Patrick Brennan

pbrennan@enquirer.com

An already memorable occasion for FC Cincinnati was topped off with a win.

Playing its inaugural home game, FC Cincinnati (2-1-0) claimed a 2-1 victory against Charlotte Independence (1-2-0) before a Nippert Stadium crowd of 14,658.

The attendance mark is the largest single-game attendance in the USL in 2016, surpassing the crowd of 11,569 Sacramento Republic FC drew for its home opener.

"I thought the environment was fantastic," Head Coach John Harkes said after the game. "I thought it lifted our boys. It's not even the number of fans - it's how loud they were, and how educated they are... The people are dying for this to happen here in Cincinnati."

FC Cincinnati fans needed wait just five minutes for the first reason to stand and cheer. Forward Sean Okoli popped the ball up to himself from about 10 yards out and scored on an airborne scissor kick to open the scoring.

Okoli's acrobatic goal started to get national attention on social media before the conclusion of the game.

"A lot of my job is just getting in good position in the box," Okoli said. "The first goal at Nippert is very special to me, especially with the environment."

The next goal came after halftime, and it was one for locals to cherish.

Summit Country Day School graduate Austin Berry headed home from close range to put Cincinnati up, 2-0, in the 52nd minute. Midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin, who led FC Cincinnati in shots (four) for the third consecutive game, earned his point of the season by assisting on Berry's goal.

"Being from here, it's special for me. More importantly, for the fans," Berry said. "Fans have been waiting for this opportunity to show. I'm just glad they were rewarded for their patience and their energy that they brough to the game."

Opening night worth the wait for FC Cincy

As has become FC Cincinnati's custom, though, closing out the win wasn't achieved easily.

Charlotte pulled to within a goal at 2-1 two minutes after Berry's score when David Estrada hammered home from close range. The goal was scored after failed clearance attempts by FC Cincinnati.

Six days earlier in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Cincinnati nearly lost its 2-0 lead in the closing minutes to Bethlehem Steel FC. They held on for a 2-1 win. A week earlier, Cincinnati was done in by a goal on virtually the last kick of the game against Charleston Battery. That game ended in a 1-0 loss.

But unlike in its previous two outings, FC Cincinnati managed to close out the win without incident following a momentary lapse. Harkes used all five of his substitutions to help his players close out the game.

"To be fair, managing the emotions tonight was always going to be a challenge," Harkes said after the game. "We scored the (Austin Berry) goal, got a little bit emotionally high. and (Charlotte) created some opportunities there... We'd like to manage it a bit better."

Cincinnati goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt made comfortable work of the on-target shots he saw in the final third of the contest. Hildebrandt ended the game with six saves - four of those came in the second half.

The defense also righted itself following Estrada's goal, and tidily defended when necessary in the closing minutes.

FC Cincinnati returns to action next Saturday against Louisville City FC.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect the correct score of FC Cincinnati's loss to Charleston Battery. In fact, FC Cincinnati lost to Charleston, 1-0.