ORLANDO – Welcome to Cincinnati.com's live coverage of FC Cincinnati versus Toronto FC at Orlando's Exploria Stadium, where Toronto is playing its home matches due to Canadian border restrictions. Refresh this page throughout the match for live updates and analysis, and follow Enquirer FC Cincinnati beat reporter Pat Brennan on Twitter for further analysis (@PBrennanENQ).
In-match updates -
• HALFTIME: Toronto FC 0, FC Cincinnati 1 – Allan Cruz's early opener is still the different for FC Cincinnati, which took its 1-0 advantage into the intermission. Cincinnati won the possession battle, out-shot Toronto and generally held its own even though TFC grew into the match and had some very threatening moments, particularly over the final 20 minutes of the half. Yuya Kubo is on a yellow card after a handful of sloppy fouls and might be a candidate to be lifted from the contest early if FCC has plans for sitting on the 1-0 advantage.
FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer was credited with just one save in the first half but managed multiple restart situations well.
• 5th minute – GOAL, FC Cincinnati (0-1): Allan Cruz scored his first of 2021 to put FCC in front early. The goal was the ninth of Cruz's FC Cincinnati career.
• Match underway around 7:10 p.m.
Pre-match updates -
• FC Cincinnati starting XI (bench): Kenneth Vermeer (GK), Joseph-Claude Gyau, Geoff Cameron, Gustavo Vallecilla, Ronald Matarrita, Allan Cruz, Yuya Kubo, Alvaro Barreal, Luciano Acosta, Isaac Atanga, Brenner Souza da Silva (Edgar Castillo, Nick Hagglund, Franko Kovacevic, Jurgen Locadia, Haris Medunjanin, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Tom Pattersson, Caleb Stanko, Przemysław Tytoń, Brandon Vazquez).
• FC Cincinnati head coach Jaap Stam made no changes to the starting lineup he fielded Wednesday against Chicago Fire FC for Saturday's match against Toronto FC in Orlando. FC Cincinnati played last Saturday against Colorado Rapids, Wednesday at Chicago and Saturday in Orlando, and that period saw Stam make one alteration to the starting lineup, with Edgar Castillo starting at left back against Colorado. By midweek, Castillo was replaced in favor of regular starting left back, Ronald Matarrita. Matarrita had battled a calf injury since a May 29 match against New England Revolution and didn't dress for the home loss to the Rapids.
