FC Cincinnati heads to the Sunshine State for a matchup with Orlando City SC at Inter&Co Stadium this weekend, looking to extend their two-game winning streak and success on the road. With kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET, fans can watch the game for free on Apple TV and listen locally on ESPN 1530.
Let's break down this matchup with some key numbers to consider, presented by CTI.
117 (but also 24, 21 and 11)
Winning possession from opponents has been a defensive specialty for FC Cincinnati club this season, ranking first by a clear margin with 117 balls won this season, 21 more than the next-best club with 96 and nearly double the MLS league average at 61.86.
FC Cincinnati defenders Matt Miazga and Miles Robinson lead the league as individuals in the category as well, with Miazga ranking first with 24 and Robinson right behind him in second, adding 21 of his own.
Midfielder Obinna Nwobodo also ranks in the top 10 and is one of two non-defenders to rank that high with 11. FC Cincinnati is the only club with three players to rank in the top 10, with only Houston Dynamo FC being the other club with multiples in that group.
By comparison, Orlando City SC enters the match Saturday tied for 25 with Nashville, with only 41 balls won. Only Colorado Rapids, Minnesota United and St. Louis CITY SC rank lower.
109.35
Pavel Bucha leads FC Cincinnati in total distance covered with 109.35 kilometers (67.9 miles) and total distance covered with the ball in play with 88.93 kilometers (55.25 miles). Bucha is the only member of The Orange and Blue to start each of the club's 10 MLS matches this season, leading the team with 874 minutes played.
As a club, FCC averages 113 kilometers (70.21 miles) covered per game as a collective.
6
When playing in the flow of the match, FCC's defense is unmatched this season. In addition to ranking tied for first with just nine goals conceded through 10 games this season, FC Cincinnati leads MLS in the fewest goals conceded from open play with six.
On average, in 2024, MLS clubs have conceded 10.48 goals from open play, with Orlando City SC tying with Chicago Fire SC and San Jose Earthquakes for the most conceded goals with 15.
57
Matt Miazga ranks 11th in MLS this season in completed long passes among outfield players. The 2023 MLS Defender of the Year has been the anchor of the defense this season for FCC, directing the backline from the middle all season and, despite missing one of FC Cincinnati's matches this season, still leads the team in completed passes by defenders and ranks 11th among defenders league-wide in completed passes.
93
Orlando City SC ranks second league-wide in fewest shots conceded with 93, which is also the fewest in the Eastern Conference. By comparison, FC Cincinnati ranks 15th in the league with 120 shots conceded.
Despite this low total from Orlando, they rank 10th in opponent expected goals with a cumulative 12.51 this season compared to FC Cincinnati's 11.73, which is the fifth-fewest in MLS this season. This indicates that while Orlando is not conceding an overwhelming number of opportunities, the ones they are conceding are far more dangerous than the ones FC Cincinnati is conceding this far into the season.
10
FC Cincinnati is tied for the most points on the road in the Eastern Conference with 10, earning a 3-1-1 record in five games.
The performances on the road have been as dominant as anyone in the league, scoring eight goals in away matches (fourth in the Eastern Conference) and generating 8.03 xG (fifth in the Eastern Conference). On defense, FCC has been equally balanced on the road, conceding the fourth fewest goals away from home with six.
