FC Cincinnati are set to host regional rival Nashville SC for the first time as MLS foes Wednesday night at TQL Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and at halftime, all first responders in attendance will be recognized and honored.
To celebrate Halloween, fans are encouraged to wear costumes to the match. Participating fans may find more information including required special guidelines, and activities surrounding the match, available at www.fccincinnati.com/oct27.
Through the end of the season, fans posting a photo on social media in their FCC jersey or waving a rally towel using the hashtag #cincyrallies will have a chance to win season tickets for 2022, courtesy of Mercy Health.
HOW TO WATCH:
Local TV: Star64
Local Stream: fccincinnati.com
Out of Market: ESPN+
Radio: Fox Sports AM 1360
Talent: Tom Gelehrter (play-by-play), Kevin McCloskey (analyst), Alex Stec (sideline)
Be sure to follow @FCCincinnati on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for live updates from the match.
SCOUTING NASHVILLE SC (11-4-16 – 49 pts – 3rd, Eastern Conference)
Nashville SC have lost just four times this season, tied for the fewest in Major League Soccer along with Supporters’ Shield holders New England Revolution. Key to the success for Gary Smith’s club has been the defense, the Six-Strings have conceded 28 goals, tied with Seattle for the fewest this season across the whole league.
Hany Mukhtar ranks towards the top of the league in scoring with 14 goals and nine assists. C.J. Sapong has 10 goals himself, two of which came earlier this season against the Orange and Blue. As to be expected with a team which has conceded under a goal-per-game this season, goalkeeper Joe Willis has been key to Nashville’s success. He leads all MLS goalkeepers with 13 clean sheets.
Key midfielder Dax McCarty (hamstring) is out for Nashville Wednesday night. Daniel Rios (leg) is additionally already ruled out.
STORYLINES TO WATCH
WELCOME (BACK) TO CINCINNATI – Nashville SC mark the final Eastern Conference team to pay a visit to FC Cincinnati’s new TQL Stadium. Although this is the first time the two sides meet in the Queen City as MLS opposition, fans of each club cannot forget the USL Championship meetings between the two regional rivals. In 2018, all three regular season matchups ended in a draw, while FC Cincinnati advanced on penalties when the two sides met in the playoffs, after the match ended 1-1.
THE CAPTAIN NEARING SEVERAL TOP MARKS –FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta overtook the distinction of having the most shots on goal in a season for the Orange and Blue Saturday at Inter Miami CF. His 23 shots on target are more than Allan Cruz’s 21 in 2019. With 63 taken, Acosta nears the most corner kicks taken in one season (65 - Medunjanin, 2020) and he is already the all-time club leader in assists in a career and season.
CAN BRANDON MAKE IT THREE? – With his second goal in as many games Saturday night in South Florida, forward Brandon Vázquez scored in consecutive MLS games for the first time in his career. Only Luciano Acosta has also done that this season for FC Cincinnati (9/25 at D.C., 9/29 at TOR). No FC Cincinnati player has scored in three straight games in the club’s young history.
