FC Cincinnati head back on the road Saturday night for a battle with Charlotte FC. Kickoff is set for Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET and will stream exclusively for free on Apple TV. Fans can also listen to the match locally on ESPN 1530.
Let's break down this matchup with key numbers to remember, presented by CTI.
56
Charlotte FC is one of the more physical teams in the league and leads MLS with 56 yellow cards this season. Defensive midfielder Derrick Jones leads CLT FC with eight yellow cards, with two others having six. FC Cincinnati ranks 17th in MLS with 42 yellow cards, and Obinna Nwobodo leads the club with seven. Nwobodo will have to be on his best behavior, as with his next yellow, he would be forced to sit out a match due to yellow card accumulation.
3
This will be the third match ever between FCC and Charlotte. In Charlotte's inaugural season in 2022, FC Cincinnati and Charlotte FC split the home-and-home series with one win a piece and both teams winning at home. Charlotte is one of five Eastern Conference opponents that FCC has never beaten on the road (Atlanta, Philadelphia, Columbus, Miami).
50 & 70
Luciano Acosta is the only active MLS player with 50+ career goals and 70+ career assists. With nine goals and six assists this season, Acosta has contributed to goals or assists in 11 matches.
Acosta will represent The Orange and Blue at the MLS All-Star game on July 19, along with Álvaro Barreal and Matt Miazga. The FCC captain is a finalist to be named captain for the MLS side in the match against Arsenal FC; fans can vote here.
2.2
FC Cincinnati has been racking up points this season, leading MLS with 2.2 points per game. With 44 points, FC Cincinnati leads the Supporters' Shield standings by six points with a game in hand over Nashville SC. FCC also leads MLS in wins outright, earning 13 in the club's 20 league matches.
10
With the match being held at Bank of America Stadium, The Orange and Blue will again travel for a game that will be played on artificial turf. Since winning their first match on turf in 2019 (at New England Revolution), FCC has gone 10 games without a winning result on turf, earning a 0-7-3 record.
In their last match on turf, FC Cincinnati grabbed their third-ever draw on turf in a 1-1 tie with Vancouver Whitecaps FC on June 10
