FC Cincinnati are on the road this weekend following back-to-back home games as the Orange and Blue visit St. Louis CITY SC for the first-ever meeting between the two sides on Saturday, April 15 at CITYPARK. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT. and Saturday’s match will stream on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. Fans can also listen to the match locally on ESPN 1530.
With a win or tie, FC Cincinnati would become just the fourth side in Major League Soccer history to go 10 straight regular season road games without a loss.
The Orange and Blue hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference for the second consecutive week while CITY SC look to shake off two straight losses.
FC CINCINNATI AT ST. LOUIS CITY SC – SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2023 – 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. CT) – CITYPARK
HOW TO WATCH
Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
TV Talent (English): Tyler Terens (play-by-play), Devon Kerr (analyst)
TV Talent (Spanish): Jorge Perez-Navarro (play-by-play), Marcelo Balboa (analyst)
Radio: ESPN 1530
Radio Talent: Tom Gelehrter (play-by-play), Jeff Larentowicz (analyst)
WATCH SATURDAY ON MLS SEASON PASS ON APPLE TV
Saturday’s match will stream on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. No blackouts, no restrictions. Fans can also listen to the match locally on ESPN 1530.
For all the details on how to watch the game and follow along this Saturday, visit How To Watch HERE.
For more information on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, visit FCCincinnati.com/SeasonPass. Each full-season ticket account will include one subscription to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (one per account). Season Ticket Members should check their email for information. FAQ for Season Ticket Members
HEAD TO THE OFFICIAL WATCH PARTY OR A PUB PARTNER
Saturday’s official watch party will be at Rhinegeist Brewery (1910 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202).
The official watch party will feature an appearance by Gary the Lion and the high-energy FC Cincinnati Street Team will make an appearance with giveaways and activities.
Fans can also head to one of the club’s 18 official Pub Partners, presented by Coors Light, across Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Indiana. Pub Partners are the spot to go to watch the Orange and Blue in 2023 and feature watch parties, drink specials and convenient locations for fans to gather to watch FC Cincinnati.
For more information on Pub Partners, visit FCCincinnati.com/Fans/Pub-Partners.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Saturday’s match will be the first-ever meeting between the two sides following St. Louis CITY SC’s expansion into MLS prior to the start of the 2023 season.
FC Cincinnati are seeking a win in a first-time matchup against an opposing MLS side for the first time since July 13, 2019 at Chicago Fire FC, a 2-1 road victory.
SCOUTING ST. LOUIS CITY SC (5-2-0, 15 PTS, 2ND WESTERN CONFERENCE)
What a start to life in Major League Soccer it has been for St. Louis CITY SC. CITY reeled off five-straight wins to start the year as the league newcomers paced the Western Conference in points through the first five matchdays of the season. Yet, CITY SC enter the weekend having dropped their last two and will look to get back on track at home.
Forward João Klauss has wasted no time in making his introduction to MLS. The Brazilian striker earned three points for CITY SC against Austin FC on the opening weekend, scoring the winner in the 86th minute. His five goals through seven matches has Klauss tied for third in the early-season Golden Boot Race. Klauss has led the charge for a potent St. Louis attack which has scored at least two goals in all five of their wins, and which scored three goals in three of their first five matches.
And it is not just Klauss powering one of the best attacks in the league. Seven players have found the back of the net for St. Louis, including Nicholas Gioacchini and Jared Stroud, who each have two goals. Eduard Löwen pulls the strings in midfield for CITY SC, with the German Designated Player registering four assists on the year going along with one goal.
While CITY SC have things figured out on the offensive end, question marks remain in the defensive third. CITY SC conceded four goals through the first three matches of the season before earning back-to-back shutout wins against San Jose Earthquakes and Real Salt Lake. Over the last two, St. Louis have slipped, conceding four goals in two matches against Minnesota United and Seattle Sounders. Former FC Cincinnati defender John Nelson will likely feature against his former club, having started all seven matches for CITY SC this season.
The experienced Roman Bürki guards the net for CITY SC after spending seven seasons with German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund. The 32-year-old Swiss international captains St. Louis through their first MLS campaign. He has started all seven matches and has picked up two clean sheets and made 18 saves.
Bradley Carnell calls the shots for CITY SC in his first full time coaching role. Carnell spent most of his professional career with various clubs in the German top flight, including VfB Stuttgart, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Karlsruher SC. The South African began his managerial career as an assistant for New York Red Bulls in 2017 and was named interim head coach during 2020.
FC CINCINNATI NOTES
THE STREAK – FC Cincinnati enter Saturday on a nine-game road unbeaten streak, the longest active streak in MLS and tied for fourth-longest in MLS history.
Only two other clubs have an active road undefeated streak longer than two games: LAFC (4) and Toronto FC (3).
FC Cincinnati, with a win or tie on Saturday, can match the second-longest such streak in MLS history at 10 (Seattle Sounders FC, Aug. 6, 2010 – May 26, 2012; Portland Timbers, Oct. 21, 2012 – June 19, 2013). The Orange and Blue are chasing the league-record 12 game streak set by FC Dallas (May 1, 2010 – Sept. 25, 2010).
AND THEN THERE WERE TWO – With Minnesota United’s loss to Chicago Fire FC this past weekend, FC Cincinnati and LAFC are the league’s two remaining unbeatens. The Orange and Blue bring a league-leading 17 points into CITYPARK Saturday night for their third interconference match of the season.
FCC and the defending MLS Cup Champions are the only two clubs in MLS to have not allowed the first goal in a game this season.
DEFENSE – FC Cincinnati have allowed just four goals heading into Matchday 8, with Nashville SC (2) and Seattle Sounders (3) the only teams conceding fewer. On their current pace, the Orange and Blue would finish the season having conceded just 20 goals, which would tie an MLS record (Real Salt Lake – 2010; Philadelphia Union – 2020).
CELENTA(NO) – Roman Celentano picked up his fifth clean sheet of the season in last week’s 1-0 win against Philadelphia Union. With the result, Celentano tied Przemysław Tytoń for a club record in shutouts (10) in just his second professional season. Celentano has made at least three saves in his last three starts and will look to stay hot against CITY SC.
Celentano has also matched the club record for shutouts in a season with five (Tytoń – 2020; Celentano – 2022).
I’LL BE TAKING THAT – FC Cincinnati lead the league in defensive interceptions with 97. Five players (Álvaro Barreal, Matt Miazga, Nick Hagglund, Obinna Nwobodo and Yerson Mosquera) have 10 or more interceptions as Cincinnati are one of the best teams in the league at forcing turnovers.
NOONAN’S RETURN – Just 15 miles separate CITYPARK from De Smet Jesuit High School in Creve Coeur, Missouri. That’s the high school alma mater of FC Cincinnati’s Pat Noonan. He shined there prior to his All-American college career at Indiana and professional playing career in MLS.
Noonan, a native of Ballwin, Missouri notched honors in his high school career including Player of the Year by the Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association and by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He notably led his Spartans to the 1997 Missouri 4A State Championship.
NOONAN’S TAKE
Head Coach Pat Noonan on facing St. Louis CITY SC
“I'm really excited on a personal level just to be a part of the atmosphere. The stadium, their setup with the training facility, it looks first class and the atmosphere looks like one that you want to be a part of and play games in. I'm really excited to be back obviously, I have family there and plenty of friends and connections that it'll be fun to be a part of it. Obviously when the game starts, you know, you're not thinking about anything else. But the before and the after, of course I'm going to enjoy some time with family, but the game day environment is what I'm looking forward to the most because from afar, it looks pretty special.”
Visit HERE for FC Cincinnati’s 2023 home platform match schedule. The full 2023 regular season schedule can be viewed HERE. All matches will air live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The unprecedented subscription service featuring every MLS regular season, playoff and Leagues Cup match is available now.
All tickets, including Single Match Tickets, Full Season Tickets and Half Season “Orange” and “Blue” Ticket packages, can be purchased at fccincinnati.com/tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK). For more information about Group Tickets and Premium hospitality options, including suites and all-inclusive experiences, call (513) 763-1025.
FC Cincinnati is now also offering a Flex Plan. Fans can select one Leagues Cup match, in addition to two to five regular season matches. The Flex Plan provides ultimate flexibility, with benefits including cost savings, no fees and presale access for additional events at TQL Stadium, including potential home playoff matches.
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 new official mobile app on iOS or Android for instant access to mobile tickets, team content and match notifications.
