FC Cincinnati, Seattle Sounders Square off in Crucial Interconference Showdown
September 26, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – FC Cincinnati News Release
FC Cincinnati head to Seattle, Wash. Tuesday night for an inter-conference match against Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field. It’s the third straight league match in which the Orange and Blue will take on a Western Conference opponent.
FCC will put the league’s longest active unbeaten streak to the test against a Seattle side looking to keep pace in a tightening playoff race.
FC CINCINNATI at SEATTLE SOUNDERS – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 – 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT – LUMEN FIELD
HOW TO WATCH
Local TV: Star64
Local Stream: fccincinnati.com
Out of Market Stream: ESPN+
Radio: ESPN 1530
Talent: 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.
HEAD TO A PUB PARTNER
Fans can also catch the action at one of 14 official Pub Partners located across the region, presented by Coors Light.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Seattle Sounders FC lead the all-time MLS series over FC Cincinnati, 1-0-0
SCOUTING SEATTLE SOUNDERS
(12-16-3, 39 PTS., 10th in Western Conference)
Seattle enters the week needing three points in a hotly contested Western Conference. The Sounders have been regular participants of the MLS Cup Playoffs but find themselves in real danger of missing out for the first time in club history.
The Sounders haven’t been able to secure points in close games this season and it’s the reason they find themselves below the playoff line. The Sounders have tied just three times all season, the second lowest total in the league behind Charlotte FC (two). 21 of Seattle’s 31 matches have been decided by one goal with the Sounders going 7-14-0 in those games.
Despite their struggles in close games, Seattle have been fantastic at home. The Sounders have won nine matches at Lumen Field, tied for the second-best total in the Western Conference, and impressive results against strong sides have kept Seattle in the playoff conversation.
Seattle’s Raúl Ruidíaz has been one of MLS’ most dangerous and consistent goal scorers since signing with the Sounders in 2018. Ruidíaz has hit double-digit goals in each of his first four campaigns and needs just one goal over the last three matches to eclipse that total for the fifth straight season.
Xavier Arreaga (Ecuador), Jordan Morris (United States), Alex Roldan (El Salvador), Raul Ruidíaz (Peru), and Nouhou Tolo (Cameroon) were called up to their respective national teams this past weekend which will impact their availability for Tuesday’s match against the Orange and Blue.
The Sounders close things out against Sporting Kansas City and San Jose Earthquakes who hold a combined record of 17-29-17.
PLAYOFF PUSH
While FC Cincinnati can’t clinch a playoff spot against Seattle tomorrow night, a win could put them in a position to secure a spot in the postseason this Saturday against Chicago Fire FC.
A win or draw against the Sounders would see the Orange and Blue move ahead of Orlando City and into fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
NUMBERS OF NOTE …
2 – This is just the second meeting between the sides with the only other meeting coming in FC Cincinnati’s inaugural season in MLS, a 4-1 victory for the Sounders.
10 – FC Cincinnati’s current unbeaten streak. It’s the longest active run in MLS and is tied for the longest such run this season (Portland Timbers, New England Revolution)
33 – Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei has conceded 33 goals from outside the box dating back to the start of the 2017 campaign. It’s the highest total for any goalkeeper over that span.
FC CINCINNATI NOTES
GOALS FOR BRENNER… – Brenner’s brace against Real Salt Lake was the Brazilian’s second multigoal performance in as many matches. Brenner now accounts for five of the nine all-time multigoal games in FC Cincinnati history.
AND ASSISTS FOR LUCHO – Luciano Acosta continues to lead MLS in assists. The crafty playmaking midfielder sits on 18 assists entering Tuesday’s match and holds the club record for career assists (28). Acosta has picked up four assists in his last four league appearances and will look to add to his total against the Sounders.
WILD, WILD WEST – Tuesday’s encounter with Seattle will be the third straight match against Western Conference opposition. The Orange and Blue picked up wins against San Jose and Real Salt Lake earlier this month scoring a combined eight goals while conceding just one in their previous two outings.
NOONAN BACK IN THE EMERALD CITY – Pat Noonan returns to Seattle to coach against a team he played for during his playing career. Noonan featured for the Sounders from 2010-2011 where he made 21 appearances and scored one goal. The Sounders will be the third such club Noonan has faced as FC Cincinnati’s manager (New England, Columbus Crew).
NOONAN’S TAKE
Head Coach Pat Noonan on Tuesday’s match against Seattle
“This is a winning team, a winning culture, they know what it looks like in tough moments to find results. They’ve been put in this position in years past quite a few times, where, whether it was injuries, international duty, whatever the reason, players were away, they found ways to win games. And that’s credit to Brian and his staff to be able to prepare any group to step out and win a game. We need to be very cautious about how we go into this game mentally, as far as understanding that whoever we see on the field tomorrow, it is going to be a very challenging game and a team that’s going to be hungry to get a result. This is going to be a very difficult game and I think our guys at this stage, at this point, understand it. We’re very aware of our opponent’s ability to put out a group to come and win a game and so it’s going to be a challenge.”
2023 FC Cincinnati Season Ticket Memberships are now available. Season Ticket Members are guaranteed the best seats at the best prices for every match at TQL Stadium in 2023, in addition to access to exclusive events, discounts on merchandise and more!
2023 Season Tickets are on sale now at fccincinnati.com/tickets. Fans looking for more information can contact a dedicated FC Cincinnati representative at (513) 977-5435 or e-mail [email protected].
Single match tickets to FC Cincinnati’s final home game on October 1 against Chicago Fire FC are available, head to fccincinnati.com/tickets or call 513-977-KICK, to learn more.
FC Cincinnati are playing their fourth season of MLS competition in 2022, and their second playing at TQL Stadium. For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. Additionally, fans are encouraged to download the team’s official mobile app on the Apple App Store or Google Play for instant access to mobile tickets, team content and match notifications.
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