February 27, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – FC Cincinnati News Release
After drawing to open the MLS regular season Sunday, FC Cincinnati have a chance to rebound quickly from the result with a midweek Concacaf matchup against Cavalier FC.
FCC opened international play in the Concacaf Champions Cup with a 2-0 victory last Thursday against the Jamaican Premier League side. Now Cavalier FC have traveled north to Cincinnati for the return leg of the matchup on Thursday night at TQL Stadium.
With a two-goal lead in the aggregate, FCC hold the clear advantage in the deciding matchup, needing to just win, draw, or even lose by one or less to secure advancing to the next round of the tournament. If Cavalier FC manage to mirror the score line from a week ago, the match would go to extra time then penalty kicks to decide a winner.
The midweek match will be the third game in seven days for The Orange and Blue, part of a potential stretch of games that would see FCC playing twice a week for over a month.
“Guys need to be ready,” head coach Pat Noonan said entering a week’s worth of matches. “We educate the players on the schedule. This is what the game schedule looks like, this is what the recovery days look like, these are potentially off days, but be ready. … Guys were ready last year and that’s what helped us win games and be consistent. So we’re expecting the same, but with an understanding that it’s come at a different time of the year with less fitness.”
FC CINCINNATI vs. Cavalier FC (Jamaica Premier League) – Wednesday, February 28, 2024 – 7 p.m. ET – TQL Stadium
HOW TO WATCH
Be sure to follow @FCCincinnati on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for live updates from the game.
International competition
FCC opened their account in international competition last Thursday when they traveled to Kingston, Jamaica to play the first leg of Round One. Sergio Santos became the first member of The Orange and Blue to score a goal in Concacaf play with his 45+5 minute chip assisted by Bret Halsey. Malik Pinto added the second goal of the evening when he put a strike on target in the 87 minute on an assist from Arquimides Ordoñez.
Prior to Thursday, eight members of FC Cincinnati had competed in Concacaf Champions League in the past, and three have played in club continental competition outside of Concacaf, including Luciano Acosta, Alvas Powell, Nick Hagglund, Miles Robinson, Alec Kann and Kipp Keller.
Pavel Bucha appeared in the UEFA Champions League with his Czech side…
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