FC Cincinnati will welcome Los Angeles FC, currently in first place in the Western Conference, to the Queen City for the first time Sunday afternoon. The game will be nationally-televised on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Deportes, and fans are encouraged to join FCC players and wear orange to Sunday’s game for an Orange Out at TQL Stadium.
FC CINCINNATI vs. LOS ANGELES FC – 5 p.m. – TQL STADIUM
HOW TO WATCH
NATIONAL TV: Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes
Stream: FoxSports.com
Radio: ESPN 1530
Audio Stream: iHeartRadio App
Talent:
FS1 – John Strong (play-by-play), Stu Holden (analyst)
ESPN 1530 – 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.
Tickets are still available, visit fccincinnati.com/tickets or call 513-977-KICK, that’s 513-977-5425.
ORANGE OUT
FC Cincinnati will be wearing the club’s secondary orange Juncta Juvant kit, which will be available for purchase in the TQL Stadium Team Store in addition to a variety of orange items for sale including a scarf, t-shirts, sweatshirts and hats.
Head over to Washington Park prior to the game between 2-5 p.m. to enjoy special orange themed activations including:
– La Orangette food truck and other food trucks
– FCC lettered photo station
– Face painting and balloon artist
– Kids soccer games including Striker Challenge and Soccer Darts
– Beer, wine, hard seltzer and drink specials available for purchase at The Porch
Fans can join the Supporters March to TQL Stadium, departing Washington Park at approximately 4:15 p.m. Fans can also expect special pyrotechnics for the game, and a t-shirt cannon at halftime to shoot out 150 orange t-shirts to fans.
HEAD TO A PUB PARTNERCan’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.
SCOUTING LAFC (5-1-1, 16 POINTS, 1st WESTERN CONFERENCE)
LAFC bring to Cincinnati MLS-bests in points (16), wins (5), and goal difference (10). First-year LAFC head coach and former USMNT defender Steve Cherundolo has a roster loaded with talent, led by former Mexican National Team standout Carlos Vela. He leads the team with four goals this season.
Vela is one of four players to start all seven games this season for LAFC, a list which includes goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, midfielder Ilie Sánchez and defender Mamadou Fall. Key to their success also involves USMNT midfielder Kellyn Acosta, who is in his first season with LAFC.
Forwards Cristian Arango, Kwadwo Opoku and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi each have scored twice this season for LAFC, as had primary defender Ryan Hollingshead.
Orlando City SC is the only mutual opponent of LAFC and FC Cincinnati. LAFC and FCC gave Orlando (4-2-2) their only two losses of this season. LAFC went to Florida and knocked off Orlando, just as FC Cincinnati did, by a 4-2 scoreline on April 2. That game was the last time LAFC played away from the City of Angels, as the only road game since then for LAFC was at LA Galaxy for El Tráfico.
LAFC is coming off consecutive wins, last Sunday in a 3-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City, as well as a 5-1 thumping of Orange County SC in the U.S. Open Cup Third Round on Wednesday night.
NOONAN’S TAKE
FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan on what he wants FC Cincinnati fans and the nationally-televised audience to see from the Orange and Blue:
“A brave team and a disciplined team. That’s what my message was to the group is, on a nationally televised game, against a really good opponent, that’s when you want to be at your best and that’s when you want to see your team be the most courageous. Stepping up to the occasion with how we move the ball, with how we press, with everything we do, can we show that we’re a confident team when we step on the field? And so that’s the message, that’s what I want to see out of the group. That’s what we’ve talked about is stepping up to the occasion. And not just stepping on the field and having the energy but having the quality and finding ways to succeed and finding ways to win a game against a good opponent.”
STORYLINES OF THE GAME
FINISH THE CHANCES – While LAFC rank atop MLS with 17 goals scored, they actually trail FC Cincinnati in expected goals. FC Cincinnati through seven games have a 13.64 xG, which ranks third in MLS. LAFC’s 13.6 xG ranks fourth in the league.
150 FOR ALVAS – FC Cincinnati defender Alvas Powell, should he appear in Sunday’s game, will make the 150th regular season appearance of his MLS career.
KEEP THE MOMENTUM – FC Cincinnati enter Sunday coming off a win over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC after extra time on Tuesday night in the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup. Álvaro Barreal netted a brace for the first time in his FCC career, including the game-winner in the 95th minute. FCC also earned a point in a scoreless draw last Saturday at Atlanta United FC, who currently rank fourth in the Eastern Conference.
LAFC CONNECTIONS – FC Cincinnati welcome LAFC to the Queen City for the first time in club history, and Sunday will mark just the second meeting between the clubs. The first meeting came in FCC’s inaugural season on April 13, 2019 in California, a 2-0 win for the hosts. Nick Hagglund, who will miss Sunday’s game due to his red card against Atlanta, and Allan Cruz were the only two current members of FC Cincinnati to play in that game.
Assistant coach Kenny Arena and goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer each have ties to the current Western Conference leaders. Arena was an assistant for four seasons with Los Angeles, joining in 2018. Vermeer began his MLS career in 2020 with LAFC, where he made eight appearances in MLS regular season play as well as five Concacaf Champions League starts.
BADJI’S DUE – Only nine current FC Cincinnati players have ever appeared in a game against LAFC, none in more than three games. Only Dominique Badji has scored against LAFC in their career, when he did so last season on Decision Day, November 7, 2021 with the Colorado Rapids. Badji scored just two minutes after coming on as a substitute in a 5-2 Rapids win.
COURTESY FC CINCINNATI COMMUNICATIONS
