FC Cincinnati 2 Face Red-Hot Toronto FC II in Third Season Meeting

August 21, 2022 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – FC Cincinnati 2 News Release

FC Cincinnati 2 head north of the border Sunday night as they face a red-hot Toronto FC II at York Lions Stadium. This weekend’s contest is the third and final meeting between the teams this season with each side picking up home wins earlier in the year. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET.

MATCH INFORMATION

FC Cincinnati 2 at TORONTO FC II

Date: August 21, 2022

Competition: MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season

Site: York Lions Stadium, Toronto, Canada

Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET

Stream: MLSNEXTPro.com

SEASON SERIES

April 3, 2022, NKU Soccer Stadium – CIN (2:1) TOR

CIN – A. Ordóñez (4′), K. Cela (73′ OG)

TOR – T. Antonoglou (10′)

April 30, 2022, BMO Field – TOR (4:2) CIN

TOR – P. Rothrock (50′), R. Walkes (66′), J. Altobelli (74′), M. Marshall (95+5′ OG)

CIN – G. Valenzuela (12′), M. Ruszel (47′)

LATEST RESULTS

In an instant MLS NEXT Pro classic, FCC 2 took two points in a shootout win against Columbus Crew 2 at TQL Stadium last Sunday. Columbus jumped out to a 2-0 first-half lead and looked to be in full control of the match. But three second-half goals from FCC 2 sent the game to a shootout where the Orange and Blue would win, 4-2. Calvin Harris scored his first goal for the 2s including a late stoppage-time penalty to tie the match at 3-3.

Toronto FC II continued their torrid run of form beating Rochester New York FC 2-1 in upstate New York. TFC II opened the scoring fourteen minutes in and held a 1-0 lead heading into the half. Rochester’s Gibran Rayo leveled things in the 68th minute before Reshaun Walkes, coming on as a second-half substitute, put the visitors ahead eight minutes later. Walkes’ goal would prove to be enough earning TFC II three points on the night.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT

Toronto FC II may be the best story of MLS NEXT Pro’s inaugural season. A rocky first-half start saw Toronto earn just ten points in ten matches, culminating with a 6-2 home loss against Chicago Fire II on May 27th. Since then, TFC II are unbeaten and enter Sunday’s tie riding a four-match winning streak. Toronto has a balanced and calculated attack (no player has scored more than five goals this season) and a strong, consistent backline. TFC II have conceded 28 goals, good for third best in the East, and have three shutouts in their last five matches. Toronto sit second in the Eastern Conference with nine wins on the season.

WHO/WHAT TO WATCH

Gerardo Valenzuela – Gerardo Valenzuela played an instrumental role in FCC 2s comeback…