FC Cincinnati return to TQL Stadium to take on the current Eastern Conference leaders the New York Red Bulls. Kickoff on Saturday, July 9 is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday will also feature the team’s annual Pride Match, presented by P&G and supported by Cincinnati Pride.
FC CINCINNATI vs NEW YORK RED BULLS – SATURDAY, JULY 9, 2022 – 7:30 p.m. ET – TQL STADIUM
HOW TO WATCH
Local TV: Star64
Local Stream: fccincinnati.com
Out of Market Stream: ESPN+
Radio: ESPN 1530
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 game.
Tickets are still available, visit fccincinnati.com/tickets or call 513-977-KICK, that’s 513-977-5425.
GAME ACTIVATIONS
A special Pride scarf is available for this match, available exclusively in the TQL Stadium Team Store and on forcincyforclub.com, with $5 from each purchase donated to nonprofit Caracole.
Prior to the game, head over to Washington Park between 4:30-7:30 p.m. to enjoy special activations including:
- Music by the Queen City Freedom Band and DJ Matt
- Giveway product samples and shirts from presenting sponsor P&G
- Cincinnati Pride activation
- LGBTQ+ food trucks and businesses
- FC Cincinnati soccer challenges
- Beer, wine, hard seltzer and drink specials available for purchase at The Pitch
Fans can join the Supporters March to TQL Stadium, departing Washington Park at approximately 6:45 p.m.
Can’t make it to the game and looking for a place to watch the Orange and Blue? Head to one of the club’s official Pub Partners for the season, which broadcast all home and away games and feature opportunities for fans to win prizes all season long.
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Red Bulls lead the all-time MLS series over FC Cincinnati, 4-2-1 (2-0-0 in Cincinnati).
SCOUTING NEW YORK RED BULLS (9-5-5, 32 PTS, 1ST EASTERN CONFERENCE)
Winners of four of their last six MLS contests, the Red Bulls have taken over the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Head Coach Gerhard Struber has led his team to six road wins, two more than any other squad in the Eastern Conference.
New York is 6-3-1 on the road this season in MLS and has scored 15 goals in those matches, which ranks second in the league. The club is 9-4-2 in their last 15 MLS road matches, outscoring opponents 20-13 in those matches.
Nine different players have scored for the Red Bulls this season, led by Lewis Morgan’s eight strikes. Brazilian midfielder Luquinhas has added five goals, followed by four goals from Patryk Klimala and three from U.S. Men’s National Team defender Aaron Long, who scored the winner in last weekend’s 1-0 win against Sporting Kansas City.
New York will be without standout defender Sean Nealis, who up until his 73rd minute red card last time out against SKC had not missed a minute of MLS action this season. Nealis has been part of a lockdown defense that includes the previously mentioned Aaron Long, goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, who ranks third in Red Bulls history with 18 shutouts, defenders John Tolkin, Tom Edwards and Dylan Nealis who each have made at least 16 appearances this season.
STORYLINES OF THE GAME
AFTER HALFWAY…AGAINST FIRST PLACE – FC Cincinnati face off against a first-place side after the halfway point of the season for the fourth time in club history (0-3-0). Last year, the Orange and Blue traveled to eventual Supporters’ Shield winners New England Revolution on August 21 and suffered a 4-1 loss. That game, just as Saturday’s is, came on Matchday #19 for FC Cincinnati.
In 2020, FC Cincinnati hosted both Toronto FC (October 11) and Sporting Kansas City (October 28) within a few weeks, both side led their respective conferences at the time. Both handed FCC 1-0 losses in front of a quiet Nippert Stadium during the Covid-shortened 2020 season.
WELCOME TO THE QUEEN CITY – FC Cincinnati and the New York Red Bulls will meet for the eighth time, in Cincinnati for just the third of those. The Orange and Blue and the Red Bulls have never had a game decided by more than two goals.
In games in Cincinnati, FC Cincinnati have never scored against the visiting Red Bulls, but have also trailed for a total of 29 minutes. In the first MLS meeting on May 25, 2019, the Orange and Blue outshot New York but it was Kaku’s 78th minute goal followed by Omir Fernandez’s stoppage time sealer to take a late win.
Last year’s lone goal was another late one, as once FCC defender Andrew Gutman scored in the 73rd minute to give the visitors all three points.
MILESTONES AWAIT – FC Cincinnati forward Brandon Vazquez will make the 100th regular season appearance of his MLS career the next time he steps on the field. His next goal will also set the club’s single-season club record for goals (enters Saturday at 8).
FCC midfielder Luciano Acosta will make the 50th regular season appearance since joining FC Cincinnati. His 49 appearances since the beginning of the 2021 season are the most on the club (Brandon Vazquez - 48).
Allan Cruz will make the 50th start of his career the next time he is in Head Coach Pat Noonan’s Starting XI. He started at New England for the second time this season, the first since the opener on February 26 at Austin FC.
BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BRENNER – FC Cincinnati forward Brenner is the third player in club history to score in three straight games. Should he find the back of the net on Saturday, he’ll be the first to score in four straight games.
His current three-game goal streak matches Brandon Vazquez (October 2021 vs. CHI, at MIA, vs. NSH) and Luciano Acosta (April – May 2022 vs. LAFC, at TOR, vs. TOR) as the longest in club history.
THE PLAYER OF THE MONTH – FC Cincinnati’s captain Lucho Acosta was named MLS Player of the Month for June on Wednesday. The Argentine leads MLS in both goal contributions (16) and assists (10) in 2022, while ranking second in key passes (48). He has produced at least one goal or assist in 13 different games this season, which is the most in MLS. Acosta’s 33 goal contributions since the start of 2021 are the 4th most in MLS and his 20 assists are tied for the 2nd most.
Acosta is the first FC Cincinnati player to be voted MLS Player of the Month in club history. It is the second Player of the Month honor in his career (September 2018 with D.C. United), joining New York City FC’s Taty Castellanos, Atlanta United’s Josef Martínez, and LAFC’s Carlos Vela as the only players to win multiple MLS Player of the Month awards since the start of 2018. Acosta is the 10th player in MLS history to be named Player of the Month with two different teams.
HEAD COACH PAT NOONAN’S TAKE
On facing the first-place Red Bulls
“I think that the opponents at the top of the table speaks to the balance of the conference in a league where if you win a couple games, you can jump pretty quickly or drop pretty quickly. It is a strong opponent, and certainly a Red Bulls team that has had success on the road early on this year. They understand how to how to approach the road games in ways to get results. We know it'll be a challenging game. Certainly as far as what the defensive pressure to the ball looks like, that's all heightened a little bit in how we understand and prepare for numbers to the ball, and ideas of how to get through that pressure so that you're not turning the ball over in dangerous areas and constantly find yourself in transition moments defensively.”
On Luciano Acosta winning MLS Player of the Month for June
“There's certain accolades for me that you value. There's others that I don't put much time or conversation into. It's certainly good that our players are getting recognition, that's always a positive and deserving in Lucho's case because he's helped us get results and he's produced consistently throughout the year. It's always a good thing when they're being talked about for the right reasons. So whether it's Lucho, or any other of our players, it's the individual accolades and recognition only come because our team's having success. So if our team is doing well, guys will be recognized. And that's what they need to understand.”
On if league voters should consider Acosta for MVP
“They should. They should.”
FC Cincinnati's 2022 schedule can be viewed, HERE. Fans can build their custom 3 Match Flex Plan today. Pick any three matches and save on single match ticket pricing with no fees at checkout. Fans can pick the same seats for three games or select different options around TQL Stadium.
Single match tickets to any of FC Cincinnati’s remaining home games are also available now, head to fccincinnati.com/tickets or call 513-977-KICK, that’s 513-977-5425, to learn more.
FC Cincinnati are playing their fourth season of MLS competition in 2022, and their second playing at TQL Stadium. For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. Additionally, fans are encouraged to download the team’s official mobile app on the Apple App Store or Google Play for instant access to mobile tickets, team content and match notifications.
