FC Cincinnati 2 are set to face Crown Legacy FC at Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium on Saturday, July 29 at 6 p.m. ET. The Orange and Blue will close out a three-match home stand against Crown Legacy before heading on the road to face Huntsville City FC.
The match will also be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV App.
FC CINCINNATI 2 vs CROWN LEGACY FC – SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2023 – 6 p.m. ET – SCUDAMORE FIELD AT NKU SOCCER STADIUM
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ALL-TIME SERIES
Saturday’s match will be the second all-time meeting between the two sides. The Orange and Blue are 0-1-0 against Crown Legacy FC following their first meeting at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex on June 31.
THE LAST MEETING
The Orange and Blue couldn’t complete a late second half comeback in the first meeting between the sides. Crown Legacy’s Brandon Cambridge scored two goals in the match, opening the scoring in the 25th minute and bagging a brace nine minutes later to give the hosts a 2-0 first half lead. FC Cincinnati 2’s Ryder Mills scored his first goal of the season in the 71st minute but the Orange and Blue were unable to rescue a point from the match.
SCOUTING CROWN LEGACY FC (13-3-3, 44 PTS., 1ST EASTERN CONFERENCE)
Crown Legacy FC has been the team everyone in the Eastern Conference has been chasing through the MLS NEXT Pro season. Crown Legacy stumbled out of the gate, playing to a 2-2 draw and shootout loss against fellow expansion side Huntsville City FC, before ripping off seven consecutive wins through the first two months of the season. Crown Legacy haven’t slowed down and hold a league leading 13 wins.
While Brandon Cambridge was an early breakout star for Crown Legacy, Patrick Agyemang is the club’s goal leader with nine in 10 matches. Agyemang scored two in his last outing against New York City FC II, leading Crown Legacy to a 4-3 win. Iuri Tavares and David Poreba are also capable goal scorers, tallying six and five goals, respectively.
Backing up the second highest scoring team in MLS NEXT Pro is an equally impressive defensive unit. Crown Legacy have allowed 25 goals and boast a +17-goal differential, the best mark across the league. However, Crown Legacy have conceded goals in the last six matches and are coming off a win in which New York City FC II put three goals past Isaac Walker.
FIRST STARTS - Forward Phil Horton and defender Juan Machado picked up their first starts for FC Cincinnati 2 Saturday night against New York Red Bulls II. Horton and Machado each played 90 minutes in the contest.
IT’S BEEN A WHILE - It’s been nearly four months since FC Cincinnati 2 and Crown Legacy FC last squared off. The sides played in Matchday 2 of the MLS NEXT Pro season with Crown Legacy taking a 2-1 win at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex.
READY TO HIT THE ROAD - The Orange and Blue will play at home for the third consecutive match before heading out on the road for six of their final nine regular season matches. The Orange and Blue have yet to pick up a road win this year and will look to earn their first against Huntsville City FC on August 6.
WHERE THINGS STAND - FC Cincinnati 2 are 5-9-4 and sit 12th in the Eastern Conference standings. The Orange and Blue have 10 regular season matches left on the schedule with the season wrapping up on September 24 against Orlando City B. FC Cincinnati 2 are five points off New York City FC II who hold the final playoff spot.
FORWARD EFFICIENCY - Arquimides Ordonez is one of MLS NEXT Pro’s most efficient goal scorers. Ordonez has scored seven goals in just 450 minutes over six league appearances and is averaging a goal every 64 minutes. Ben Stitz, who has five goals on the season, is converting on 1 of every 4 shots taken.
THE 75TH MINUTE – The 75th minute scoreline has proved to be the final result in every FC Cincinnati 2 match this season. The Orange and Blue are 5-0-0 when leading, 0-9-0 when trailing and 0-0-4 when tied at the 75th minute.
