
WESTFIELD, Ind. — Co-hosts Nipun Chopra and Kevin Johnston share their thoughts on the Indy Eleven, FC Cincinnati and Sogility, the soccer-specific training facility where the show is filmed, in Episode 4 of Soc Takes TV on the ISC Sports Network. WATCH HERE Support Soc Takes on Patreon for…
CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati toppled the Portland Timbers 3-0 on Sunday to record its first-ever MLS win in its inaugural MLS home match at Nippert Stadium in front of a sellout crowd of 32,250. Kendall Waston, Allan Cruz and Mathieu Deplagne tallied for the hosts, while Spencer Richey delivered…
Cincinnati Soccer Talk’s Nick Seuberling joins co-hosts Kevin Johnston and John Lenard to analyze FC Cincinnati’s roster construction ahead of the club’s first season in MLS. Seuberling also discusses his background in soccer and digital media. Support Soc Takes on Patreon for access to exclusive content and supporter benefits. Click…
CHICAGO — FC Cincinnati stole the show at Friday’s Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The 24th club in MLS history made a trade Wednesday to secure two picks in the first round of the draft. Overall, they made five selections looking to get some competition for their first-year roster. “We have…
Tommy Heinemann has endured a difficult year. From the highs of winning the NASL and signing a contract with FC Cincinnati, to the lows of the events of early January and beyond. On Nov. 15, Heinemann’s agent, PJ Savage, confirmed via Twitter that Heinemann won his arbitration case against…
Co-hosts Nipun Chopra and Jason Davis of Compass Football focus on the rapid ascent of FC Cincinnati in Episode 7 of Lower League America. After first taking the pitch in the USL in 2016, the club defied lower-division attendance expectations on its way to getting awarded a spot in…
Eight teams remain, four in each conference, with the second round of the USL playoffs set to kick off this weekend. Which four sides do you think will advance to the conference finals? Drop a comment below with your predictions. Follow John on Twitter: @JohnMLTX. Support Soc Takes on Patreon…
The playoffs have arrived. Sixteen clubs will vie for the 2018 USL Cup in the league’s single-elimination postseason format. FC Cincinnati and Orange County SC earned the top seeds in the respective Eastern and Western Conference. Louisville City FC, the defending champion, is the No. 2 seed in the… CINCINNATI — When MLS’ Columbus Crew SC and the USL’s FC Cincinnati meet it’s called the “Hell Is Real Derby” for a reason. And no, it’s not just because of an awkward billboard that displays the phrase on Interstate 71 between the two Ohio cities. OK, so it is, but…
CINCINNATI — A Geoff Cameron handball in stoppage time and subsequent penalty conversion by Ola Kamara allowed D.C. United to eke out a win at FC Cincinnati on Saturday at TQL Stadium. The 1-0 D.C. victory came despite an 80th-minute red card to Moses Nyeman. Follow Jamie on Twitter: @JamieSmed….
CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati and Orlando City SC dueled to a 1-1 stalemate Saturday at TQL Stadium, allowing OCSC to stay in second place in the Eastern Conference while FCC remains mired near the bottom in 13th. Goals from Brenner and Nani on each side of halftime ended up…
CINCINNATI — Despite arguably being outplayed by the hosts, the visiting Colorado Rapids put their only two attempts on goal in the back of the net Saturday to sink FC Cincinnati 2-0 at TQL Stadium. Diego Rubio bagged the first in the 21st minute while Jonathan Lewis added the…
CINCINNATI — The New England Revolution remained atop the Eastern Conference on 17 points after blanking FC Cincinnati 1-0 on Saturday in the second match ever played at TQL Stadium. A 70th-minute connection from Carles Gil to Adam Buksa put the visitors up for good. Follow Jamie on Twitter: @JamieSmed….
CINCINNATI — In the inaugural match at TQL Stadium, FC Cincinnati rallied from two goals down to tie it late before Gonzalo Higuain’s game-winning strike in the 85th minute handed Inter Miami CF a 3-2 road win and three points. Brek Shea scored the first-ever goal at the stadium…
CINCINNATI — In each club’s first game back since the conclusion of the MLS Is Back tournament, FC Cincinnati and D.C. United settled for a nil-nil draw Friday at Nippert Stadium. Both teams are currently in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference with FCC sitting on…
In the latest episode of Front Porch Discourse, co-hosts John Lenard and Ian Foster discuss the pitfalls of FC Cincinnati‘s expansion season, comparing them to the decade’s other lower-leagues-to-MLS transitions. But first, they take on how the media seemed to completely underestimate Jill Ellis and the USWNT in 2019….
With the rise of advanced analytics in soccer, expected goals (xG) has become a go-to metric for examining the quality of both clubs and individual players beyond base accumulation stats (goals, assists, etc.). Inspired by Ben Mayhew of Experimental 3-6-1, who utilizes similar statistics for the English Football League,…
FC Cincinnati‘s inaugural season in MLS has all but hit the skids. Sitting on a measly 17 points through 24 matches, good for dead last in the Supporters’ Shield standings, it’s time for the club to turn its focus toward the future. That’s precisely what the club has done…
CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati’s brutal inaugural MLS campaign recently encountered a spell of positivity with two consecutive victories after going winless in league play in all of June and most of May. But second-half breakdowns in the defensive third Thursday night spoiled the run of good form, as FC…
After ending up on the wrong side of a 7-1 shellacking June 29 in St. Paul, FC Cincinnati enters Thursday’s home fixture with D.C. United schlepping a two-match winning streak. D.C. sits third in the Eastern Conference standings, but will be without a notable playmaker Thursday evening. Kickoff at…
CINCINNATI — The LA Galaxy were out-passed and out-possessed at FC Cincinnati on Saturday, but were much more efficient with their opportunities to earn a 2-0 road win. Emmanuel Boateng and Favio Alvarez tallied for the visitors, with the latter also providing the assist on the former’s goal. The… CINCINNATI — When MLS’ Columbus Crew SC and the USL’s FC Cincinnati meet it’s called the “Hell Is Real Derby” for a reason. And no, it’s not just because of an awkward billboard that displays the phrase on Interstate 71 between the two Ohio cities. OK, so it is, but…