Miami FC Faces Off Against FC Cincinnati With Semifinal Berth On The Line

Miami FC and USL side FC Cincinnati are set to square off in a highly-anticipated matchup in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals. The winner will move on to host the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the next round.

The meeting between the two sides was scheduled to take place on July 12, but the game was postponed due to storms in the Miami area. Now, Miami will host Cincinnati on Wednesday night – exactly one week before the tournament’s semifinal round.

Miami FC enters the contest on the heels of a 3-1 loss to the New York Cosmos in league play. Prior to that loss, though, Miami was crowned the Spring Season Champions in the NASL. In both Open Cup and league play, Miami has been in incredible form in front of goal. The club has scored 11 times in four Cup games and has found the back of the net 34 times through 17 league games. Stéfano Pinho, who scored a hat trick earlier in the competition against Orlando, and Kwadwo Poku have been the catalysts in the attack during the club’s Cup run.

The visitors head into the Wednesday night’s contest after a 3-2 loss to the Rochester Rhinos. Cincinnati has had a busy schedule since the night of the postponement in Miami. The club has played a total of four times, including a 2-0 loss in an international friendly against La Liga’s Valencia CF. The club had won its two previous matchups before the friendly.

The clubs face off in the quarterfinals after each knocked out MLS opposition in successive rounds. In the Round of 16, Miami FC defeated Atlanta United, 3-2, in dramatic fashion, with Poku scoring just before the game headed into extra time. Cincinnati’s win over the Chicago Fire was loaded with drama as well. Former NASL goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt stopped three shots in the penalty-kick shootout to send his side through to the next round.

Wednesday’s clash gets underway at Riccardo Silva Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET, and the game can be streamed live on USSoccer.com.