It has been nearly a month since FC Cincinnati went on the road in league play, as the Orange and Blue head for altitude to take on the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, May 27. Kickoff from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado is set for 9:30 p.m. ET and the match will will stream exclusively on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. Fans can also listen to the match locally on ESPN 1530.
Let’s break down this matchup by the numbers, presented by CTI.
4
FC Cincinnati’s club-record goal streak is four games, set by Brandon Vazquez last season. Vazquez scored in each FC Cincinnati game from July 23 to August 13, vs Nashville SC, at Inter Miami CF, vs Philadelphia Union and against Atlanta United FC.
Luciano Acosta has scored in three-straight league games, which means he could match the club record on Saturday if he can find the back of the net. Acosta has previously in his FC Cincinnati career scored in three-consecutive games, last season against LAFC and then for the back-to-back Toronto FC fixtures at the end of April and beginning of May.
6
The 2023 season has started uncharacteristically poor for the Rapids at home. Robin Fraser’s squad are winless at home so far this year in league play, entering Saturday 0-3-3.
The altitude has played to Colorado’s advantage in the past. Since 2021, Colorado’s six home losses in MLS play are tied for the third fewest in the league, and that’s counting the three losses this season. In 2021 the Rapids went 9-1-7 at home, and 10-2-5 in 2022.
8
FC Cincinnati are the eighth team in MLS history to earn 30 points through their first 13 matches of an MLS season.
Five of the previous seven teams went on to win the Supporters’ Shield.
11, 15, 22
FC Cincinnati and the Colorado Rapids have only met two times prior to Saturday night’s contest in the Rocky Mountains, yet the Rapids hold three spots in FC Cincinnati’s all-time record book.
On June 1, 2019 – in Cincinnati’s inaugural MLS season – the Orange and Blue and the Rapids combined for 11 fouls throughout the entire match. That’s the lowest combined foul total in a match in FCC history.
In the second meeting between the sides, on June 19, 2021 at TQL Stadium, the Rapids won 2-0. But despite the shutout, Cincinnati set a pair of club records which still stand to this day, in shots (22) and shots in a single half (15 second-half shots).
29
FC Cincinnati forward Dominique Badji scored 29 career goals with the Colorado Rapids over two stints with the club. Badji made 103 regular season appearances with Colorado from 2015-18 and in 2021.
Badji is still searching for his first goal with the Orange and Blue, but he has contributed to four assists, including Lucho Acosta’s opening goal against the Columbus Crew last Saturday.
200
Speaking of Lucho, the captain enters Saturday night having made 199 regular season appearances in his Major League Soccer career. Saturday could mark No. 200 for Acosta, who has 16 goal contributions in his last 18 regular season games.
By The Numbers is presented by CTI.
