After years of dreaming and campaigning to be an MLS club, FC Cincinnati will close their first season in the league on Sunday afternoon at Audi Field when they play D.C. United.
The match, which is part of MLS’ Decision Day presented by AT&T, will be the last competitive match the Orange and Blue play until 2020. Here’s what you need to know ahead of kickoff:
Maintaining momentum until the end
Sunday’s match arrives roughly a month after Cincinnati was dismantled by Toronto, 5-1, at Nippert Stadium. Following the game, the players and coaches had a meeting to discuss their future.
To sum it up: the bad losses couldn’t keep happening.
And so far, they haven’t. In fact, the team’s delivered some of the best performances since. In the last four matches, Cincinnati has five points (1-1-2) and played well against the reigning league champions.
Had FCC not conceded in stoppage time last Sunday against Orlando City SC, they’d enter this matchup with D.C. on the heels of a win – a result that highlights their improvement.
D.C. United sit fourth in the Eastern Conference and need a win to secure home-field advantage in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Perhaps Cincinnati can continue to play “pirate” and steal points and damage postseason hopes once more.
This is goodbye
When the final whistle sounds, the season is finished. There’s a chance Orange and Blue supporters will never see some of these players again in the team uniform. Other players have already played their last matches for the club.
While this season has been disappointing, that doesn’t mean it didn’t serve as a foundation to grow from moving forward. Sunday is the end and the beginning.
Once the game ends, it’s time to look into the future – and a fresh start in 2020.
Match Info
FC Cincinnati at D.C. United
Kickoff: 4 p.m.
Where: Audi Field
Weather Forecast: Cloudy, 73 degrees
TV: WSTR Star 64
Local Video Stream: FloFC
Out-of-Market Video Stream: ESPN+
Local Radio: WDJO (99.5 FM | 107.9FM | 1480 AM)
Audio Stream: TuneIn App, fccincinnati.com
Player to Watch and his Health Carousel Player Resume
Opponent’s Player to Watch: Midfielder Lucas Rodríguez
Unfortunately, Rodríguez played his best game this season against FC Cincinnati when the clubs met on July 18 Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati’s 4-1 loss.
That night, the midfielder scored twice and provided an assist. In 2019, he has six goals and three assists.
Club Connections
- Darren Mattocks played for D.C. United in 2018 before FC Cincinnati selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft. Mattocks played 25 games and scored 10 goals for the club.
- Corben Bone and Quincy Amarikwa played together at the Chicago Fire in 2013. Amarikwa and Fatai Alashe also played together between 2015-18, but for the San Jose Earthquakes.
- Greg Garza and Paul Arriola played for Tijuana together in 2013, 2014 and 2017.
- Garza also played with Chris McCann, but for Atlanta United FC in 2017-18.
- Victor Ulloa and Roland Lamah played with Marquinhos Pedroso at FC Dallas in 2018.
- Ulloa also played with Chris Seitz in Dallas from 2011-17, while Lamah joined for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
- Assistant Coach/Director of Sports Performance Gary Walker was at Manchester United with Wayne Rooney from 2008-17.
- Kekuta Manneh and Ola Kamara played for Columbus Crew SC in 2017.
- Frankie Amaya and Chris Durkin have played together for the U.S. Under-20 National Team.
- Kendall Waston and Felipe were teammates with on Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2018.
