FC Cincinnati will return home for their third match in eight days when they host New York City FC at TQL Stadium Saturday night. FCC fell 4-0 to Atlanta United FC on the road in the midweek, but after beating Toronto FC 2-0 the last time they played in front of the home support, the Orange and Blue are looking to keep that momentum going at home.
HOW TO WATCH:
Local TV: Star64
Local Stream: fccincinnati.com
Out of Market: 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 match.
SCOUTING NEW YORK CITY FC (10-8-5 – 35 pts – 4th, Eastern Conference)
NYCFC got the best of the Orange and Blue in the last matchup, winning 5-0 at Yankee Stadium in the second match of the season. On a more recent note, NYCFC are winless in their last three, earning a draw against FC Dallas but falling to Eastern Conference frontrunners New England Revolution and Nashville SC.
Taty Castellanos leads the team with 11 goals this season, good for sixth in MLS. Castellanos netted his second of the season in NYCFC’s victory over FCC back in April. Maxi Morales’s eight assists lead the squad, with Castellanos’ seven just behind him. Luis Barraza and Sean Johnson have combined for eight clean sheets this season in goal.
STORYLINES TO WATCH
BRENNER MOVING ALONG – Forward Brenner is one goal shy of Allan Cruz’s 2019 club record of seven for most in one season. He is four shots shy of matching Juergen Locadia’s club record for shots in one season (2020, 51) and seven shots on goal shy of matching Cruz’s 2019 club record for SOG in a season (21).
NO MATA REUNION – Defender Ronald Matarrita will not get the opportunity to square off against his former MLS club, NYCFC. He picked up his fifth yellow card of the season Wednesday in Atlanta, which warrants a one-game suspension. He played for NYCFC from 2016-2020.
UPCOMING MILESTONES – Luciano Acosta’s next start will be the 130th of his career, while Kenneth Vermeer’s next start and appearance will be the 25th of his MLS stint … Florian Valot’s next appearance will be the 50th for him in MLS while Przemyslaw Tyton’s needs 14 minutes to reach 3,000 in his career.
