After going so long without a match before Wednesday's 1-1 draw at Nippert against the Rochester Rhinos, it feels a little weird to see the Orange & Blue are back in action again on Sunday. On just a few day's rest, FCC hits the road once again this weekend for a match away to the New York Red Bulls II.
And ad as has been the case all season, you can get a full peak ahead at this weekend's top 3 clash in the Eastern Conference -- which could see FC Cincinnati clinch a playoff spot depending on how the weekend's results unfold.
THE OPPOSITION:
Sunday, August 28th, 2016, at 5:45pm EDT.
GET TICKETS
Note to those heading to New York for the match: you'll have to purchase tickets to the New York Red Bulls MLS match against New England Revolution to gain entry our USL match immediately after.
THE OPPOSITION:
This weekend's opponents are the reserve team for Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls. Founded in 2015, the reserve team is following up a promising inaugural season with an even more impressive second campaign. But while the "Baby Bulls" a just an MLS B team, it would be extremely foolish to take them lightly.
RECENT RESULTS:
FCC: August has been a strange month for FC Cincinnati, with the team only playing three times in 22 days. And while the time off has been important for the boys to recuperate and recharge the batteries, it can be tough to maintain your intensity and focus when you go a long time without playing a competitive fixture. So it's perhaps not all that surprising that the team's form has been a little inconsistent . That said, the Orange & Blue haven't lost since they last faced New York at Nippert back on July 20th, a streak of five matches without a defeat at 2-0-3.
OPPONENT: As was the case when they came to town last month, the Baby Bulls enter the match as one of the hottest teams in USL. They're riding a four match winning streak and are 7-2-1 in their last 10. And they've been fairly proficient during that stretch too, amassing 23 goals while only conceding 10. But as Charleston and Charlotte have proven this season, it's not only possible to pip a point at Red Bull Arena, but you can grab all three points there, too.
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
The lone meeting between NYRBII and FCC came back on July 20th, when New York rallied back after conceding a 61st-minute Jimmy McLaughlin goal to score two late goals to steal all three points at Nippert Stadium.
WHO TO WATCH:
FCC: After sitting out the last match from a one-game suspension due to yellow card accumulation, forward and leading scorer Sean "Ugo" Okoli will be available for selection once again. And that's a good thing, as the participation of fellow forward Omar Cummings might be in doubt as he continues to be assessed following a nasty collision on Wednesday against the Rhinos.
Opponent: No single player seems to have been the driving force behind the Red Bulls' solid form. Instead, a team effort seems to be propelling them forward. They've spread the goals around the side, with 9 different goal scorers in the last 5 matches. Leading them is forward Brandon Allen (#21), who had three of those goals and is pacing the team in scoring with 11 on the campaign.
THE VENUE:
Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey
DIRECTIONS
FORECAST:
The weather awaiting the boys in New Jersey looks promising, with kickoff temperatures expected to be in the low 80's and only a 1% chance of rain at the time of publication.
HOW TO WATCH:
As has been the case for most of our away matches this season, there will be no match broadcast on local television.
That said, like all regular season home matches, the match will be available as a free livestream broadcast on YouTube as well as on the USL Match Center.
HOW TO LISTEN:
Just like with television, no FC Cincinnati away matches are being broadcast on local radio in 2016.
SOCIAL:
As is the case every match, you can follow along with the action on our Twitter feed at @fccincinnati. For live looks from before, during and after the match, follow us on Instagram and Snapchat by following 'fccincinnati', too. Halftime and full time updates will also be available on Facebook.
