At last, the time has arrived. The stars shone brightly during the group stages, but now it’s time for these superstars to make their mark in the knockout rounds and etch their names into the history of their clubs. On Friday, August 9th, we have a Round of 32 matchup as FC Cincinnati takes on Santos Laguna at TQL Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET, available on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV. The Group Winner of East 1 (Cincinnati) will host the second-place team from East 7 (Santos).
Cincinnati qualified for the knockout rounds by winning both of their group stage matches. The Orange and Blue finished their group stage campaign with five goals, four of which were scored in the final 11 minutes of play. Cincinnati enters this match as the hottest team, despite not being at full strength.
Luciano Acosta, the heart and soul of the team, has been out with an injury. The reigning MLS MVP is a game-changer and would significantly boost Cincinnati's confidence if the Argentine is able to suit up for the knockout rounds.
Good news has arrived for a battle-tested FC Cincinnati. Many of their top players, who had been sidelined with injuries or away on international duty, such as Miles Robinson, Deandre Yedlin, and Acosta, have all practiced with the team leading up to this encounter. If these players are healthy and ready to face Santos, the team will look completely different from the one that competed in the group stages.
“All [three] can start.” reassured Head Coach of FC Cincinnati Pat Noonan
Even though this is the first time Cincinnati will play Santos in their history. Several players and coaches have a history of facing Los Verdiblancos. Yedlin, at 19 years old, played the full 90 minutes in both legs of the 2013 Concacaf Champions League Semifinals for Seattle Sounders against Santos. Corey Baird scored for Houston Dynamo against Santos in the 2023 Leagues Cup, while Acosta made three appearances for Atlas FC against Santos in 2020 and 2021. Additionally, Noonan and Assistant Coach Kenny Arena were on the LA Galaxy coaching staff that faced Santos in the 2015-16 Concacaf Champions League Quarterfinals.
Santos won one match in penalties and advanced over Atlanta United due to the tiebreaker, despite not scoring a goal in the tournament. With a goal differential of minus three, Santos is extremely fortunate to be in this matchup. Facing the reigning Supporters' Shield winners at TQL Stadium in front of 26,000 fans, the first 15 minutes could serve as a wake-up call to the quality this tournament has to offer.
With each team having their personnel in mind, all that remains is execution. As the FC Cincinnati and Santos Laguna aim to build on their recent results and secure a spot in the Round of 16, they set their sights on the trophy. The winner of this matchup will go on to face either the Philadelphia Union or CF Montreal in the Round of 16.
