MLS FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati Weekly Update: January 27, 2020

January 27, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release


CINCINNATI - FC Cincinnati have completed their first week of MLS preseason, highlighted by an end-of-week intra-squad scrimmage on Saturday, Jan. 25. The Orange and Blue travelled to Tucson, Ariz. on Sunday, Jan. 19 and will remain in The Grand Canyon State through Thursday, Feb. 6.

FC Cincinnati will play a pair of games this week. First, the Orange and Blue will square off with USL Championship side Phoenix Rising FC at the Kino Sports Complex at 3 p.m. MT on Wednesday, Jan. 29. FCC will conclude the week by playing fellow MLS side Sporting Kansas City at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz. at 11 a.m. MT on Saturday, Feb. 1.

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FCC open preseason

In preparation for their second MLS season, the Orange and Blue have opened preseason in Tucson, Ariz. and will conclude their preparations in Bradenton. Fla. ... FCC departed to the Grand Canyon State on Sunday, Jan 19 and will face Phoenix Rising FC (Jan. 29), Sporting Kansas City (Feb. 1) and El Paso Locomotive FC (Feb. 5) ... the club will travel to the Sunshine State on Feb. 10 to face Philadelphia Union (Feb. 12), Nashville SC (Feb. 16) and KR Reykjavik / Sarasota Metropolis FC (Feb. 21).

FC Cincinnati add Designated Player Yuya Kubo

FC Cincinnati announced the acquisition of Yuya Kubo from Belgian side KAA Gent on Jan. 9 ... the Japanese international is the second-ever DP signing for the Orange and Blue and the first Japanese DP in MLS History ... Kubo has made 303 career appearances, while scoring 86 goals and adding 23 assists in 10 professional seasons with KAA Gent, FC Nürnberg, BSC Young Boys and Kyoto Sanga FC ... in his most recent season, he made 12 appearances, including six starts, while scoring three goals and adding two assists across all competitions ... at the international level, Kubo has made 13 appearances, scoring two goals and adding two assists for Japan since making his senior international debut in an international friendly against Oman on Nov. 11, 2016.

Orange and Blue sign Haris Medunjanin

FC Cincinnati signed midfielder Haris Medunjanin using TAM on Dec. 5, 2019 after selecting him in the 2019 End-of-Year Waivers Draft on Nov. 25, 2019 ... the midfielder played three seasons for the Philadelphia Union (2017-19), where he made 98 appearances, including 97 starts, while scoring five goals and adding 29 assists ... Medunjanin has made more than 400 combined career appearances in the top divisions of the United States, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey and Israel, while scoring more than 50 goals and adding more than 50 assists ... prior to arriving in Philadelphia, the midfielder played for AZ Alkmaar, Sparta Rotterdam, Real Valladolid, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Gaziantepspor and Deportivo de La Coruña.

FCC add goalkeeper Bobby Edwards

FC Cincinnati announced the addition of goalkeeper Bobby Edwards on Jan. 20 ... Edwards joins FCC after previously playing for Portadown FC in Northern Ireland's NIFL Championship ... the goalkeeper played four collegiate seasons for three different programs ... the goalkeeper totaled 62 appearances, including 60 starts, registering 262 saves and earning 11 shutouts during his four collegiate seasons ... following his final year of NCAA eligibility, Edwards signed a professional contract with Portadown FC in June of 2019.

FC Cincinnati bolster backline with Tom Pettersson

On Dec. 17, the Orange and Blue announced the addition of defender Tom Pettersson following the expiration of his contract with Swedish top-division side Östersunds FK ... Pettersson has made a combined 188 appearances in the top divisions of Sweden and Belgium as well as a combined eight UEFA Europa League appearances in his last seven professional seasons ... in his most recent season with Östersunds FK, he made 23 appearances, including 22 starts, and scored one goal.

FC Cincinnati acquire defender Saad Abdul-Salaam

FCC signed defender Saad Abdul-Salaam on Dec. 16, 2019 ... Abdul-Salaam was chosen with the first selection in Stage 2 of the 2019 Re-Entry Process on Tuesday, Dec. 3 ... in five MLS seasons, Abdul-Salaam has made 86 appearances, including 60 starts, while scoring one goal and adding 11 assists with Seattle Sounders FC, New York City FC and Sporting Kansas City dating back to 2015 ... last season, the defender made 18 appearances and played 1,062 minutes for the 2019 MLS Cup Champions.

FC Cincinnati select two players in 2020 MLS SuperDraft

The Orange and Blue added two players in the MLS SuperDraft ... with the No. 29 overall pick, FCC selected forward Rey Ortiz from the University of Portland ... with the No. 53 pick, Cincinnati selected midfielder Joris Ahlinvi from Indiana University ... the Orange and Blue had traded the No. 3 overall selection to Inter Miami CF for $150,000 in GAM on Nov. 19, 2019 ... additionally, FCC had traded their natural-third round selection to Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for goalkeeper Spencer Richey on Dec. 9, 2018.

FCC_Fiddle takes home eMLS League Series one

Gordon Thornsberry (FCC_Fiddle) lifted the eMLS League Series one trophy after defeating New York Red Bulls' George Adamou (G_Amadou10) 3-1 in the final on Jan. 10 ... eMLS League Series presented by PlayStation and Coca Cola was hosted in Philadelphia ... after going 9-2-1 in the first stage, Fiddle advanced to the knockout stage ... Fiddle defeated Atlanta United's Paulo Neto via penalties in the quarterfinals before defeating Vancouver Whitecaps' Alex Gonzalez (Exraa) in penalties in the semifinal round.

FC Cincinnati's 2020 Preseason Schedule

Jan. 18 - Players report to Cincinnati

Jan. 19 through Feb. 6: Tucson, Ariz.

Sunday, Jan. 19 - Depart for Tucson, Ariz.

Saturday, Jan. 25 - Intra-squad scrimmage

Wednesday, Jan. 29 - 5 p.m. ET vs. Phoenix Rising FC

Saturday, Feb. 1 - 1 p.m. ET vs. Sporting Kansas City in Casa Grande, Ariz. (Grande Sports World)

Wednesday, Feb. 5 - 5 p.m. ET vs. El Paso Locomotive FC

Thursday, Feb. 6 - Return to Cincinnati

Feb. 7 through Feb. 9 - Players off in Cincinnati

Feb. 10 through Feb. 21: Bradenton, Fla.

Monday, Feb. 10 - Depart for Bradenton, Fla.

Wednesday, Feb. 12 - 4 p.m. ET vs. Philadelphia Union

Sunday, Feb. 16 - 6 p.m. ET vs. Nashville SC

Friday, Feb. 21 - 12 p.m. ET vs. KR Reykjavik / vs. Sarasota Metropolis FC, Return to Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati will return to the field for their second MLS season on Sunday, March 1, when the team opens the season on the road against the New York Red Bulls. After a road game at Atlanta United FC on Saturday, March 7, FCC will open its 2020 home slate on Saturday, March 14, when the team hosts D.C. United at Nippert Stadium in a 5:30 p.m. game.

Season Ticket Memberships are still available for purchase and start at $230 per ticket. A 2020 Season Ticket Membership also secures fans' place on the club's priority list, which will be utilized when sales begin in the new West End Stadium for the 2021 season. Information about all 2020 ticket options - season tickets, multiple-game options, group tickets and individual-game tickets - is available at fccincinnati.com/tickets or by calling 513-977-5425 (KICK).

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