The 2023 FC Cincinnati season was the club's fifth season in MLS, and the eighth season overall for the team including their first three years in the lower-division USL Championship. The club entered 2023 on a high note, having notched their first playoff appearance and first playoff win in 2022 after languishing at the bottom of the standings for their first three seasons in MLS. On September 30, FC Cincinnati clinched the Supporters' Shield, the award given to the team that finishes with the most points in the regular season.[2]
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The Orange and Blue started the regular season with 5 wins, 2 draws, and no losses. They reached 1st place on the Supporters' Shield standings on Matchday 7, and were the last remaining undefeated team in the Eastern Conference until their loss at St. Louis City SC on Matchday 8.[3] After a 3–0 victory on Matchday 12 at TQL Stadium against CF Montreal, the club became only the 4th team since 2000 to start the MLS season with seven straight wins (7–0–0) at home.[4]
FC Cincinnati won the first Hell is Real match of 2023 on May 20, with a scoreline of 3–2; it was the first win against rival Columbus Crew since October 2020. The result also extended the club's home winning streak to eight matches in league play and ten overall.[5] By the end of the month, FC Cincinnati had set the record for most points (36) through the first 15 games of a season in MLS history, excluding the shootout era.[6] The home winning streak was extended to ten MLS matches in June, tying a record set in 2002 by the San Jose Earthquakes.[7]
With a 1–0 victory over Chicago Fire FC, FC Cincinnati made history and became the first club to reach 39 points in their first 16 matches of a season (excluding shootout era).[8] After a 3–0 victory over Toronto FC, FC Cincinnati became the fourth team in MLS history to win 10 consecutive home matches, tying the 2002 San Jose Earthquakes for longest single-season home winning streak.[9] After a 2–1 win on the road at New York Red Bulls, the club became just the third team in MLS history to win 11 of their first 22 matches by a one-goal margin – excluding the shootout era. With a 3–1 win at home against Nashville SC, the club tied Los Angeles FC (2019 and 2022) for the fastest team in MLS history to reach 50 points in a season, doing so in just 23 matches.[10] With a 3–0 win against New York City FC, the club reached 37 points in their first 13 regular season games at TQL Stadium, tying the 2002 San Jose Earthquakes for the best home start to a season in league history through the first 13 games.[11]
After a come from behind 2–1 victory at Atlanta United FC, FC Cincinnati became the first team to clinch a 2023 playoff berth. They also became the second fastest club in MLS history to secure their playoff position in only 26 matches.[12]
MLS All-Stars
Three players were named to the 2023 MLS All-Star roster, Luciano Acosta was selected for the 2nd time, and Álvaro Barreal and Matt Miazga both with their first selection. The game was played on July 19, 2023, against Arsenal FC of the English Premier League at Audi Field, home of D.C. United.[13] Acosta was also chosen by an online fan vote to serve as team captain for the MLS All-Stars[14] and was included as part of the All-Star Skills Challenge.[15] All 3 players played 45 minutes, with Acosta and Barreal (yellow card – 18') named to the starting lineup and subbing off at halftime. Miazga was inserted into the lineup at the start of the second half, playing the remainder of the match.[16]
^Homegrown rights for $50,000 in 2022 General Allocation Money (GAM) as well as $200,000 in conditional GAM if Jimenez signs a second MLS contract with FC Cincinnati and an additional $300,000 GAM if certain performance-based incentives are met. D.C. United would also retain a percentage of GAM should Jimenez be traded within MLS.
^FC Cincinnati traded $50,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) to D.C. United in exchange for the top spot in the MLS waiver order.
As a Major League Soccer club, FC Cincinnati enters the U.S. Open Cup in the third round. The third round pairings were announced on April 6.[49]
FC Cincinnati was regionally placed into group 5 with New York City FC, Columbus Crew SC and Loudoun United for the draw in the Round of 32. On April 27, FC Cincinnati was drawn to host New York City FC.
After defeating NYCFC 1–0 at TQL Stadium on May 10, FC Cincinnati was placed in the Northeast Group for the round of 16 draw, which will be held on May 11, 2023. The other three clubs in the group are MLS clubs Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls, and USL Championship team Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. FC Cincinnati was drawn to visit the New York Red Bulls.
After defeating the New York Red Bulls on penalties, FC Cincinnati hosted their quarterfinals matchup with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on June 6, winning 3–1.
FC Cincinnati hosted Inter Miami CF in the semifinals on August 23 and after a 3–3 tie a.e.t, fell 4–5 in penalty kicks to end their Cup run.[50]
Both knockout stage games were hosted by FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium. Led by Brandon Vazquez with 4 goals, the club advanced to the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup after securing a penalty shootout win against Sporting Kansas City [51] and a two-day victory against Club Deportivo Guadalajara. The Chivas game was initially played on Thursday, July 28, but was halted in the 60th minute for a lengthy severe weather delay. When the game finally resumed 18.5 hours later, the calendar read Friday, July 29. The final wrinkle was that it was decided to finish the final 30 minutes "behind closed doors" as a safety precaution for staff, players and fans.[52]
The Orange and Blue hosted Nashville SC in their Round of 32 matchup at TQL Stadium on August 4, 2023. The game ended tied 1–1 after 90 minutes with goals from Anibal Godoy of Nashville SC and Brandon Vazquez via penalty kick, his 5th in Leagues Cup play, of FC Cincinnati. Nashville advanced to the Round of 16 via penalty kicks (5–4).[53]
Stadium: TQL Stadium Attendance: 25,143 Referee: Benjamin Pineda
Note: The game was suspended in the 60th minute due to severe weather, the remaining 30 minutes were completed the following day at 2:00 PM EST behind closed doors.[54]
