FC Cincinnati 2 will host Crown Legacy at NKU in first-ever MLS Next Pro playoff gamer

FC Cincinnati's reserve team, FC Cincinnati "2," will play its first-ever postseason match against Crown Legacy, the reserve outfit affiliated with Charlotte FC of MLS.

After clinching the Northeast Division championship and No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a memorable win at TQL Stadium over Orlando City "B" on Sunday, FC Cincinnati 2 was able to select its first-round playoff opponent.

The ability to make the selection is one of the quirky but fun, innovative features of the MLS Next Pro playoffs, and FCC2 Assistant Coach and Director of Player Pathways, Jeff Larentowicz, on Tuesday announced during a livestream broadcast the selection of Crown Legacy, the No. 8 team in the east.

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Had Crown Legacy been a matchup problem or a team that gave FC Cincinnati serious trouble during the regular season, Marshall and Co. could have selected a different opponent, but most experts seem to view the Charlotte affiliate as a good matchup.

The Eastern Conference quarterfinal round game will be played Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. at NKU Soccer Stadium on the Northern Kentucky University campus. Tickets for the contest are scheduled to go on sale Oct. 14, and fans should expect the contest to sellout.

FCC2 had its best-ever MLS Next Pro campaign in 2024, posting a 16-8-4 record and 54 points in the standings. It was by far the most impressive season in FCC2 history, which is aligned with the club's MLS first-team and its academy in terms of on-field results and positive personnel outcomes.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati 2 will host Crown Legacy at NKU in first-ever MLS Next Pro playoff gamer