FC Cincinnati play five of their next seven games at home beginning Saturday, July 23 as the Orange and Blue welcome Nashville SC to the Queen City. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. from TQL Stadium.
Fans may bring in one unopened bottle of water per person as hot temperatures are expected by kickoff.
FC CINCINNATI vs NASHVILLE SC – SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2022 – 7:30 p.m. ET – TQL STADIUM
HOW TO WATCH
Local TV: Star64
Local Stream: fccincinnati.com
Out of Market Stream: ESPN+
Radio: ESPN 1530
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 game.
GAME ACTIVATIONS
Before the match from 4:30-7:30 p.m., fans can enjoy activations at Washington Park:
- Free Kona Ice courtesy of First Financial Bank, presenting sponsor of Saturday’s game
- Inflatables
- Fowling
- Kids soccer games
- Beer, wine, hard seltzer, and drink specials available for purchase at The Porch
Fans can join the Supporters March to the stadium, departing Washington Park at approximately 6:45 pm.
The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a free license plate frame courtesy of Mike's Car Wash.
Fans are also encouraged to visit the new FC Cincinnati Fan Stand located behind section E6. Pick up a "first match" certificate, sign up for the FC Cincinnati Kid's Club or register to win prizes and giveaways.
Can’t make it to the game and looking for a place to watch the Orange and Blue? Head to one of the club’s official Pub Partners for the season, which broadcast all home and away games and feature opportunities for fans to win prizes all season long.
Fans may bring in one unopened bottle of water per person as hot temperatures are expected by kickoff. Spectators are also asked to be mindful of a busy day downtown in the Queen City, including the Cincinnati Music Festival and Black Music Walk of Fame Induction events.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Nashville leads the all-time MLS series over FCC, 2-0-1 (1-0-0 in Cincinnati)
SCOUTING NASHVILLE SC (8-7-6, 30 PTS, 5TH WESTERN CONFERENCE)
Nashville SC are in their third season in MLS, led by veteran Head Coach Gary Smith. The Englishman and 2010 MLS Cup Champion coach with the Colorado Rapids has his squad right in the middle of the MLS Cup Playoffs hunt, seeking their third berth in as many seasons.
Nashville has thrived despite playing their first eight games on the road before their soccer-specific stadium GEODIS Park opened in May. They have also treaded their first season in the Western Conference, moving west with the addition of Charlotte FC this season as MLS’s newest expansion club.
Key to any Gary Smith-led team is disciplined defense, and he now has two U.S. Men’s National Team defenders at his disposal following Tuesday’s signing of Shaq Moore from Spanish side CD Tenerife. Moore joins 6’3’’ center back Walker Zimmerman, among the league’s best at his position who may very well be in the Starting XI for the USMNT come November at the FIFA World Cup. He has earned 31 caps for the national team.
Tennessee’s MLS club also has one of the league’s most proficient scorers in Hany Mukhtar. The German Designated Player stands alone with the second-most goals in the league with 12, only one behind the league-leader (Taty Castellanos, NYC – 13). He also has provided five assists, and his 17 combined goals and assists are matched with Austin FC’s Sebastian Driussi for the most in MLS.
Forward C.J. Sapong has scored five times while other goal creation threats come from team-leader in assists, midfielder Randall Leal (6). Midfielders Sean Davis, Alex Muyl and Dax McCarty are consistent selections in Gary Smith’s starting lineup.
STORYLINES OF THE GAME
WHEN CINCY AND NASHVILLE MEET ON THE PITCH… – The fourth all-time meeting in MLS, FC Cincinnati seek a first win against their southern rivals Nashville SC. The previous three meetings, all last season, each featured unique moments:
- In the 2021 season opener, then-goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton made 11 saves on 13 shots faced, two club records that still stand.
- The July 2021 matchup featured the debut of Arquimides Ordonez, the first Homegrown Player appearance in club history.
- The final matchup, on October 27 at TQL Stadium, featured multiple noteworthy stats: It was one of three times in club history the club has scored 3 goals in a half (7/17/21 at MTL, 1H; 6/29/22 vs NYC, 1H) and it was one of two times FCC and its opponent have combined for a club record 9 goals in a game (7/17/21 at MTL). Despite that, it also featured a club record-low combined corner kicks in a game between both teams (2).
Of note, the rivals’ USL’s predecessors met in 2018 four times, and drew all four meetings (0-0, 1-1, 3-3, 1-1), including the last time in the USL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. FCC advanced on PKs in that one, 6-5.
COACH VS. HIS FORMER COACH – FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan will be on opposing sidelines of his former coach with the Colorado Rapids, Gary Smith, who coached in the Rocky Mountains from 2008-11. Noonan scored two goals in 17 appearances in 2009 with the Rapids under Smith.
NUMBER 50 FOR BRENNER – FC Cincinnati forward Brenner is set to make his 50th career MLS appearance. Since the beginning of last season, only Brandon Vazquez (51) and Luciano Acosta (50) have made more appearances for the Orange and Blue. Brenner’s first career goal came against Nashville in the 2021 season opener.
FIRST HALF GOALS – FC Cincinnati enter MLS Week 22 as the league leaders in goals scored in the first half, having scored 19 times in the opening 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, Nashville SC have conceded among the fewest first half goals in the league, only conceding seven times in the first half this season. That’s the fourth-fewest in MLS.
AGAINST THE WEST – FC Cincinnati have in the past struggled against the Western Conference, looking to defeat a Western foe in the Queen City for the first time since July 6, 2019 at Nippert Stadium, a 3-2 win over Houston Dynamo FC. All-time, FCC are 3-15-3 against the Western Conference (1-2-1 this season), including 2-7-2 in Cincinnati.
NOONAN’S TAKE
Head Coach Pat Noonan on facing the qualities of a Gary Smith-coached Nashville SC
“I've played for Gary … He has clear ideas, defensively, of what it looks like and what it looks like as a team. I think you can see the buy-in has always been there with their group, with understanding how to be a strong team defensively, and that's what wins championships. But I also think they probably don't get enough credit for how they attack as well. And so, he knows what it's like to succeed in this league. And he's done it many years ago. And you're seeing it now with his group in Nashville. So, it'll be a tough challenge for us. But hopefully, we go in with the same aggression that we have in the last couple days of training, where it's been very good and very competitive.”
Fans can place deposits now for 2023 Season Tickets, and current season ticket holders can renew for 2023 now. Anyone with interest in 2023 Season Tickets can place their deposit HERE, or by calling 513-977-KICK, that’s 513-977-5425.
FC Cincinnati's 2022 schedule can be viewed, HERE. Fans can build their custom 3 Match Flex Plan today. Pick any three matches and save on single match ticket pricing with no fees at checkout. Fans can pick the same seats for three games or select different options around TQL Stadium.
Single match tickets to any of FC Cincinnati’s remaining home games are also available now, head to fccincinnati.com/tickets or call 513-977-KICK, to learn more.
FC Cincinnati are playing their fourth season of MLS competition in 2022, and their second playing at TQL Stadium. For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. Additionally, fans are encouraged to download the team’s official mobile app on the Apple App Store or Google Play for instant access to mobile tickets, team content and match notifications.
