Orlando City (7-5-4, 25 pts) heads out to the Midwest for a rare Friday night match, taking on FC Cincinnati (6-7-2, 20 pts) at TQL Stadium. The match is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be televised locally on FOX35 PLUS and LionNation TV, with pre-game coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Local radio coverage will be available from 7 p.m. ET on 96.9 The Game in English and Acción 97.9 FM in Spanish.
Here’s everything you need to know about Cincinnati:
Key Transactions and Player News
Key Additions - Head Coach Pat Noonan (Philadelphia Union), DM Obinna Nwobodo (Göztepe), GK Alec Kann (Atlanta United), RB Ray Gaddis (retirement), RB Alvas Powell (Philadelphia Union), CF Dominique Badji (Colorado Rapids), DM Júnior Moreno (D.C. United)
Key Departures - GK Przemyslaw Tyton (option declined), DM Kamohelo Mokotjo (contract buyout), CM Caleb Stanko (PAS Giannina), RB/RW Joe Gyau (Degerfors IF), CB Maikel van der Werff (PEC Zwolle), CM Florian Valot (Miami FC)
News - Cincinnati has stayed busy in the transfer market, signing Nigerian defensive midfielder Obinna Nwobodo as a Designated Player last month. Nwobodo has drawn rave reviews in his early appearances for Cincy, finding his way onto the MLS Team of the Week for his performance against Philadelphia last weekend.
Take a look at Cincinnati’s full roster here.
Team Form
After three consecutive Wooden Spoons to start their MLS existence, Cincinnati has finally turned it around in 2022. Their shock victory in Orlando back in March sparked a 5-2-1 run through early May, and the Blue and Orange currently find themselves even on points with Charlotte FC for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Head-to-Head
Orlando City is 3-1-2 all-time against Cincinnati, with their first loss in the series coming in that game at Exploria Stadium on March 12. Tesho Akindele and Júnior Urso both have three goals each for their careers against the Blue and Orange, with Urso scoring the lone goal in Orlando’s last visit to TQL Stadium, a 1-0 win on October 16, 2021.
Rasmussen University Fact
Cincinnati striker Brandon Vázquez has been a breakout star in MLS this year, garnering United States Men’s National Team buzz and sitting third in the Audi MLS Golden Boot race. Vázquez has eight goals in 14 appearances this year, matching his total from his last three seasons in MLS across 61 games.
