FC Cincinnati will take the field at TQL Stadium for the first time in over a month to take on Orlando City SC on Friday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m., presented by Allegiant. All fans are encouraged to wear blue for a Blue Out, and a special Blue Out scarf is available for this game exclusively in the TQL Stadium Team Store and on forcincyforclub.com.
The game will mark just the fifth time since joining MLS that FC Cincinnati will play on a Friday, the first and only scheduled contest this season. The Orange and Blue seek their first ever win on a Friday, entering 0-2-2.
FC CINCINNATI vs. ORLANDO CITY SC – FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022 – 7:30 p.m. – 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
Prior to the game, head over to Washington Park between 4:30-7:30 p.m. to enjoy special activations including:
- Caricature Artists
- Street Pops
- Face Painting and Balloon Artists
- Kids Soccer Games
- Beer, wine, hard seltzer and drink specials available for purchase at The Porch.
Fans can join the Supporters March to TQL Stadium, departing Washington Park at approximately 6:45 p.m.
Allegiant, the presenting sponsor of the game, will give away 6,500 luggage tags to fans entering the Allegiant Gate. A new food vendor Dirty Frank’s will serve hot dogs and tater tots in the First Financial Club.
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.
SCOUTING ORLANDO CITY SC (7-5-4, 25 POINTS, 4th EASTERN CONFERENCE)
FC Cincinnati will seek a season sweep over the Lions, FCC earned their first win of 2022 back on March 12 at Orlando. Brandon Vazquez’s brace led to the Orange and Blue’s first ever win over Orlando.
Óscar Pareja is in his fourth season at the helm of Orlando City. The former Colombian International led the Lions to the MLS Cup Playoffs each of the past two seasons.
Designated Player Ercan Kara leads the Lions in goals with six, no other player has scored more than twice for Orlando. A wide array of players have contributed to Orlando’s success this season, including fellow DP Mauricio Pereyra, the club’s captain who is currently tied for the most assists in MLS this season (8).
FCC will also need to keep an eye on club-killer Júnior Urso, who has scored three of his nine career goals against the Orange and Blue, including earlier this season in Florida. He has not scored multiple times against any other MLS opponent.
João Moutinho is currently leading the league in tackles won with 34 so far this season. The defender has already doubled his total tackles won from last season (16). Moutinho has started all 16 games this campaign for the Lions and sits in the top 10 for most minutes played across the entire league with 1,437.
Peruvian International goalkeeper Pedro Gallese has six clean sheets in net for Orlando, tied for third-most in MLS.
Orlando City SC hold the best first half goal differential in MLS this season, entering Friday with a +6 GD in the first half (12 GF, 6 GA).
They will be without defender Robin Jansson, who will miss Friday’s game due to yellow card accumulation. The center back had started 14 of the 16 previous games this season.
STORYLINES OF THE GAME
BRANDON CONTINUES HIS ROLL – Brandon Vazquez’s scoring momentum started early in the season with his first career brace at Orlando City SC on March 12. He followed that up with two more goals the following week against Inter Miami CF, and has consistently remained among the league’s leaders in goals since.
With his headed goal at Philadelphia Union last Saturday, he has scored with his head five times this season, the most in MLS (4: Buksa, NE; Tuiloma, POR).
He continues to add to his club record for goals in an FC Cincinnati uniform, having scored 14 times for FCC. His eight goals this season is matched with Brenner’s 2021 mark for the most in a single season in club history.
BE CAREFUL! – Orlando City SC have drawn 257 fouls this season, by far the most in MLS. In fact, no other side have drawn more fouls, only three other teams have suffered 200+ fouls (2nd - San Jose, 234). Despite that painful statistic, the Lions are one of only two clubs (Columbus) to have not taken a penalty kick this season.
JUST KEEP SCORING – FC Cincinnati have scored in eight straight games, which equals the longest streak in club history (8 straight, July – September 2019).
NWOBODO HONORED – FC Cincinnati midfielder Obinna Nwobodo was named to the MLS Team of the Week for his performance in Week 15 at Philadelphia Union. Per Stats Perform, Nwobodo’s 89.7 percent accurate passing was FCC’s highest total among players who went the full 90 minutes. He led the team in total passes (58), accurate passes (52), tackles (3), duels won (8), possession won (9), total dribbles (4) and successful dribbles (3).
HOME GAME NUMBER 50 – FC Cincinnati will play an MLS contest in the Queen City for the 50th time since joining the league in 2019.
LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL’S OWN – Cincinnati native and Orlando City defender Kyle Smith was inducted into the La Salle High School Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022. Smith, a 2010 graduate, will be honored by the La Salle community as he makes his return to the Queen City Friday night.
NOONAN’S TAKE
On Orlando City SC
“We know we're facing a good side with a lot of quality, a team that is very good with the ball in how they play and move forward and how they can get numbers into the box. A lot of the work that we were doing [at training] was for our guys to try to see the moments where our pressure might be broken, and how we defend the box.”
On a rematch with Orlando City SC
“I think it gives you maybe a little bit to look back and take from as far as some of the things we might see as far as personnel or how they play in different phases of the game that we think we'll see again. Those similarities, but I think that there's been too many games and too many changes, I think on both sides, from that game to take too much from our first matchup. It'll be a lot of just the recent run and play.”
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.
