New York City FC take on FC Cincinnati tonight.
For this edition of 'The Away End' presented by Berkeley College & Rennert International, we spoke to Carter Chapley, Club Reporter for FC Cincinnati.
Hi Carter, thanks for speaking with us. How long have you been working for FC Cincinnati?
Thank you for having me! I joined FCC about a year and a half ago, or midway through the 2023 season.
What's been your highlight in that time?
I can say with a lot of confidence that winning the Supporters’ Shield in 2023 and the run up to that has been a definitive high point in my time. But trips to Kingston, Jamaica and Monterrey, Mexico for Concacaf Champions Cup also rank very highly.
How would you assess the 2024 season so far for the club?
It’s been a really challenging year to assess for FC Cincinnati, maybe mostly so because of the high expectations the team has set for themselves. It’s hard to look at a season where the team is guaranteed (at this point) at least a top-three seed in the Eastern Conference and still be disappointed, but in a year where you set out to repeat as Supporters’ Shield winners, it can sometimes feel that way.
2024 though has been rife with struggles and The Orange and Blue have shown some real resilience in that time. Injury, availability, overall struggle have all plagued the 2024 campaign and yet they still keep moving along. For example, on Saturday against LAFC, FC Cincinnati utilized their 39th unique lineup combination of the season in 39 games. Not once this season across any competition has FCC had the same starting XI, and that takes a toll this late in the year where relationships and cohesion can be a real difference-maker.
In all though, FC Cincinnati has positioned themselves to where they can compete for the MLS Cup. It’s hard to call that an ‘unsuccessful’ season, even if the goalposts can get moved.
What do you think will be the deciding factor in Wednesday's game?
For FC Cincinnati, it really comes down to Luciano Acosta. The 2023 MLS MVP really is the straw that stirs the drink for FCC, and while the club has found ways to operate without him, ‘Lucho’ is the X-Factor.
Acosta missed some significant time recovering from a foot injury and missed some time just prior to, then almost all of Leagues Cup 2024. His reintegration and getting healthy is paramount to the team’s long-term goals, and while he has been healthy for a while he is still very much getting his sea legs back. He’s shown flashes of that MVP play but hasn’t yet really made that emphatic “I’m Back” statement quiet yet.
If he’s able to make that statement in this game, it’s hard not to see any outcome not significantly involving his contributions. And if NYCFC can stop him, it’s going to be a whole lot more difficult for FCC to find a result.
For any of our fans who might be in Cincinnati for a game in the future, are there any spots you'd suggest they check out before the game?
If you’re making your way to Cincinnati, welcome! On match days I have a particular affection for “Queen City Radio” (or QCR) as a pre- or post-match watering hole. “The Pitch,” which is directly across the street from TQL Stadium is also a quality spot. I’d also be remiss to not mention Rhinegeist Brewery as a fun, more family-friendly locale to visit regardless of if it’s a matchday or not. Finally, any first-time visit to Cincy has to include a stop at Findlay Market. There’s a little something for everyone there and is easily accessible by the city's free streetcar system.
