Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. FC Cincinnati

This week is a little different, as Orlando City has a rare Friday night game to shake things up a bit.

Considering the focus has been on Brenner and Acosta, the proof of Vazquez's ability had been invisible, but when he was used more as a second striker at the end of the 2021 season, it bore fruit. ~ It helps that assistant coach Dom Kinnear is working more with Vazquez to achieve an attack that maneuvers better in the final third.

The 26 goals FC Cincinnati has conceded is the third worst number in the East, and a goal differential one worse than Charlotte is the only thing keeping FCC out of a playoff spot at the moment.

GT: What they need to do is tell everyone to forget about that first awful week against Austin!

The 5-0 away loss to Austin had many pieces missing from the start. ~ Dom Badji and Alvas Powell both came on after the game had been long decided. ~ Since then, the 4-3-1-2 formation has been used much less and exchanged for a 3-5-2 formation or a 4-3-3 defensive formation.

Nick Hagglund has been surprisingly the most consistent on the back line, but you need more than just one CB having an above-standard season. Chris Albright and Pat Noonan will need to search for another back when the transfer window opens.

As FC Cincinnati fans, we've been down this path before. FCC has had 11, 13, and 14 points at this point over the past three seasons. Eclipsing that point total before the halfway point of the season feels both glorious and harrowing. ~ In 2022, FCC has blown leads only twice, resulting in six lost points, and while they have lost twice in the final 15 minutes, they have also won twice in the final 15 minutes.

While FCC does absorb yellow cards, only Nwobodo and Blackett are in danger of getting suspended from their next yellow card. Moreno and Badji are the only real injury concerns.

Acosta and Yuya Kubo had been in COVID protocol recently, but they should be healthy for the game. ~ As far as predictions are concerned, I do see Orlando getting some measure of revenge. They're much like FC Cincinnati in the sense that they have performed well on the road, but fallen on hard times at home. ~ Many thanks to Geoff for the excellent insight into FC Cincinnati.