FC Cincinnati 2 and TFC II open a busy Sunday of action across MLS NEXT Pro as the sides square off at York Lions Stadium in Toronto, Ontario.
It is a quick turnaround for the Orange and Blue following their midweek win over New England Revolution II on Wednesday, while TFC II are in search of their first points of the season as they host an MLSNP match for the first time in 2024.
Kickoff on April 14 is set for 2 p.m. ET and the match will stream live on mlsnextpro.com.
FC CINCINNATI 2 at TORONTO FC II – SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2024 – 2 P.M. ET – YORK LIONS STADIUM
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FC CINCINNATI 2 NOTES
DALEY TIME – Amir Daley notched a brace against New England midweek to help the Orange and Blue earn their first win of the season. Daley leveled the scoring in the 19th minute and found the match winner in the 39th after clipping the underside of the crossbar.
Daley’s brace brings his goal total to three for the year as the former Duke Blue Devil now paces the team in scoring. Daley picked up his first assist of the season against New York Red Bulls II at the end of March and has been involved in four of Cincinnati’s five goals this season.
A COUPLE MORE DEBUTS – Nico Benalcazar and Moises Tablante made their first appearances for the Orange and Blue against New England after signing MLS NEXT Pro deals this offseason. Benalcazar picked up a start and played the opening 45 minutes while Tablante came on for the final 19 minutes to help see the match out.
Prior to arriving in Cincinnati, the duo appeared in a combined 78 MLS NEXT Pro matches with New York City FC II and Orlando City B.
A SERIES OF GOALS – The all-time series between the Orange and Blue and Young Reds has featured plenty of goals. There have been no fewer than three goals scored in every match, and two of the five all-time matches have seen six goals scored. The Orange and Blue are averaging 1.8 goals per match against TFC II highlighted by a four-goal performance in last season’s home opener.
SCOUTING TFC II (0-2-0, 0 PTS., 15TH IN EASTERN CONFERENCE)
TFC II are set to play their first home match of the season Sunday afternoon following two consecutive road matches to start the year. The Young Reds dropped matches to Philadelphia Union II and Columbus Crew 2 in a pair of 2-1 results, and currently sit 15th in the Eastern Conference.
Jesus Batiz, Toronto’s leading goal scorer a season ago, is back in 2024 and ready to lead the attacking line once again. Batiz scored eight goals in 27 appearances in 2023 and hit the ground running in 2024, scoring in the team’s opener against Philadelphia. Batiz has been involved in both of TFC II’s goals this season after picking up an assist against Columbus last time out.
TFC II allowed 57 goals in 2023, tied for the sixth most in MLS NEXT Pro, but the Young Reds addressed that area of the team in the offseason, bringing in Brazilian defender Ythallo on loan from São Paulo FC, and signing Nathaniel Edwards out of Syracuse University.
Key returners for TFC II include Julian Altobelli and Antony Curic, who are set to enter their fourth seasons with the Young Reds. The pair have gone on to make over 120 appearances for the club across all competitions with Altobelli scoring 10 goals and six assists.
Gianni Cimini enters his third season leading TFC II in MLS NEXT Pro. Cimini managed the Young Reds to a second-place finish in the league’s inaugural season, finishing behind only Columbus Crew 2 in the Eastern Conference. As a player, Cimini represented the U18 Canadian National Team.
