Match Preview

PREVIEW | FC Cincinnati return home Saturday to host CF Montréal

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FC Cincinnati welcome CF Montréal to TQL Stadium on Saturday, April 2. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. as the Orange and Blue look to earn a second consecutive home win. It’s 80’s Night in Cincinnati, as fans are encouraged to participate in the special promotion, presented by LifeCenter.

FC CINCINNATI vs. CF MONTRÉAL– 4 p.m. – TQL STADIUM
HOW TO WATCH
Local TV
: Star64
Local Stream: fccincinnati.com
Out of Market Stream: 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 game.

Tickets are still available, visit fccincinnati.com/tickets.

80’s NIGHT
Fans are encouraged to dress in 80’s style clothes and hair! The first 10,000 fans to enter the stadium will receive a free pennant, courtesy of LifeCenter. Before the game kicks off, DJ Prymtime will play a mix of 80’s hits, and fans can enjoy an air guitar contest and pyro in-game, weather permitting.

Head over to Washington Park prior to the game between 1-4 p.m. to enjoy special 80’s themed activations including:

  • Live music by 80’s cover band ’Twentyfour7’
  • 80’s photo booth
  • Pac Man arcade game
  • Rubik’s Cubes and a Rubik’s Cube magician
  • Face painting and balloon artist
  • Youth themed soccer games such as the Striker Challenge
  • Food trucks
  • Beer, wine, hard seltzer and drink specials available for purchase at The Porch

Fans can join the Supporters March to TQL Stadium, departing Washington Park at approximately 3:15 p.m.

HEAD TO A PUB PARTNER
Can’t make it to the game and looking for a place to watch the Orange and Blue? Head to one of the club’s official Pub Partners for the season, which broadcast all home and away games and feature opportunities for fans to win prizes all season long.

STREAMING UPDATE
Streaming services that air Star64 will no longer blackout FC Cincinnati games. YouTube TV and other platforms that carry Star64 will air FC Cincinnati games. For any questions, visit the Stream FAQ.

SCOUTING CF MONTRÉAL (0-3-1, 1 POINT, 13th EASTERN CONFERENCE)
Head Coach Wilfried Nancy’s squad might have one less MLS game under their belts than FC Cincinnati due to their off-week last weekend, but CF Montréal have had a busy two months due to CONCACAF Champions League play. CFM defeated Liga MX side Santos Laguna in the two-legged Round of 16 prior to their opener in Orlando on February 27.

After falling 2-1 on aggregate in the Champions League Quarterfinals to Cruz Azul, in total CFM have played eight competitive games since mid-February. Meanwhile, three of their first four MLS games were on the road as the club enters another road contest Saturday in the Queen City.

Winless through four games, CF Montréal’s most recent result in Atlanta on March 19 was “hard to take” according to Nancy. Up 3-1, and up a man due to an Atlanta red card, CFM conceded goals in the 85th minute and two minutes into stoppage time to leave Georgia with only a point.

Montréal have conceded 11 goals, the most in MLS this season. The club has scored five goals, and no player has scored multiple times, including leading goal-scorer from last season Rommell Quioto and always dangerous Djordje Mihailovic who each have scored once. Ahmed Hamdi and Mason Toye, who both scored a brace in last season’s wild 5-4 Montréal win over FC Cincinnati in July, have yet to see the field due to various injuries.

STORYLINES TO WATCH
MILESTONE SATURDAY –
A pair of FC Cincinnati defenders could make their 150th career MLS regular season appearances Saturday. Geoff Cameron and Nick Hagglund each sit at 149 regular season appearances for their careers.

Hagglund and Yuya Kubo, should they both start Saturday, will become the first players in club history to make 50 career MLS regular season starts for FCC. Saturday is the 97th MLS regular season game in club history.

Separately, another milestone coming soon, Alvas Powell will make his 149th MLS regular season appearance the next time he takes the field.

SUCCÈS CONTRE MONTRÉAL – FC Cincinnati have had more success against CF Montréal than any other opponent in the club’s MLS history. The Orange and Blue hold a 3-1-1 record vs. CFM, the only club FCC have beaten 3+ times. Even the lone loss against Montréal, last July north of the border, FCC’s four goals were the most in a game in club history.

QUICK STARTERS AGAINST MONTRÉAL – Since joining MLS, FC Cincinnati have scored 16 goals in the opening 15 minutes of a game. Four of those (Allan Cruz - 1’ - 9/14/19; Haris Medunjanin - 6’ - 7/17/21; Allan Cruz - 7’ - 5/11/19; Brenner - 14’ - 7/17/21) have come against CF Montréal, the most goals in the opening 15 against any opponent.

Cruz’s goal 28 seconds in against Montréal on Sept. 14, 2019 was the second-fastest goal in club history.

TRIP TO SEATTLE MOVED – FC Cincinnati’s game at Seattle Sounders FC originally scheduled for next Saturday, April 9 has been rescheduled to September. Following this weekend’s contest against CF Montréal, the Orange and Blue will have a weekend off from game action before heading to face Atlanta United FC on April 16.