The New York Red Bulls (15-11-8, 53 pts.) host FC Cincinnati (12-9-13, 49 pts.) in Round One of the 2022 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday, October 15 at Red Bull Arena. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET with local coverage on MSG, MSG GO, and New York Red Bulls Radio in English and Spanish via TuneIn, the New York Red Bulls app and NewYorkRedBulls.com, while national coverage will be on UniMas and TUDN.
Get to know who the Red Bulls will be playing in their upcoming matchup:
How They’re Doing
After three consecutive seasons at the bottom of the MLS standings, Cincinnati has broken through for a record-setting season.
A 5-2 victory against D.C. United on Decision Day clinched the club’s first postseason appearance in their history.
On their way to the 2022 MLS playoffs, they set club records for points (49), wins (12), and goals (64).
Luciano Acosta, Brenner and Brandon Vázquez have been key cogs in the starting XI for Cincinnati this season, combining for 46 goals and 33 assists.
With Brenner and Vázquez heading up the attack, Cincinnati became the first club in MLS history to have two players score at least 18 goals in a regular season campaign.Â
Head-to-head history
The Red Bulls largely owned the series against Cincinnati, winning five of the ten matches and dropping just two.
Both Red Bulls losses in this series came during the 2020 season, when Cincinnati earned a 2-0 victory at the MLS is Back Tournament before taking a regular season 1-0 win over New York at Red Bull Arena in September.
Both matchups in 2022 ended in 1-1 draws, with New York falling behind but equalizing in both matches.
New York are currently on a four-match unbeaten run against Cincinnati.
Player to watch – Midfielder Luciano Acosta
Acosta leads MLS with 19 assists, and has been one of the key cogs in Cincinnati’s massive improvement from previous years.
In his two season with Cincinnati, he’s tallied 17 goals and 29 assists.
Acosta joined the Orange and Blue last season but is no stranger to the league – spending four seasons with DC United from 2016 to 2019 and earning a spot in the league’s Best XI in 2018.
His contributions to Cincinnati’s breakout season has him in the conversation for MLS MVP.
