MATCHDAY PREVIEW presented by Kiesland | FC Cincinnati host New York Red Bulls at home looking for revenge after first meeting

FC Cincinnati return home to complete an Empire/Garden State double-header this week, internet hosting Red Bull New York for a rematch at TQL Stadium.

Just three weeks after seeing the Red Bulls final, and three days after returning home from a dramatic draw in opposition to NYCFC at Yankee Stadium, the Orange and Blue are looking to get again within the win column and avenge a defeat suffered at the fingers of their weekend opponents earlier this month.

While on a brief week, and with only a few days to organize for their subsequent opponent, the contemporary within the thoughts reminiscence of taking part in the Red Bulls may come as a bonus. With a familiarity for their opponent and taking part in this time at home, FC Cincinnati really feel they are often higher ready for their opponent now than they’d be had they not performed them so just lately.

“It just helps inform you on what kind of game you can expect,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan mentioned Friday forward of the match at his press convention at Mercy Health Training Center. “Sometimes you play a workforce twice in a brief period of time, and also you would possibly see totally different personnel, otherwise you would possibly see totally different or some changes in construction, however we do not anticipate that.

“With Red Bull, they have been constant in how they play, they usually’ve been doing it efficiently. Even since we performed them with (their) Miami, Montreal and DC video games, they assault in a really related manner, defend in an identical manner, however have had success on each side. So regardless that the outcomes have been two two attracts and a loss, when you look at the play, they’ll rating a whole lot of objectives.

“We anticipate another strong 11 from them and a very confident approach in how they play. I don’t think that’ll change.”

The Orange and Blue have been late recreation fighters of late, salvaging a draw from shedding place late in every of their final three video games. They are looking to alter these attracts to victories, and FCC are looking to start out the video games with extra confidence as an answer to placing themselves able to win.

“I think there’s still more moments where we can find the right way to play and understand the opponent’s press, understand our free man, the space to play,” Noonan mentioned. “I think sometimes we wait until it’s an extreme situation, or at least we’ve seen that in recent weeks, so being more confident and comfortable doing that throughout the game (is important).”

Also on Saturday night time at TQL Stadium, FC Cincinnati will rejoice Autism Acceptance Month! Observed yearly in April, Autism Acceptance Month is devoted to recognizing that Autism transcends a easy prognosis and represents id, group, and a journey of all lived experiences.

Assistant Coach Kenny Arena and his household work carefully with Stepping Stones, a nonprofit group empowering people with disabilities and their households all through Greater Cincinnati to assist create a pathway to independence by way of a variety of academic, leisure, and skill-building packages. Arena and Head Coach Pat Noonan will mark the event on Saturday by carrying armbands recognizing the trigger. Arena has personally invited anybody fascinated by getting concerned with Stepping Stones to succeed in out to him instantly by sending a direct message on X to @ksarena14.

For extra info on Autism Acceptance Month or different methods to get entangled, go to Stepping Stones, Empathy for Autism and Autism Connectionsor, cease by the Carl and Martha Lindner Plaza at TQL Stadium earlier than Saturday’s match to go to cubicles from all three organizations.

For merchandise from Stepping Stones to help the group, click here.

Watch/Stream (English/Spanish): AppleTV

English Local Radio: ESPN 1530

Spanish Local Radio: La Mega 101.5 FM

FC Cincinnati Social Media: X/Twitter, instagram and Facebook FC Cincinnati Official Mobile App: iOS and Android

The Orange and Blue will face Red Bull New York for the second time this month in a

fast comply with as much as shut out the common season collection simply three weeks following the first meeting

at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Red Bull New York earned the win in that first meeting with a 4-2 consequence on April 4.

All-time FC Cincinnati are 7-8-5 in opposition to the Red Bulls, and 2-4-1 at home.

(Courtesy of *FC Cincinnati Communications*)

Have a Night Kevin – Forward Kévin Denkey scored his second brace of the season Wednesday night time in opposition to New York City FC within the workforce’s 4-4 draw at Yankee Stadium. Denkey has three profession multi-goal video games with the Orange and Blue and has now scored eight objectives throughout all competitors in 2026, main all FC Cincinnati gamers.

Denkey has scored 26 profession objectives for FC Cincinnati and is seven objectives away from tying Brenner for the third most objectives, all-time, for the Orange and Blue. With his two objectives in opposition to New York, Denkey handed Yuya Kubo for the sixth most aim contributions (26G, 5A), all-time.

Andrei Party – 17-year-old Andrei Chirila scored his first profession aim for FC Cincinnati on

Wednesday within the second minute of second half stoppage time. Chirila introduced the Orange and Blue inside a aim of New York (4-3), permitting Evander’s aim moments later to tie the match. Chirila turned the youngest aim scorer for FC Cincinnati in MLS play and the second youngest to attain throughout all competitions (Ademar Chavez – 17 years, 3 months, 11 days – vs. O&M FC, 2/25/26).

History! – Evander made historical past Wednesday night time in opposition to NYCFC, changing into the highest Brazilian-born goalscorer in MLS play, passing Wélton. Evander scored his forty fourth profession MLS aim from the spot within the fifth minute of second half stoppage time to earn some extent for the Orange and Blue.

Evander has scored 20 of his 44 league objectives with FC Cincinnati and has now scored in back-to-back matches. Evander now has two objectives and two assists throughout all competitions this season.

99 – Pavel Bucha enters Saturday with 98 profession appearances for FC Cincinnati. With his 99th look this weekend in opposition to the Red Bulls, he’s eleventh in all-time appearances for the membership within the MLS period and will he attain 100 appearances he can be the thirteenth participant to take action throughout all eras of FC Cincinnati competitors.

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Scouting Red Bull New York (3-3-3, 12 Points, eighth Eastern Conference, LWDLD)*

It’s a rematch with Red Bull New York at TQL Stadium this Saturday night time. Just 21 days after visiting the Harrison, New Jersey based mostly membership at Sports Illustrated Stadium the Orange and Blue tackle RBNY at home and see them for the ultimate time this common season – lower than a 3rd of the way in which by way of the season.

As seen within the first match three weeks in the past, MLS legend and USMNT icon Michael Bradley has over as Head Coach, returning to take the membership the place he made his skilled taking part in debut 22 years in the past to steer the subsequent technology. Bradley, who was the Head Coach of the Red Bulls MLS NEXT Pro membership in 2025, made almost 300 appearances in MLS for New York and Toronto FC mixed, and 151 appearances for the US Men’s National Team. This is Bradley’s first top-division teaching appointment, however he served as an assistant in Norway in 2024 to get his teaching profession began. FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan served as an assistant coach with the USMNT whereas Bradley performed for the nationwide squad.

With Bradley as the brand new supervisor, the American has been fearless in including younger gamers to the lineup and has ushered in a youth motion for the Red Bulls in solely 5 video games.

Three of Red Bulls’ minutes performed leaders this season have been 18-year-olds or youthful, with ahead Julian Hall, who solely turned 18 final month, main the way in which. He leads the workforce in scoring with six objectives in 9 video games and leads all outfield gamers in minutes performed with 802. Fellow teenagers Adri Mehmeti (16) and Matthew Dos Santos (17) have additionally logged over 600 minutes every this season.

“I think if you were to watch them and not know, and not have context, and just say, ‘All right, I’m watching this team.’ It doesn’t look like a bunch of kids out there,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan said of Red Bulls’ young players before the April 4 match at Sports Illustrated Stadium. “They play with confidence. They play with an excellent dedication and function…it appears like they’re skilled gamers on the market. Again, it is a small pattern measurement, but it surely’s been spectacular.”

Hall joined the first workforce in 2023 as a 15-year-old and, over the next three years, appeared 38 occasions and made 4 begins. This 12 months, Hall has turn into the cornerstone piece of the offense and began each match for Bradley’s aspect. In the match in opposition to FC Cincinnati three weeks in the past, he scored to open the sport.

In addition to the teenage youth, there’s a steady of younger gamers to help them. As properly as a number of marquee stars.

Captain Emil Forsburg stays a drive within the center, he’s tied for the workforce lead in assists with three. Americans Cade Cowell, 22, and Jorge Ruvalcaba, 24, have additionally been core members of the squad by way of 9 matches. Both of the American attackers are current additions from Liga MX sides in Mexico, with Cowell (who additionally has three assists this season) coming over from Chivas, and Ruvalcaba (who’s second in scoring on the workforce with three) becoming a member of from Pumas as a Designated Player.

On the defensive aspect of the ball, the younger Dos Santos has been a key contributor on the left aspect of a again 4. In the center, the considerably extra veteran Robert Voloder and Gustav Berggren have been on patrol.

No matter who performs for the Red Bulls, although, the membership’s id stands out most. The RBNY id has turn into recognized for its pressure-packed, intense, gritty and relentless fashion of play that many others have tried to copy. When going into Sports Illustrated Stadium, coping with that’s paramount to success.

“They’re gonna be really hard to play against,” goalkeeper Evan Louro mentioned of the Red Bulls earlier than the April 4 match in New Jersey. The present FC Cincinnati keeper grew up within the Red Bull Academy earlier than attending the University of Michigan. “They’re going to be really hard against the ball. They’re going to work hard, they’re going to get chances – they’re just a good team. They’re a young team. I think Michael’s done a lot of good stuff, and obviously, he’s a legend of the game, especially here in the States. So we’re excited “

Under Bradley, the Red Bulls have deployed a 4-3-3 formation with American goalkeeper Ethan Horvath in internet.