FC Cincinnati forward Brandon Vazquez and Head Coach Pat Noonan have been named to the Major League Soccer Team of the Matchday 35, the league announced today. FC Cincinnati won the 2023 Supporters’ Shield with their win in Canada on Saturday night as Brandon Vazquez netted two first-half goals and Pat Noonan’s side earned a 3-2 victory over Toronto FC.
Vazquez earns his second nod on the weekly honor roll as he scored his 15th and 16th club goals across all competitions this season with his brace on Saturday night against Toronto. The U.S. Men’s National Team forward volleyed home a shot from inside the box to open the scoring in the 28th minute, and he doubled the Orange and Blue’s lead seven minutes later as he followed up an Aaron Boupendza shot that was saved, slotting the rebound past the TFC goalkeeper.
Pat Noonan also earns his second coach of the matchday honor as he led FC Cincinnati to their 19th win in 31 MLS games this season. With wins in their final two home matches (Oct. 4 vs New York Red Bulls, Oct. 21 vs Atlanta United FC), Noonan and FC Cincinnati can set the MLS all-time record with 15 home wins in a single season. With wins in all three of the club’s remaining games, FC Cincinnati would set the MLS record for points in a single season.
This is the 39th and 40th recognition of an FC Cincinnati player or coach on the weekly team this season. A full list of 2023 FC Cincinnati matchday honors:
2023 FC Cincinnati MLS Team of the Matchday Player Recognitions
- Obinna Nwobodo (Matchday 1, 3, 13-Bench, 25)
- Brenner (3-Bench)
- Junior Moreno (4)
- Matt Miazga (5-Bench, 7, 15-Bench)
- Brandon Vazquez (5-Bench, 35)
- Yerson Mosquera (6, 10)
- Álvaro Barreal (6-Bench, 9, 11-Bench, 16, 24-Bench, 29, 33)
- Sergio Santos (9-Bench)
- Luciano Acosta (11-Bench, 13, 14, 16-Bench, 17-Bench, 20, 24, 26, 28, 29, 34)
- Roman Celentano (14-Bench, 20, 28-Bench)
- Dominique Badji (22)
- Santiago Arias (26-Bench)
- Aaron Boupendza (32)
2023 FC Cincinnati MLS Coach of the Matchday Recognitions
- Pat Noonan (29, 35)
The full team for Matchday 35 is listed below.
2023 MLS Team of the Matchday presented by Audi (Matchday 35)
F: João Klauss (STL), Brandon Vazquez (CIN), Cristian Arango (RSL)
M: Facundo Torres (ORL), Ryan Gauld (VAN), Eduard Löwen (STL), Douglas Costa (LA)
D: Andreas Maxsö (COL), Tomás Avilés (MIA), Dave Romney (NE)
GK: Andre Blake (PHI)
Coach: Pat Noonan (CIN)
Bench: Roman Bürki (STL), Eriq Zavaleta (LA), Reed Baker-Whiting (SEA), Jonathan Osorio (TOR), Mateusz Klich (DC), Santiago Moreno (POR), Santiago Rodríguez (NYC), Cristian Espinoza (SJ), Georgios Koutsias (CHI)
Bench: Tim Melia (SKC), Carlos Akapo (SJ), Jesús Bueno (PHI), David Ruíz (MIA), Carles Gil (NE), Brian Gutiérrez (CHI), Santiago Moreno (POR), Michael Barrios (LA), Talles Magno (NYC)
FC Cincinnati will officially lift their silverware for the first time in front of fans attending Wednesday night’s home match against the New York Red Bulls. The Supporters’ Shield Celebration will take place on the field at TQL Stadium immediately following the final whistle. Limited tickets are still available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK).
The match will stream exclusively, for free with no subscription required, on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Fans can also listen to the match locally on Fox Sports 1360.
