It’s the Round of 32 in the 2023 US Open Cup, and New York City FC are in Porkopolis to face FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium: Here is your NYCFC vs Cincinnati game preview.
New York City have yet to log a single road win this year, while Cincinnati are a stunning 7-0-0 at home in all competitions. That seemingly tips the scales in favor of Cincy. But as we learned from Bryan Weigel of Cincinnati Soccer Talk, squad rotation could be the deciding factor. “If the Orange and Blue run out a unit similar to their last US Open Cup match, I’d expect it to be a rough watch,” Weigel told us. You can read more about that in Oppo Research: 5 things you should know about FC Cincinnati.
And then there’s the history between these two clubs: New York City have never lost to Cincinnati. Not once. Ever.
NYCFC vs FC Cincinnati H2H
| GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 10 | +17 |
Granted, this new-look Cincinnati is a step up from the squad that played last year, and last year’s squad drew NYCFC twice. New York City’s head-to-head dominance is based largely on Cincy’s first three seasons, when they were perennial Wooden Spoon contenders. Those days are over.
Matchday Essentials
- Round of 32, US Open Cup: NYCFC at FC Cincinnati
- Date and Time: Wednesday, May 10, 7 pm ET
- Venue: TQL Stadium
- Bruce Arena Forecast: Breezy, mild, 74˚F/23˚C
- Watch: Golazo Network (streaming on CBS Sports and Pramount+)
- Listen: English and Spanish broadcasts on NYCFC Radio
- Officiating Crew: Timothy Ford (referee), Brooke Mayo and Walter Heatherly (assistant referees), Wes Caouette (fourth official)
NYCFC
• Injury Report: Defender Tayvon Gray and midfielder Matías Pellegrini are questionable. Both missed Saturday’s game with lower-body injuries.
• Head coach Nick Cushing will undoubtedly rotate this squad, but the question is: How much? NYCFC have away games against the New Jersey Red Bulls on Saturday and Orlando City next Wednesday, which adds up to three consecutive matches played on short rest. It’s a good bet Cushing will play the kids.
• Will goalkeeper Matt Freese be in the Starting XI? Cushing hinted he’ll see paying time. The 24-year-old was one of the biggest signings in the offseason, but he has yet to make an appearance for the First Team.
• Will we see Justin Haak in the Starting XI? He has only two appearances so far this season. Fun fact: Haak made his First Team debut against Cincinnati on June 4, 2019.
• What we won’t see: VAR. The US Open Cup voted to add VAR this year, but only for the semifinal and final games.
• Where we will see it: The Golazo Network, streaming on CBS Sports and Paramount+. This is one of four Round of 32 matches picked up by the Golazo Network; the remaining 12 games will be broadcast on the Bleacher Report App and B/R Football’s YouTube Channel, or on US Soccer’s YouTube Channel. You can find a complete schedule here.
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FC Cincinnati
• Injury Report: Defender Santiago Arias is doubtful. The sometimes-starter last played on April 15. Backup striker Arquimides Ordonez is also doubtful. He scored the only goal in Cincinnati’s 1-0 win over Louisville City on April 26.
• Cincy’s attacking trio of Luciano Acosta, Brenner, and Brandon Vazquez are one of the very best in MLS, but don’t expect to see all three in the Starting XI. Instead, you’ll likely see forward Sergio Santos: The 28-year-old has made just five starts but has appeared in all 11 games, scoring four goals and adding one assist.
• The defense have given up 12 goals this season, which puts them in the middle of MLS, but five of those were delivered by St. Louis City in a blowout on April 15 that remains their only loss of the season. Cincinnati also have four clean sheets, shutting out tough opponents such as Seattle Sounders and Philadelphia Union.
• Cincinnati have a bye on Saturday, and won’t be playing that day. The team will have a full week of rest between tonight’s game and their next match on May 17.
