FC Cincinnati return to MLS action after finishing Leagues Cup earlier this week and take on an opponent they had great success against in their last meeting prior to the summer break. The Orange and Blue travel to central Florida for a matchup with Orlando City SC, looking to keep up their positive run of form from league play and complete the season sweep against their Lionesque rivals.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV from Inter.Co Stadium. Ahead of this duel, let’s look at a few key stories to keep in mind as The Orange and Blue look to earn all three points on the road.
Kyle Smith’s Return
While he’s a Cincinnati kid, born and raised, before joining The Orange and Blue, the FCC defender spent six seasons with Orlando City SC and made his MLS debut with the club. This trip to Orlando marks his first return to the city since leaving to join his new club, so it will be a homecoming of sorts.
Since joining the club, Smith has become an extremely reliable option for FC Cincinnati on the back line, and has brought a versatility to the squad that has stood out to Head Coach Pat Noonan and earned his trust.
“He's versatile. He's played on the right of the three, the left of the threes, a little bit early on at the wing back position. But we felt his strengths were maybe in deeper positions at this stage of his career,” Noonan said of Smith. “Reliability (as well), give him a task, and he's ready to do it to the best of his ability, and I think his game minutes have been fairly strong, and he just fits in so well with the group (and) he's just ready. He's always ready, and he wants to help the team. So I’ve been very pleased with him.”
As a versatile player with experience at multiple positions, Smith brings a level of game interpretation that allows him to excel across different phases of the game. So in a system like FC Cincinnati’s, where center backs are sometimes asked to play like fullbacks, he brings a level of flexibility to the game.
“I think the game understanding and how we use those guys close together, understanding the connections with the ball at times to progress,” Noonan said of what makes Smith a quality center back for his side. “I think he simplifies his decisions in ways where he knows his outs, he knows how to eliminate risk at times where things aren't so clear. I think he does a good job to anticipate and cover for teammates and read the game in ways where he gets a lot of plays right.”
Turn it around Quick
FC Cincinnati are in the middle of a busy stretch that only gets more challenging over the next few weeks, but right now they have to focus on a quick turnaround to another game after a busy last two weeks in which they’ve played every three days.
They similarly need to rebound from the disappointing result they had Tuesday night, when they were eliminated from Leagues Cup in a 2-1 loss to Atlas FC. Head Coach Pat Noonan says the team gathered on Thursday morning for their typical meeting before training, and addressed where they’re at and how they want to get better moving forward.
“That's what we were just kind of talking through. How do we improve as a team in these moments? It's moments. It's stages of cup play or a game. If you looked at the three games, phase one, if you will, it was a lot of good. But it's overshadowed by that last 15 minutes, and that's what we're trying to eliminate in being more engaged, understanding game management, the emotional fragility,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan said Thursday heading into the weekend match. “So the conversation was to help the guys understand, and there were players that reiterated it, that it's not the end of the world, but we've been in this situation enough, and we're trying to we're trying to get better, and we're trying to find more success in these situations, and not have these conversations.”
“So, yeah, the disappointing part is I think there was a lot of good play and good progress with our group that didn't end in a good way, and now, now our focus is away from that competition and to league play.”
FC Cincinnati play three games over the next seven days, following a stretch of four games in eleven days to open the month. So, turning the page quickly, focusing on what comes next, and improving day by day, is key to success.
Not the Same Orlando
Orlando City SC come into this Saturday night showdown with FC Cincinnati in a somewhat similar situation to their opponents, having been eliminated in the final Phase One game of Leagues Cup earlier this week after an opportunity to advance. Orlando drew their final game in the tournament against Athletico San Luis and finished the tournament on five points.
The last time these two teams played, FC Cincinnati dominated en route to a 6-2 victory at TQL Stadium. But the team The Orange and Blue are meeting this time around could not be any different.
During the summer break, Orlando signed French forward, World Cup champion and international superstar Antoine Griezmann, who has brought a new dynamic to the team almost instantaneously.
“There's just players that have played at such a high level and won at a high level where, just the presence that they have helps a group,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan said of the French star. “You think about the Orlando team that we played before the break, and now it’s completely different. I shouldn't say completely different, but I'm sure that the morale, and what Griezmann has brought to their group, it's noticeable. It's significant.
“I've talked to coaches that have already played him, and live what you see with the movements, being able to play him one and two touch, the game understanding, that just helps the flow of the game and control and tempo for a team,” Noonan continued. “Then being able to make the big play, the vocal leadership, that presence is so impactful to bring out the best of what is an already strong team, and so I think that's what you're seeing right now with his presence, his involvement, and they're a very strong team, and it'll be a very tough matchup for us.”
Griezmann, 35, has a goal and an assist in three MLS games and added a goal in Leagues Cup as well.
FC Cincinnati kick off against Orlando City SC at Inter.Co Stadium on Saturday night, with the action getting underway at 7:30 p.m. After this weekend, they return home to TQL Stadium for a two-game home stand against NYCFC and the Seattle Sounders.
