Get to know who the Red Bulls will be playing in their upcoming matchup with The Other Side:
How They’re Doing
FC Cincinnati is proving that the improvement seen in 2022 were no fluke. They have even taken it to the next level in 2023, currently leading the Supporters’ Shield standings.
They are undefeated in their last seven matches, but are doing it in a style that few thought they would in 2023. They allowed 56 goals in the 2022 regular season, which was sixth-worst in MLS.
This season, however, they have shored up their backline and have only allowed 14 goals in 16 matches across all competitions.
They are 10-0-0 at home this season across all competitions, but only 1-1-3 on the road.
Head-to-Head History
The Red Bulls have largely owned the series against Cincinnati, winning five of the eleven matches and dropping just three.
The third loss to Cincinnati, though, came in the 2022 MLS Playoffs, where Cincinnati turned around a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1 and advance.
This will be the first time that the two clubs have met in the U.S. Open Cup since 2017, where the Red Bulls ended a cinderella cup run with a 3-2 win in extra time.
Player to Watch – Midfielder Luciano Acosta
No one’s played a part in more MLS goals this season for Cincinnati than their No. 10.
He leads the team with eight total goal contributions and 13 on-target scoring attempts, and has been one of the key cogs in Cincinnati’s massive improvement from previous years.
In his three seasons with Cincinnati, he’s tallied 22 goals and 32 assists.
His contributions to Cincinnati’s breakout season last year, and the team's dominance this season, has him in the early conversation for 2023 MLS MVP.
