Alec Kann certainly gave FC Cincinnati first-team head coach Pat Noonan something to think about following Kann's first outing since June 25.
Calvin Harris also made a statement for FC Cincinnati 2 against Columbus Crew 2 in an MLS NEXT Pro regular season match played Sunday at TQL Stadium. FCC came back from a 2-0 deficit, as well as falling behind 3-2 in second half added time, to nab a 3-3 draw and a 4-2 shootout win.
Harris scored twice in regulation, including deep in second-half stopped time to force the shootout. Once there, Kann made two saves and FCC2's takers made good on all four of their attempts.
Kann's showing came after Noonan on Thursday said goalkeeper Roman Celentano was the team's No. 1 at the position, based on Kann's injury setbacks this summer.
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"I think what we've seen over the last 10 days is Alec looking very strong, and certainly continuing to move in the right direction and push Roman," Noonan said Thursday. "So that's where we're at right now. There's never guarantees."
FC Cincinnati now has the makings of an intense competition, and Kann's two penalty stops should help bolster his case.
As for Sunday's game, which was played less than 24 hours after FCC's disappointing 2-2 draw against Atlanta United, Cincinnati grabbed a point for the draw with Columbus, an additional point for the shootout victory and concluded the MLS NEXT Pro season series with Columbus on a high note.
"Fantastic game from the boys, second half," FC Cincinnati 2 head coach Tyrone Marshall said afterward. "I thought the spirit - you know, we spoke about the rivalry, talk about the young boys and embracing the moments. Being on TQL (Stadium field) with the fans. Talking about the guys who are in that locker room whose jerseys are already there, you know, the importance of them to show and to lead. It wasn't so much about tactics tonight. It was about the emotion, can we bottle up all the emotion that we have and show the fans because that's what it's all about. It's all about the spirit and the courage and the determination and the grit and the fight. Try to get out there and battle. All tactics out the door. At the end of the day, and it's 'mano a mano.'
"Overall, very good. Very emotional game .. For me, I'm pleased with the performance and pleased for the young men who can enjoy the moment of celebrating (in the stadium)."
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Crew 2 opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a well-worked training-ground-exercise set piece that caught FCC2 off guard. Marco Micaletto finished off the movement for 1-0.
Isiah Parente scored deep in first-half stoppage time in what could have been a punishing blow for the hosts, but Cincinnati hit back.
Harris, who has one first-team goal in his FC Cincinnati career, scored in the 66th minute, and that was followed up by Quimi Ordonez's 74th-minute equalizer.
Penalties seemed a certainty until Parente's second goal of the match arrived about two minutes into second-half added time via a penalty kick.
Play continued after the goal, though, and FCC earned a dramatic spot-kick about two minutes later. Harris deposited the shot for 3-3.
Kann was the difference in the shootout and he saved the second and third attempts of the four he faced.
It was none other than Harris who took the last kick to clinch the additional point in the standings for FCC2.
Kann and Harris were two of seven first-team players that participated in the match for Cincinnati.
"Ryan Coulter the goalkeeper coach, before the game kind of gives me a penalty chart that has where the penalty takers have (shot) in the past," Kann said. "We review it before that. Once I get in the goal, it's kind of up to me to make a decision, and kind of go with my gut.
"Any minutes are valuable, whether it's with the first team or the second team, just to prove my worth to the club and show my worth to the organization ... I found out for sure last night about 10 p.m. I was playing, so got myself in bed and recharged for what ended up being a long game. I feel like I'm back to where I was, if not a little bit ahead of that with three or four weeks of good, sharp training so it was good to get a game to apply some of those things that I've been working on in training."
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