FC Cincinnati continues their four-match homestand on Saturday night as they host Orlando City SC at TQL Stadium. The Orange and Blue close the season with four of their last six matches in front of the home faithful and begin a stretch of five matches in fifteen days starting Saturday.
Fans can get to TQL Stadium early to enjoy tons of fan activities, plus Klosterman will also be distributing giveaway cups to 5,000 lucky fans. Activities include:
Carl and Martha Lindner Plaza – 5:30 – 7:15 p.m.
- Soccer bingo
- Heineken Sampling
- Beer specials
Mercy Health Plaza – 5:30 – 7:15 p.m.
- Striker Challenge
- 1v1 soccer games with Omar Cummings
- Coloring page station
Washington Park – 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
- FCC inflatable field
- Army gaming trailer
- Karen Wellington Foundation info and swag giveaway table
- College Advantage Ohio 529 info and giveaway table
- Beer, wine, hard seltzer and drink specials on the Porch
- Food Trucks
HOW TO WATCH:
Local TV: Star64
Local Stream: fccincinnati.com
Out of Market: ESPN+
Radio: Fox Sports AM 1360
Talent: Tom Gelehrter (play-by-play), Kevin McCloskey (analyst), Alex Stec (sideline)
Be sure to follow @FCCincinnati on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for live updates from the match.
SCOUTING ORLANDO CITY SC (11-8-9 – 42 pts – 4th, Eastern Conference)
Orlando City come into Saturday’s match looking to build off of a 2-1 victory against D.C. United as the club continues to jockey for playoff positioning in a crowded Eastern Conference. Just three points separate Orlando in fourth from Atlanta United in eighth.
Star forward Luis Nani leads the team with nine goals and seven assists, with young phenom Daryl Dike following close behind with six goals. Pedro Gallese one of the most talented goalkeepers in MLS, keeping five clean sheets from 16 matches.
STORYLINES TO WATCH
LONG LAYOFF FOR ORLANDO – By the time FC Cincinnati and Orlando City SC kickoff Saturday night at TQL Stadium, it will have been 14 days since the Lions last played, a 2-1 win over D.C. United Saturday, Oct. 2. Prior to that win, Orlando had been winless in its previous five matches, including four losses being outscored, 12-4.
100 SHOTS ON GOAL – The next time Luciano Acosta takes a shot on goal, it will be the 100th career shot on goal Luciano Acosta has taken on target in Major League Soccer. He has 19 shots on goal this season, two away from Allan Cruz’s 2019 team record in a season of 21 SOG. Acosta’s teammate Brenner is closer to matching that mark, he has 20 SOG this year.
WELCOME BACK MATA – Defender Rónald Matarrita is back in an FC Cincinnati uniform after taking part in all three of Costa Rica’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers during the October window, where he assisted Los Ticos goal against the United States in Columbus Wednesday night. He started all three matches and played 261 of a possible 270 minutes as Costa Rica went 1-1-1.
