After a three-week postponement, we’re finally – or maybe better put, hopefully – set to resume our pursuit of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup glory when we return to South Florida for tomorrow evening.
What should you expect for the highly anticipated quarterfinal clash? Read on in our full match preview below to find out.
WHEN
Wednesday, August 2nd, at 7:30pm
TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
FC Cincinnati supporters who travelled to the postponed July 2nd match may use their ticket to enter the match for tomorrow’s game. If you did not go to Florida last time and still need a match for tomorrow, use the ticket portal link above to purchase tickets for our Cup match at Miami FC. Tickets purchased through the link will be to an FCC-exclusive general admission seating area in Section 127 of Riccardo Silva Stadium.
OPPOSITION
We’ll be heading to Florida for the fourth time during the 2017 competitive schedule – though only for our third match given that the last one was postponed – to face fellow second-year club, Miami FC, of the second-division North American Soccer League (NASL).
VENUE
Riccardo Silva Stadium, Miami, Florida
DIRECTIONS
FORM
FCC: The last time the Orange & Blue were set to play this match, the club were in the midst of a midseason revival. And though that revival continues, there have remained bumps in the road. Though the club is technically on a two-match losing streak, one of those came in a friendly against Valencia and the subsequent league match this past weekend being a tad controversial. But prior to that, the club was on a three-match winning streak and finished the month 3-2-1 in competitive competitions. The side also found its scoring boots over the last month, with the goals per game average jumping from around a goal a game to 1.57 in the month of July.
MFC: Don’t let Miami FC’s division two status fool you into thinking an easy task lies ahead. But while they were fresh off of claiming the NASL spring title with an impressive 11-3-2 record when we were due to meet them in July, their return to action for the fall season wasn’t as triumphant. A 3-1 loss at New York Cosmos shows there are some kinks in their armor even when fielding a full-strength side.
COACH
We are excited to be back in Miami -- and hopefully the match will proceed with no weather delays. We have managed to bring a few players with us that were unable to make the trip last time and we look forward to locking horns with an excellent Miami team. We will give it our all to keep this magical cup run going.
PLAYERS
FCC: As mentioned above, FC Cincinnati have improved their scoring game recently. Though the team has continued to lean heavily on the scoring exploits of Senegalese international Djiby – who now has fourteen on the year in all competitions, including all three during our Open Cup run – some others have started chipping in as well. Winger Jimmy McLaughlin has added two in as many weeks, while forward Danni König has also found himself back in the goals as well. The real key, however, will be for FCC to maintain their defensive prowess. The side has given up zero goals during their four match Open Cup campaign, and they’ll likely need to replicate that again tomorrow.
MFC: No bones about it: Miami FC are good, and they have no shortage of threats coming from all over the pitch. Leading the way up top is Brazilian striker Stéfano Pinho (#29), who has notched 10 goals in all competitions this year. But the goals don’t stop there: French strike-partner Vincenzo Rennella (#8) has 10 on the year, midfielder Dylan Mares (#7) has 5 and another three players have scored at least twice in 2017. Also, keep an eye on towering midfielder Poku Kwadwo (#10), who has the potential to completely take a match over and scored their lone goal at the weekend against the Cosmos.
HISTORY
Though it kind of feels like this will be the second time we’ve played Miami FC thanks to the weather delay, it will still be our first ever meeting with Miami FC.
WEATHER
Mother Nature was the enemy our last time we went to Miami and she could be again tomorrow; though that really shouldn’t be surprising given its summer time in South Florida. That said, the forecast as of right now is all clear for tomorrow evening with no rain currently projected. Temperatures in the mid-to-low 80’s are on tap, and predictably there will be extremely high humidity, too. However, add those together with humid air currents coming off the sea, it wouldn’t be crazy if we saw some pop up storms push their way in there tomorrow night. Now let’s all collectively hold our breath and hope that doesn’t happen…
WATCH
Just as was the case for the postponed match, and since the Open Cup fixtures fall outside our normal television broadcast deals, the quarterfinal match will be shown live throughout Ohio on Spectrum Sports Ohio and in Northern Kentucky on Spectrum Sports Kentucky.
If you don’t subscribe to Spectrum – the provider formerly known as Time Warner Cable – you can still stream the match live on our on our website or atussoccer.com.
LISTEN
There are no plans for a radio broadcast of our Open Cup match.
SOCIAL
As is the case every match, you can follow along with the action on our Twitter feed at @fccincinnati. For live looks from before, during and after the match, follow us on Instagramand Snapchat by following 'fccincinnati', too. Halftime and full time updates will also be available on Facebook.
