Despite two losses in the past two matches, FC Cincinnati are a positive result away from at least matching their best month in MLS.
Currently, the total is seven points, which was set in March. The Orange and Blue can tie that with a draw on Saturday night at Toronto FC – or establish a new mark with a second-straight road win.
That’s the mentality the team is keeping ahead of its first match in Canada this season, Interim Head Coach Yoann Damet said
“(There’s a) blank page to prepare for Toronto,” Damet said earlier this week. “We need to learn from the past game and move on, put the work the work in this week and focus on the next game.”
FCC’s first visit to Toronto as an MLS side should be an intriguing one.
Both clubs are coming off home losses. Last week, the Reds lost, 3-0, to the Houston Dynamo, who Cincinnati beat 3-2 on July 6 at Nippert Stadium. But in Toronto’s loss, U.S. Men’s National Team players Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore didn’t play. They’re expected to play Saturday at BMO Field.
It’s also likely Maikel van der Werff will make his FC Cincinnati (and MLS) debut in the match. Signed earlier this month, the Dutch center back’s transfer paperwork was finalized last Friday and he’s been training with the club since last Thursday.
Match Info
FC Cincinnati at Toronto FC
Kickoff: 8 p.m.
Where: BMO Field
Weather Forecast: Mostly Sunny, 78 degrees
TV: WSTR Star64
Local Video Stream: FloFC
Out of Market Video Stream: ESPN+
Local Radio: WDJO (99.5 FM | 107.9 | 1480 AM)
Audio Stream: TuneIn App, fccincinnati.com
Player to Watch and his Health Carousel Player Resume
Opponent’s Player to Watch: Midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo
The Spaniard has been a sensation since he joined MLS earlier this year. Pozuelo has nine goals and eight assists through 18 appearances and 17 starts
Of those goals, three were game-winning ones, while he has two game-winning assists
Club Connections:
- Nick Hagglund spent five seasons with Toronto FC, who selected him No. 10 overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. Hagglund made 88 regular season appearances for Toronto and was an MLS Cup champion in 2017.
- Emery Welshman, who is on loan at Forge FC, was drafted 16th overall by Toronto in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. He made one appearance for the club.
- Laurent Ciman was in the Montreal Impact when FCC Interim Head Coach Yoann Damet and Goalkeeper Coach Jack Stern were there between 2015-17.
- Darren Mattocks and Patrick Mullens played together at D.C. United last season.
- Roland Lamah and Alejandro Pozuelo were both at Swansea in 2013.
- Spencer Richey and Eriq Zavaleta attended IMG Academy together in 2008 and 2009.
- Technical Director Luke Sassano and Caleb Patterson-Sewell were in the New York Red Bulls organization together in 2008 and 2009.
