FC Cincinnati return to TQL Stadium this weekend for their next MLS match and will be looking for redemption after a poor performance in the midweek and a disappointing result. Awaiting them is Charlotte FC, who have always brought a challenge to matches against The Orange and Blue.
But with very little time to prepare after a Wednesday match, in the words of midfielder Evander, FC Cincinnati have “no time to feel sorry for themselves.”
With their last home game postponed due to inclement weather, Saturday night’s match will mark FCC's first home game since August 22. So, in the midst of a two-game losing streak, FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan says they will prioritize looking internally for solutions.
“(We will be focusing on) Us, and the group we have, and trying to perform in a better way,” Noonan said of what FCC would be focusing on going into this game. “We’re focusing on the connections of the group, it wasn't going to be all about tactics and rah rah stuff. We just need to have better connections as a group, on the field, off the field.”
“I think these guys genuinely like being on the field together, sharing a locker room together. But, how do these connections…improve how we represent ourselves on the field? Because that part I want to see better.”
An unavoidable element of Saturday’s match will be not only who takes the field for FC Cincinnati, but who can not. Evander will be unavailable for FC Cincinnati as he’s been suspended for this match due to yellow card accumulation. The Orange and Blue have been without their leading scorer before, but any match without him will require a new approach to success and an adaptation from everyone.
“He's an important piece. We're not replacing him. We're trying to adjust without him and we have the pieces to do it,” Noonan said of how FCC will respond to Evander being unavailable. “We experienced it early on in the year when he picked up the injury in that game against Atlanta and it was a small sample size and…his presence was missed. But nobody needs to try to do what Evander does, because nobody can. So, how do we use the pieces that we have to have a good approach to Charlotte and position ourselves to perform well, to attack well, to defend well and to win.”
FC Cincinnati play this home match before hitting the road for a three-game swing that will take them to Houston, Montréal and Atlanta before returning home to TQL Stadium to take on the New England Revolution on October 14.
Until then, including Saturday night against Charlotte FC, FC Cincinnati will look to rally together and earn a victory.
“The most important thing is to make sure everybody understands that while we're not where we want to be and the level needs to rise, we have to work together to get to where we want to go,” Noonan said in closing his pregame statements to the media. “When we're connected, and when guys are working together and communicating, we'll be better.”
FC Cincinnati vs Charlotte FC – Saturday, September 12, 2026 – 7:30 p.m. ET – TQL Stadium
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History vs Charlotte
FC Cincinnati look ahead to a Saturday matchup with Charlotte FC after falling 5-0 in the midweek at Philadelphia Union. The Orange and Blue and the Crown drew, 2-2, down in Charlotte back in May prior to the World Cup break.
After defeating Charlotte in 2022 and 2023 at TQL Stadium, FC Cincinnati have lost in each of the prior two seasons against CLTFC at home, with FCC going down to 10 men in both losses.
Last year, FCC were on the front foot before a second-half red card shown to Tah Brian
Anunga was followed by a late Wilfried Zaha game-winner.
FC CINCINNATI NOTES
(Courtesy of *FC Cincinnati Communications*)
Strong at Home – FC Cincinnati have made TQL Stadium a fortress in 2026, posting a 7-2-2 MLS record and 11-3-2 record in all competitions. Unbeaten in five straight home MLS matches (4-0-1), FCC are currently amidst their fifth all-time MLS home unbeaten run of five or more games.
Six of FC Cincinnati’s remaining 11 MLS matches are in the friendly confines of TQL Stadium. FC Cincinnati’s 2.82 goals per game in home matches (31 goals scored in 11 home matches) rank second in MLS behind Nashville SC’s 3.00 goals per game in home matches.
Pavel’s Career Year – FC Cincinnati’s Pavel Bucha has been a reliable staple for FC Cincinnati over the past three seasons, but 2026 has been a breakout year in goal contributions for the Czech international. Bucha’s 13 MLS goal contributions (5 G, 8 A) and 15 in all competitions (7 G, 8 A) have already set new career highs for himself with the club.
Welcome to Cincy – FC Cincinnati made two additions to the roster with the closing of the MLS Secondary Transfer Window, adding Czech midfielder David Douděra [DOE-dyeh-rah] – who was on the Czech roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and made seven UEFA Champions League appearances last season – from Slavia Prague and Argentine defender Julián Malatini on loan from German Bundesliga side Werder Bremen.
Cardiac Cincy – 19 of FC Cincinnati’s 31 points this season have come in matches in which FC Cincinnati trailed at some point in the match. Similarly, FC Cincinnati’s 15 points in matches when conceding the first goal co-lead MLS (15, NE).
Three times FC Cincinnati have scored a game-winning goal in stoppage time (March 22 vs MTL; May 2 at CHI; August 19 vs NYC), and in two of those games, Cincinnati were down to 10 men when scoring the go-ahead goal (March 22 vs MTL; May 2 at CHI). Three other times this season FC Cincinnati have equalized in stoppage time to earn a draw (April 11 at TOR; April 22 at NYC – scored twice; May 16 at SD.)
Scouting Charlotte FC (11-7-6, 39 Points, 5th in the Eastern Conference, W-D-W-W-D)
Charlotte FC are another club in the Eastern Conference this season that started slow and has since found its footing, now in the middle of a playoff hunt. With an undefeated record in their last six, and winning three of their last four, Charlotte is currently in fifth place in the conference and just one point out of third.
Last time out, CLTFC earned a victory on a trip to Montréal, coming from behind to defeat the French-Canadian side with a 2-1 victory at Stade Saputo.
Charlotte's strength starts at the back with Kristian Kahlina, who has been the man between the metal for CLTFC for five seasons and has been one of the best keepers in MLS during that time. The Croatian keeper won the 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and enters this match third in total saves this season with 98.
Moving up the field from there, the Charlotte defense is most commonly anchored by Tim Ream and Nathan Byrne, who play center back and right back, respectively. Ream, a USMNT regular with 80 caps for his country, joined Charlotte from Fulham FC in the English Premier League in 2024. Byrne, who hails from England, touts experience across the English Football League table and joined Charlotte in 2022. Other key defenders include Andrew Privett and 21-year-old Morrison Agyemang.
In the midfield, captain Ashley Westwood leads the team, though he will be unavailable for this match as he is out on yellow card suspension. Team-leading goal scorer Pep Biel also plays in midfield; he’s scored 11 times this season with an additional 10 assists.
Up front is a trio of attackers with varying experience at the highest levels. Idan Toklomati and Liel Abada have both been key to the team's attack for multiple seasons, but they recently added a newcomer to their ranks. DP forward Allan Saint-Maximin was brought in this summer as a major addition during the summer window, joining from French side RC Lens. Saint-Maximin has made seven appearances and five starts for the club since his addition this summer, and has earned four assists.
“You just look at the games that he's involved in…very dynamic one v one, with different ways to open up the game. Run of play, transition, he can square a defender up and beat you with disguise, with pace, and get his team moving to goal and does a good job of connecting with his teammates when he works his way inside,” Noonan said of Saint-Maximin. “He switches play, and certainly somebody that we need to be mindful of as far as if we're stepping up with our press and knowing what the game looks like if he gets isolated or if they're able on their right flank to switch play.”
“So, how do you prevent those moments and then how do you have cover in those moments?” Noonan continued. “But a very, very skillful player. Very experienced player and dynamic, certainly, attacking piece. (He has) kind of plugged in for where [Wilfried] Zaha was and is playing on that left side and so, defensively, he does the work as well.
Charlotte FC's head coach is Dean Smith, who took over in 2023 and has led the side to a 40-35-19 record since then. Smith, an England native, managed well-known clubs like Leicester City FC, Norwich City, Aston Villa and Burnley before arriving in the United States. He has most often lined up in a 4-3-3 formation this season.
