FC Cincinnati return home to host Toronto FC on Wednesday, June 21. Kickoff from TQL Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.
With a win on Wednesday night, FC Cincinnati would match the MLS record for the most-consecutive wins to begin a season at home (2002 San Jose Earthquakes, 10). The Orange and Blue hold an unblemished 9-0-0 record on their home field in league play this season and are 12-0-0 at home across all competitions.
Tickets for Wednesday’s match are still available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK). The game will stream exclusively on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. With the match being at home, fans watching on Apple TV will have the option to switch to the local ESPN 1530 home radio broadcast as their audio source.
FC CINCINNATI vs TORONTO FC – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2023 – 7:30 p.m. ET – TQL STADIUM
Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
TV Talent (English): Keith Costigan (play-by-play), Maurice Edu (analyst)
TV Talent (Spanish): Bruno Vain (play-by-play), Andres Agulla (analyst)
Radio: ESPN 1530
Radio Talent: Tom Gelehrter (play-by-play), Kevin McCloskey (analyst)
WATCH ON APPLE TV
Wednesday’s game will stream exclusively on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. No blackouts, no restrictions. Fans can also listen to the match locally on ESPN 1530.
To switch to the home radio audio on the broadcast:
- Click on the live FC Cincinnati match in MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
- Click on the radio button located in the bottom right-hand corner.
- Choose “Home Team’s Local Radio: English” to listen to FCC’s local broadcast during the match.
For more information on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, visit FCCincinnati.com/SeasonPass.
GAME ACTIVATIONS
Don’t forget to swing by Washington Park beginning at 4:30 p.m. for a number of free activities leading up to kickoff, including live music, food trucks, drinks and activities. At 6:30 p.m., fans can join the high-energy march into the stadium with smoke, drums and chants.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early and get in their seats for special pre-match presentations throughout the stadium.
For a full list of gameday activations and TQL Stadium information, including activations surrounding Pride, visit the matchday guide, HERE.
ALL-TIME SERIES
The all-time series between Cincinnati and Toronto is deadlocked at 4-4-0. In Cincinnati, the Orange and Blue are 2-2-0 against the Reds, having won the most recent two matchups at TQL Stadium by a 2-0 scoreline in 2022 (May 4) and in 2021 (September 11).
The Orange and Blue have won four of the last five meetings between the two sides.
SCOUTING TORONTO FC (3-5-10, 19 PTS., 13TH EASTERN CONFERENCE)
Toronto FC prepare for a midweek trip to the Queen City in an important match for the Reds, who find themselves just four points ahead of last place Inter Miami CF in the Eastern Conference standings.
Toronto’s last league outing came against Nashville City SC, a 1-1 draw at BMO Field on June 10 which marked the 10th time this season the Reds have split points with their opponents, a league high. The Reds have played to three-straight draws entering Wednesday night.
The Italian duo of Fernando Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne lead the Toronto attack with six goals, three each, and six assists split between them. Since joining the club in 2022, Bernardeschi and Insigne have combined for 20 goals and 11 assists through 52 appearances.
The offseason additions of Matt Hedges and veteran goalkeeper Sean Johnson have helped sure things up defensively from a season ago, where the Reds conceded 66 goals, the third-highest mark in the league. Toronto have allowed 21 goals through 18 matches, a better mark than five of the top nine teams in the conference.
Johnson is with the USMNT for the Gold Cup, while backup goalkeeper Tomás Romero is with the El Salvador National Team, opening questions as to who will man the net for Toronto on Wednesday.
Road form has been a major issue for the Reds as Toronto are just one of three MLS clubs that have yet to earn a win away from home (New York City FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC). Toronto have scored just one goal over their last three road trips, going 0-2-1 over that span.
Former U.S. Men’s National Team manager Bob Bradley is the head coach for Toronto FC while also serving as the club’s Sporting Director. Bradley took over for the Reds following the 2021 season, going 9-18-7 in first season at the helm.
FC CINCINNATI NOTES
BACK TO THE FORTRESS – FC Cincinnati return to the fortress of TQL Stadium, where the club is 9-0-0 in regular season play this season, and 12-0-0 at home across all competitions.
Should the Orange and Blue win on Wednesday night, Pat Noonan’s side will match the MLS record for consecutive wins at home to start a season (2002 San Jose Earthquakes, 10-0-0).
THE CAPTAIN LEADING – FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta is on a tear, averaging one goal-a-game since the calendar flipped to May. Acosta has scored seven goals in his last seven regular season games, and his seven goals since May rank second in Major League Soccer behind only Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar (10).
Wednesday, Lucho will look to become just the second player in club history to score in four-straight MLS games (Brandon Vazquez: July 23 - August 13, 2022).
HAVING THE FIRST SAY – FC Cincinnati have allowed the first goal in a game just once this season (April 15 at STL). Meanwhile, every other team in MLS have conceded first in an MLS game at least five different times in 2023.
NWOBODO IN THE MIDFIELD – FC Cincinnati Designated Player Obinna Nwobodo debuted for FC Cincinnati at Toronto FC on April 30, 2022, coming on as a second-half sub in the 67th minute. Since then, he has started every regular season, playoff, and U.S. Open Cup match he has played in. With Nwobodo on the field, FC Cincinnati are 23-6-16 across all competitions.
ONE-GOAL GAMES – Ten of FC Cincinnati’s 12 wins this season in MLS have been decided by one goal. The Orange and Blue have the best win percentage and most wins in one-goal games in MLS this year.
GOLDEN SUMMER – FC Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga and forward Brandon Vazquez were selected among the final 23-man USMNT roster in advance of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. The USMNT’s Group A opener is in Chicago at Soldier Field against Jamaica on Saturday, June 24.
Miazga and Vazquez could miss as many as six games, depending on how far the USMNT advance in the competition.
SUSPENSION – FC Cincinnati defender Yerson Mosquera will serve a one-match suspension on Wednesday night due to yellow card accumulation. He was shown his fifth yellow card of the season in the club’s last match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on June 10.
