CINCINNATI – A USL regular-season record crowd will be on hand at Nippert Stadium for one of the biggest games of the weekend in the league with both FC Cincinnati and the New York Red Bulls II sitting one position apart ahead of their second meeting this season ahead of a vital USL Eastern Conference clash. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET
Matchcenter: Click Here | Tickets: Click Here | Broadcast: WSTR (CIN)
FC Cincinnati news and notes
Current record: 9-9-9, 36pts
FC Cincinnati comes into this match following a dramatic 1-1 draw with the Harrisburg City Islanders on Wednesday night at FNB Field.
Jimmy McLaughlin scored in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time to steal a point for Cincinnati, which had previously dominated most of the match.
Cincinnati announced last week that it had sold 25,309 tickets to Saturday night's game, which is the club's home finale this season. That total surpasses FCC's own USL regular-season single-game record for attendance, set earlier this season against Orlando City B.
FCC goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt is tied for the USL lead in saves alongside Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC's Moise Pouaty, with both goalkeepers having recorded 83 saves this season.
New York Red Bulls II news and notes
Current record: 11-11-5, 38pts
The Red Bulls II moved into sixth place in the USL Eastern Conference last Saturday night after earning a 2-1 win against Toronto FC II at BMO Field.
Both goals came from the penalty spot as Stefano Bonomo struck twice to move to six goals this season. The performance earned Bonomo a place on the USL Team of the Week on Tuesday.
NYRB II is on a six-game undefeated streak entering Saturday night's contest which has moved the defending USL Cup holders four points ahead of ninth-place Bethlehem Steel FC in the Eastern Conference.
The Red Bulls II will have Gideon Baah available for selection on Saturday after the Red Bulls defender was loaned to the side as he makes a potential return from a broken leg suffered last summer. Baah's last action was for the Red Bulls on July 10, 2016 against the Portland Timbers.
Series Notes
Squads
Cincinnati – GK: Mitch Hildebrandt, Dan Williams, Dallas Jaye; D: Matt Bahner, Tyler Polak, Harrison Delbridge, Pat McMahon, Austin Berry, Garret Halfhill, Justin Hoyte, Sem de Wit, Kevin Schindler, Mele Temguia, Josu; M: Aodhan Quinn, Kenney Walker, Paul Nicholson, Aaron Walker, Corben Bone, Jimmy McLaughlin, Marco Dominguez, Josu; F: Kadeem Dacres, Djiby Fall, Danni König, Kyle Greig, Andrew Wiedeman
New York – GK: Rafael Diaz, Evan Louro, Sam Ilin; D: Gideon Baah, Jordan Scarlett, David Najem, Tim Schmoll, Andrew Lombard, Hassan Ndam, David Abidor, Jordan Bailon, Noah Powder, Ethan Kutler; M: Dan Metzger, Arun Basuljevic, Florian Valot, Dilly Duka, Andrew Tinari, Ben Mines, Kazu Shigenobu, Junior Flemmings, Zaire Bartley, Vincent Bezecourt; F: Derrick Etienne Jr., Zeiko Lewis, Stefano Bonomo, Douglas Martinez
Discipline
Cincinnati – Accumulation warning: Sem de Wit
New York – Accumulation warning: David Abidor, Andrew Tinari, Dan Metzger
Officials
REF: ROSENDO MENDOZA
AR1: Jeffrey Swartzel
AR2: Noah Matos
4TH: Benjamin Miller
Game hashtag:
Twitter social handles
FC Cincinnati – @FCCincinnati
New York Red Bulls II – @RBNYII
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