Charlie Hatch

Enquirer contributor

Sean Okoli turned toward The Bailey with his arms stretched out, basking in the spotlight.

Within Nippert Stadium’s rowdiest fan section, supporters celebrated and lit orange smoke bombs.

After smashing a one-time volley for his second goal of the match, the flashiest Futbol Club Cincinnati player was well aware he was midway through the best performance in the club’s brief history.

“I just want to show them that we appreciate their work,” Okoli said of scoring his first goal in front of The Bailey. “We want to entertain them, too.”

Okoli entertained. When he wasn’t involved in Cincinnati’s 2-1 win over FC Montreal on Saturday, he dragged opposing defenders out of position to assist his teammates.

Okoli's first goal came in the 35th minute when he was bundled over for a penalty after an impressive run that sliced through the Montreal backline. Okoli powered the penalty kick into the bottom left corner of the net.

The second came from Eric Stevenson’s well-hit cross that found the forward unmarked in the box. Okoli calmly tucked the goal away.

“An unbelievable, clinical finish,” head coach John Harkes said.

Playing a central attacking role in an overwhelmingly attacking team, Okoli has often been the final target of strong build-ups from the back.

One moment he can burst free into open space like a gazelle. The next, he can bullishly hold the ball for surrounding teammates to overlap.

Following the second goal, it was apparent that Okoli looked comfortable slithering through traffic to find open spots to receive the ball. His runs on corners become more direct, and his follow-ups on shots that might lead to rebounded chances became more noticeable.

“Personalities make the game and the shape,” Harkes said. “We’re a team that loves to create and open up the game.”

Okoli’s growing confidence has been evident the past few weeks.

During a postgame interview after a 2-0 win over City Islanders FC on May 28, the forward waved off the notion he had been on a scoring drought. While he scored that night, Okoli hadn’t scored since May 4.

Including the 28th, Okoli bagged four goals in three consecutive league matches, bumping his season total to a team-high seven.

The sudden burst in goal production might be from Okoli finishing chances at a higher rate. Another theory, though, could pin the recent spell on a formation shift.

Prior to the May 28 match, FC Cincinnati started the majority of matches in a 4-3-3 formation, with Okoli in the middle and Andrew Wiedeman and Jimmy McLaughlin on the flanks.

Okoli found chances, but his space to openly float around was limited.

Since that City Islander match, Cincinnati has switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation, which has more emphasis on the midfield and leaves Okoli as the sole forward.

“I know coaches have wanted me to stay more central as an outlet and pinpoint up front,” he said. “But at the same time, I think I can create outside, too. I just need to find that balance.”

Recently, he’s struck that balance.

When he was subbed off in the 70th minute for Omar Cummings, Okoli acknowledged the crowd’s applause with a clap and trotted back to the Cincinnati bench.

“I always knew the goals were going to come some way or another,” he said. “When you get two goals, you always want to get the third. But it’s important to get the three points, too.”