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Cincinnati Shock Chicago With Keeper Mitch Hildebrandt On Another Planet

A record-setting crowd of 32,287 packed into FC Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium to watch their club take on surging MLS side Chicago Fire in the Round of 16 of the U.S. Open Cup. Perhaps there’s no greater barometer for the growth of the sport in America than the fact that this wasn’t just a quirky Wednesday night excursion to the stadium to watch Bastian Schweinsteiger for FCC faithful, this was a seething cauldron of tensions and daring expectancies.

FC Cincinnati

Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium on the night. Photo: @fccincinnati | Twitter

To say 28-year-old FC Cincy goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt fed off the atmosphere and the bright lights of the ESPN cameras would be a gross understatement. The Michigan native devoured everything in front of him.

Hildebrandt made 10 saves in 120 minutes of scoreless action, including four on Major League Soccer’s leading scorer, Nemanja Nikolic, and two on Schweinsteiger. 

 

In the shootout, Hildebrandt again frustrated Nikolic before also stopping Arturo Alvarez and Juninho.

Nippert Stadium was the place to be.

Cincinnati claimed their second MLS scalp of the tournament to go along with their fourth round victory over the Chicago Fire. They’ve been rewarded with a quarterfinal matchup against the only other side remaining outside of MLS, Miami FC. 

That match will take place on July 12 in Miami, Florida.

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