NO. 5 FC CINCINNATI at NO. 4 NEW YORK RED BULLS – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2022 – 12 p.m. ET – RED BULL ARENA
HOW TO WATCH
Local TV: Star64
National TV: UniMás and TUDN (simulcast)
Stream: MLSSoccer.com and MLS App
Local Radio: ESPN 1530
Local Talent: Tom Gelehrter (play-by-play), Kevin McCloskey (analyst), Alex Stec (sideline)
National Talent: Luis Omar Tapia (play-by-play), Raul Guzman (analyst), Marcelo Balboa (analyst), Xavi Sol (sideline)
Be sure to follow @FCCincinnati on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for live updates from the game.
SCOUTING THE NEW YORK RED BULLS (15-11-8, 53 PTS, 4TH EASTERN CONFERENCE)
Head Coach: Gerhard Struber (27-23-17 at RBNY, Second Season)
Captain: Aaron Long
Leading Scorer: Lewis Morgan (14)
Leading Assister: Cristian Cásseres Jr. and Omir Fernandez (6)
Goals Scored: 50 (11th-most out of 27 clubs)
Goals Against: 41 (T-4th-fewest/27)
Goal Difference: 9
While the Orange and Blue will be partaking in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in club history, the New York Red Bulls are the opposite. New York have qualified 23 times for the MLS postseason, the most in league history. They have actually only missed out on the playoffs just four times in franchise history.
For the 13th straight season, the Red Bulls qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs. That’s the longest active streak in MLS and is tied for the longest streak in club history.
Speaking of the Red Bulls and postseason, Head Coach Gerhard Struber was named the gaffer for the Red Bulls on Oct. 6, 2020 prior to their playoff match against Columbus Crew. That made him the first head coach in MLS history to begin as a manager in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Last year in his first full season, he finished with a 13-12-9 record, but his 7-1-4 mark over the club’s final 12 games led New York to the playoffs and gave them momentum into this year.
New York began this season hot, accumulating a 9-3-6 record across all competitions through May. Much of that was attributed to their road record, as they became the second team in MLS history to win their first five road games of the season in regulation, the first since the LA Galaxy in 1998. Their .618 road win percentage this season and nine road victories only trailed CF Montréal (.706, 11 road wins).
Yet, their home win percentage is what led to their season being capped at fourth place in the Eastern Conference. With a 6-6-5 record at Red Bull Arena and a .500 win percentage in Harrison, New Jersey, it was tied for the second-lowest home win percentage in the league.
New York occupied first place when they came to the Queen City in early July. They’re known for their physical, high-press system. That also creates frustration for their opponents, which boiled over particularly in that matchup at TQL Stadium which saw Luciano Acosta and Allan Cruz sent off with red cards in the second half. The Red Bulls have committed 525 fouls this season, by far the most in MLS (next closest: Philadelphia Union, 488).
Offensively, the Red Bulls have scored 50 times this season, with 14 different players contributing to the tally. Scottish midfielder Lewis Morgan leads the charge with 14 goals this season, nine more than any other Red Bulls player. He scored from the penalty spot at TQL Stadium in July’s 1-1 draw between the Orange and Blue and Red Bulls.
Other attacking threats for New York include Luquinhas and Patryk Klimala, both of whom have tallied five goals and three assists this year. Forward Tom Barlow has added four goals in just eight starts and defender Aaron Long remains a goal scoring threat. His four goals rank tied-fourth for most goals in the league by a primary defender.
Long leads a backline which includes stalwart Sean Nealis in the central defense alongside his sibling Dylan, who started the final two games of the regular season with his older brother. Goalkeeper Carlos Coronel is steady protecting the net for the Red Bulls, the Brazilian keeper started 33 of 34 games for New York and kept eight clean sheets, allowing just 39 goals.
Head Coach Gerhard Struber on Thursday confirmed midfielder Cristian Cásseres will miss Saturday’s matchup due to a leg injury. He started 24 games but has been out since mid-September. That leaves much of the creative duties to former FC Cincinnati midfielder Frankie Amaya, who has five assists in 24 starts this year.
New York have lost three of their last five dating back to the beginning of September. They are however coming off a 2-0 win against Charlotte FC at Red Bull Arena on Decision Day, a win which means that their 424 points at their home fortress since 2010 is the most in the league over that span. Across all competitions, New York are 8-4-1 at Red Bull Arena in their last 13 games.
Saturday's matchup will broadcast locally on Star64, nationally on Univision (Spanish audio) and on MLSSoccer.com/MLS App (English audio) and over the radio locally on ESPN 1530.
For more information on the Orange and Blue’s first appearance in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, visit FC Cincinnati Playoff Central presented by Mercy Health.
