FC Cincinnati return home looking to get back in the win column this weekend, hosting another of the Western Conference's top teams. The San Jose Earthquakes come to TQL Stadium and bring one of the best road records in Major League Soccer to this visit to Cincinnati.
This matchup against the Quakes gets underway on Apple TV at 7:30 p.m. and is the Walmart Saturday Night Showcase. Ahead of that, let’s look at a few key factors to success that The Orange and Blue will need to come out on top in this cross-conference clash.
Play with Discipline
After a disappointing result last weekend in the Hell is Real derby, FC Cincinnati made things worse for themselves with some late unruliness and a red card. That red card was their league-leading fifth of the regular season, and a problem FCC have been working on for quite some time.
After the loss, discipline was one point of emphasis FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan had for the team, and he took a different path to addressing it than he usually would.
“We addressed it after the game, which we don't always do. But it was important to have that message for going into some off days I think to think about some things,” Noonan explained “Then the way we reviewed it was a little bit different than what we typically do, but where I thought we lost our way, and then where the lack of discipline started to change the momentum and certainly the scoreline…it was important to address it early and then move on.”
The discipline conversation goes beyond just carded offenses and speaks more to the general approach of the side, but a primary talking point surrounding the cards has been the need to play with 11 men and finish games in a strong way.
“It got better, with the cards, with discipline,” Noonan said, citing a long stretch without disciplinary issues. “Yeah, the performances need to be better but there were signs of improvement. But if we're still finishing the game in the way we did, then no, not completely, because that for me was immaturity, and sometimes a rivalry game can bring that out, I don't want to excuse it ever. So it shouldn't happen, and it's I think too constant within the group, and we talk about it all the time of ownership on the field and guys having accountability, and not always the message coming from a coach. So that's something we challenge them with.”
Stay Hot Mr. All-Star
FC Cincinnati midfielder and Brazilian star Evander is back from the MLS All-Star Game and continued his run of scoring brilliance while there, scoring the game-winning goal for the MLS side in their 4-3 win over the Liga MX stars. The goal was the first ever by an FC Cincinnati player at the MLS All-Star Game.
For The Orange and Blue to find success Saturday night, they will likely need their All-Star to continue at the historic clip he’s been on of late. After a slow start to the 2026 season, Evander has exploded and helped turn around FCC’s season. In the last 10 league games for FC Cincinnati, Evander has scored ten goals and added seven assists to help go 4-2-4 in that stretch.
Evander’s presence on the goal sheet is an excellent sign of his performances helping the squad, but it's not 100% required; he can be a massively impactful player even if he isn’t the one making the final action. That said, no matter how his impact is felt, for FC Cincinnati to get off to the start they are hoping for, they will need Evander to help push them there.
Contain The Quakes
The San Jose Earthquakes have been one of the most complete teams in MLS this season, owning the fifth-best goal differential in the league at +15 with 35 goals for and 20 goals against.
To tackle the Quakes and get three points on Saturday night, FCC will have to manage what he has described as a very impressive side.
“I think they have a very hardworking group. I think they have good speed all over the field. Good mobility, they're active, pragmatic,” Noonan said of San Jose on Thursday ahead of the match. “There's times where they're moving the ball very well, there's times where they recognize pressure in a way that they'll put the ball up the field and they have guys that will be running in behind, running channels, competing, and they'll turn those into advantage those moments into advantages of picking up second balls and moving up the field. I think they do a very good job in the wide areas of how they use their outside backs and wingers and get the ball into the box and then I think they defend against the ball in an aggressive way to make it uncomfortable for the opponent.”
FC Cincinnati kicks off with the San Jose Earthquakes at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at TQL Stadium. For more information on how to watch, or for matchday information at TQL Stadium all season, click here.
