Inter Miami CF (10W-5D-15L, 35 points) will host FC Cincinnati (4W-8D-18L, 20 points) at home on Saturday, Oct. 23. The matchup at DRV PNK Stadium is set to kick off at 8 p.m. ET.
Where to Watch
The match will be broadcast live regionally on My33, CW34, UniMás and the Inter Miami App. Fans worldwide can follow live updates including video highlights and stats on the Club’s App. Download and Register your Profile here: https://www.intermiamicf.com/en/club/app.
Back to Winning Ways
Inter Miami CF continues regular season action at home after its 3-0 win against Toronto FC on Wednesday, Oct. 20. Midfielder Federico Higuaín, defender Christian Makoun and Toronto defender Eriq Zavaleta, who scored an own goal, scored the team’s goal in the fixture at DRV PNK Stadium. It was both Higuaín’s and Makoun’s second goal of the season. Additionally, Higuaín was awarded Man of the Match honors after his stellar performance against Toronto.
MLS Team of the Week Honors for Makoun
Makoun was named as a starter in the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi for Week 31 after his influential display both in defense and attack in Inter Miami's win against Toronto.
Final Match Against Cincinnati in 2021
On Saturday, Inter Miami will oppose FC Cincinnati for the third and final time this season and fourth time in Club history, seeking to keep its perfect record against the Ohio-based side. This season, the team won 2-3 in TQL Stadium's opening match in May and again defeated Cincinnati on the road in September with a goal in stoppage time to win 0-1. Both sides met at DRV PNK Stadium for the first time in last season’s Decision Day on Nov. 8, 2020, when the Herons earned a thrilling 2-1 victory to become only the seventh team in MLS history to clinch playoffs in its inaugural campaign.
Familiar Faces
The match may also feature reunions between former teammates or rivals for Inter Miami and Cincinnati players. Inter Miami goalkeeper Nick Marsman may face known rivals Kenneth Vermeer and Kamohelo Mokotjo. Marsman faced fellow shot-stopper Vermeer in a sole Eredivisie, the dutch first division, match in 2016 during Marsman’s stint at Twente Enschede FC. Marsman also opposed midfielder Mokotjo in the Eredivisie, playing against him twice in the 2013-2014 campaign.
Brek Shea may have various encounters with former teammates and known rivals in the match. Shea has previously played against Ronald Matarrita on four occasions, including an international friendly between the USMNT and Costa Rica in 2015. On the other hand, Shea was teammates with Geoff Cameron in 10 matches with the USMNT and in two Premier League matches when they were amongst the ranks at Stoke City. The Inter Miami defender/midfielder may also face former Atlanta United FC teammate Brandon Vázquez, whom he shared on the pitch with six times in Atlanta.
Additionally, Venezuelan defender Makoun previously competed against Brenner and Exon Vallecilla in various levels of the South American Championship. Makoun played against Brenner a single time in the South American U-17 Championship in 2017. He later went on to face Vallecilla in the U-20 South American Championship in 2019. Rodolfo Pizarro, meanwhile, may once again face Costa Rica internationals Allan Cruz and Matarrita after matching up against them in international encounters between Mexico and Costa Rica. The attacking midfielder might also run into Edgar Castillo again, who he played against several times in Liga MX action.
Furthermore, defender Kelvin Leerdam may face former teammate Mokotijo after playing 40 matches together for Feyenoord’s U21 and first team between 2009 and 2013. Leerdam also opposed Mokotijo four times in the Eredivisie between 2013 and 2017 while he played for Vitesse and Mokotjo played for PEC Zwolle and then Twente Enschede FC. Leerdam may face Cincinnati shot stopper Przemysław Tytoń again after opposing him in four matches between 2010 and 2013 when representing Feyenoord and Tytoń was a Roda JC and a PSV player. Leerdam and Costa Rican international Matarrita may also clash again after facing each other in a 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup match between Suriname and Costa Rica.
Lastly, midfielder Jay Chapman may reunite with defender Nick Hagglund after sharing on the pitch 33 times while playing Toronto FC and the team’s USL side Toronto FC II, Club captain Gregore may face Brenner again after playing against him in a Brazilian Serie A fixture in 2020 when he was a Esporte Clube Bahia player and Brenner represented São Paulo Futebol Club, and goalkeeper John McCarthy might run into former Philadelphia Union teammate Haris Medunjanin, who he shared on the field with in 11 matches for Philadelphia Union.
FC Cincinnati's Record in 2021
FC Cincinnati enters this weekend’s fixture after falling 3-4 at home against Chicago Fire FC on Wednesday, Oct. 20. In 2021, Cincinnati has recorded four wins, eight draws and 18 losses to date, with forward Brenner, who has registered seven goals and two assists, and midfielder Luciano Acosta, who has tallied seven goals and nine assists, leading the team this campaign.
