FC Cincinnati 2 are set to host Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union II on Sunday, April 28, at Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium at 4 p.m. ET.
The Orange and Blue will look to build on last weekend’s 4-1 win against Atlanta United 2 while Union II can extend their unbeaten start to the MLS NEXT Pro season to seven games.
Tickets for the match can be redeemed with a SeatGeek account through the FC Cincinnati app. The match will also stream live on mlsnextpro.com.
FC CINCINNATI 2 vs PHILADELPHIA UNION II – SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2024 – 4 P.M. ET – SCUDAMORE FIELD AT NKU SOCCER STADIUM
Keep up with all things FC Cincinnati 2 @FCCincinnati2 on X, Instagram and Facebook.
FC CINCINNATI 2 NOTES
OFFENSIVE POP – FC Cincinnati 2 scored a season-high four goals against Atlanta United 2 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium this past Sunday. It is the fourth time that FCC 2 have scored four or more goals in a match and the first occurrence since April 2023 when the team scored five against New England Revolution II.
It is also the first time the Orange and Blue have had four unique goal scorers in a single MLS NEXT Pro match (Nico Benalcazar, Peter Mangione, Ben Stitz, Moises Tablante).
MORE GOALS FOR THE NEW GUYS – Peter Mangione and Moises Tablante tallied their first goals for the club against Atlanta. Tablante scored the first for FCC 2 in the 16th minute and finished the match with two shots while Mangione doubled the lead just after the half hour mark.
Of the six players to record goals this season, five are playing in their first season with the club.
CREATED CHANCES – FC Cincinnati 2 outshot Atlanta United 2, 16 to 11. The Orange and Blue’s 16 shots against ATL UTD 2 also set a season high. Ben Stitz led all Cincinnati players with three shots in 58 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.
The Orange and Blue are unbeaten (2-0-1) this season when taking more shots than their opponent.
A TIED SERIES – FC Cincinnati 2 earned their first three points against Philadelphia Union II in June 2023, a 2-1 win at Scudamore Field. The Orange and Blue brought the all-time series level in August with a 2-1 result on the road at Subaru Park. Malik Pinto and Ben Stitz were the goal scorers in the last meeting between the sides.
The Orange and Blue have won two straight matches against Union II and have the chance to take the lead in the all-time series, which is tied at 2-2-0.
SCOUTING PHILADELPHIA UNION II (3-0-3, 14 PTS., 1ST IN EASTERN CONFERENCE)
Philadelphia Union II are off to a blistering start to the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season. Union II pace the Eastern Conference with 14 points through six matches and remain unbeaten on the year. Union II are just one of five MLSNP teams yet to suffer defeat through Matchweek 6.
Philadelphia Union Academy forward Eddy Davis III has been instrumental to Union II’s early season success. The 17-year-old attacker has scored four goals for Union II and leads the team after finding the back of the net against New York Red Bulls II last Sunday. Davis III has scored in back-to-back contests and looks to be a focal point of the Union II attack as he has appeared in all six Union II matches and starting five.
Union II have been dangerous in attack, scoring multiple goals in three matches this season and putting five past Atlanta United 2 on April 15. Connor Donovan, who signed a new contract with the Union First Team in December, tallied a brace against ATL UTD 2 in his first MLS NEXT Pro appearance of the season after scoring six goals in 11 starts for Union II in 2023.
Early season success for Union II has been spurred on by strong defensive play as Union II are allowing just under one goal per match (0.83) and are tied for the fourth fewest goals allowed (5) across MLS NEXT Pro. Union II earned their first clean sheet of the year against Atlanta United 2 and have allowed no more than one goal per match through six games.
Head Coach Marlon LeBlanc leads Union II in his third season in MLS NEXT Pro after signing a multi-year contract with the club ahead of the 2023 season. LeBlanc has been part of the Philadelphia Union organization since 2020, where he began coaching in the Union Academy. LeBlanc holds a 26-21-11 record with Union II and reached the postseason in each of the previous two seasons.
