MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The New York Red Bulls II and FC Cincinnati square off on Saturday afternoon at MSU Soccer Park in a key game in the race for the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs, with Cincinnati’s elimination by the Red Bulls’ MLS side from the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup an intriguing undercurrent to the meeting. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET.

Matchcenter: http://bit.ly/2wgMVeb | Tickets: http://win.gs/2ojfZOt | Broadcast: WSTR (CIN)

New York Red Bulls II news and notes

• Current record: 8-11-4, 28pts

• The Red Bulls II played to a 1-1 draw with the Charleston Battery last Saturday night as Stefano Bonomo scored a second-half equalizer at MUSC Health Stadium.

• Bonomo’s goal was his third in four appearances this season after missing the start of the 2017 season due to injury.

• New York was pushed down to ninth place in the Eastern Conference after Orlando City B’s midweek win against Ottawa Fury FC, but sits only three points back of FCC going into Saturday’s game.

• The Red Bulls II have won both of their past two home contests to move above .500 at MSU Soccer Park this season.

FC Cincinnati news and notes

• Current record: 8-8-7, 31pts

• Cincinnati fell 5-0 in its last league outing to Louisville City FC last Saturday night in front of 13,812 fans at Slugger Field, its heaviest defeat in club history.

• FCC performed far better on Tuesday night, and was narrowly eliminated 3-2 in overtime from the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by the New York Red Bulls in front of 33,250 fans at Nippert Stadium.

• Corben Bone’s first goal for the club and Austin Berry’s first goal this season put FCC in reach of the final with 20 minutes to go, but Bradley Wright-Phillips scored twice to send the visitors to a dramatic victory.

• Cincinnati has conceded at least two goals in its past three league outings, with its last shutout coming against the Harrisburg City Islanders on July 22.

Series Notes

• This is the first meeting of the season between NYRB II and FCC, with the Red Bulls II having taken victory in both of their contests in 2016.

Squads

• New York – GK: Rafael Diaz, Evan Louro, Sam Ilin, Matthew Frank; D: Jordan Scarlett, David Najem, Tim Schmoll, Andrew Lombard, Kevin O'Toole, Hassan Ndam, David Abidor, Jordan Bailon, Noah Powder, Ethan Kutler; M: Dan Metzger, Florian Valot, Andrew Tinari, Ben Mines, Kazu Shigenobu, Junior Flemmings, Zaire Bartley; F: Zeiko Lewis, Alex Muyl, Stefano Bonomo, Douglas Martinez

• Cincinnati – GK: Mitch Hildebrandt, Dan Williams, Dallas Jaye; D: Matt Bahner, Tyler Polak, Harrison Delbridge, Pat McMahon, Austin Berry, Garret Halfhill, Justin Hoyte, Mele Temguia; M: Aodhan Quinn, Paul Nicholson, Aaron Walker, Corben Bone, Jimmy McLaughlin, Marco Dominguez, Josu; F: Kadeem Dacres, Djiby Fall, Danny König, Kyle Greig, Andrew Wiedeman, Kevin Schindler

Discipline

• New York – Suspended: Arun Basuljevic; Accumulation warning: David Abidor

• Cincinnati – Suspended: Kenney Walker, Sem de Wit

Officials

• REF: KEVIN BROADLEY

• AR1: Justen Lopez

• AR2: Brian DiPaolo

• 4TH: Szczepan Dziewa

Game hashtag:

• #NYvCIN

Twitter social handles

• New York Red Bulls II – @NYRBII

• FC Cincinnati – @FCCincinnati