FC Cincinnati 2 are back at Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium this Sunday, April 23 as they take on Sporting Kansas City II in Matchday 5 of the MLS NEXT Pro season. The Orange and Blue look to stay unbeaten at home with the match scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
The match will also be streamed live on MLSNEXTPro.com.
FC CINCINNATI 2 vs SPORTING KANSAS CITY II – SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 2023 – 7:00 p.m. ET – SCUDAMORE FIELD AT NKU SOCCER STADIUM
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ALL TIME SERIES
Sunday’s match will be the first ever meeting between FCC 2 and Sporting KC II.
SCOUTING SPORTING KANSAS CITY II (2-1-1, 8 PTS., 5TH WESTERN CONFERENCE)
Sporting KC II enter Matchday 5 in fine form after picking up a 4-0 road win against Real Monarchs last Friday. After suffering defeat over the opening weekend of the season, Sporting KC II have earned eight out of nine possible points and currently sit fifth in the Western Conference.
Pau Vidal, Sporting KC II’s leader in goals, has scored in three straight matches and will look to extend that streak against FCC 2 come Sunday. Vidal has also been efficient in attack, converting 42 percent of his shot attempts into goals and finding the back of the net once every 71 minutes. Vidal has started just two matches this season and has proved to be a danger whether he is in the starting XI or coming on as a substitute.
Andrew Draper, one of Vidal’s strike partners, is still in search of his first goal of the season but has found other ways to get involved in the attacking third. Draper has three assists on the season, including two last week against Real Monarchs. Draper’s assist total is tied for the second-best mark in MLS NEXT Pro.
Sporting KC II is led by club legend Benny Feilhaber, who made over 150 appearances in two stints with Sporting Kansas City. Feilhaber took the reins of Sporting KC II in 2022 following the club’s move into MLS NEXT Pro from the USL Championship. In 2013, Feilhaber helped lead Sporting Kansas City to an MLS Cup title and in 2015 was a Landon Donovan MVP Finalist.
MATCH NOTES
INTERCONFERENCE, A FIRST LOOK – Sunday’s match will be the first interconference match of the MLS NEXT Pro season. It will also be the first time that both FC Cincinnati 2 and Sporting KC II will face off against opposition outside of their respective conferences in MLS NEXT Pro play.
THE SHOOTOUT – FC Cincinnati 2 fell to Huntsville City FC in their first shootout of the season on April 9. In 2023, the Orange and Blue didn’t see their first shootout until July 31 against Inter Miami CF II. FC Cincinnati 2 and Sporting KC II reached a combined six shootouts in 2022 (each team played three).
SUPER QUIMI – Arquimides Ordoñez is off to a roaring start in FC Cincinnati 2’s second season in MLS NEXT Pro. In just two matches Ordoñez has scored four goals, tied for the league lead, and paces the Orange and Blue in shots (13) and shots on target (9). Ordoñez will be keen on adding to those totals Sunday afternoon.
A GOALIE PARTY – Five different goalkeepers have featured between FC Cincinnati 2 and Sporting KC II this season. Alec Kann, Evan Louro and Paul Walters have all seen time in between the sticks for the Orange and Blue while Ethan Bandré and Kendall McIntosh split time for Sporting KC II. FCC 2 have allowed six goals to date while Sporting KC II have allowed four.
DEFENDING SCUDAMORE FIELD – FC Cincinnati 2 look to stay unbeaten at home after picking up a win in Matchday 1 against Toronto FC II and playing to a 2-2 draw against Huntsville City FC last time out. With a win on Sunday, the Orange and Blue will match 2022’s home point total in just three matches.
