FC Cincinnati 2 claimed the top seed in the MLS Next Pro postseason with a 3-1 win over Orlando City B, finishing the regular season. Dado Valenzuela would lead FCC2 to the win with his second hat trick of the MLSNP season.
FC Cincy 2 started the day needing a better result than Philadelphia Union 2, which would get them the #1 seed for MLSNP playoffs. Anything less than a win for Philadelphia Union 2 would give FCC2 a chance at snatching the #1 spot.
FCC2 would already be at a down point, as they were missing two vital players due to red cards picked up in the previous game, a 3-1 loss to NYCFC2. Midfielder Stiven Jimenez and forward Guiherme Santos would have to serve their suspension.
Their holes would be filled though, as Valenzuela, Malik Pinto, and London Aghedo would fill in from the FCC first team. All three of them would go into the starting lineup.
Orlando City B would also have multiple call-downs from the first team as well, most notably 2023 MLSNP MVP Jack Lynn, who had 19 goals in 27 games last season.
The game would start off and immediately turn into the Dado Valenzuela Show. In the second minute, Dado would control a pass from Stefan Chirila, then fire a curled shot past Orlando’s goalkeeper Jose Carlos Mercado to make it 1-0.
Dado would get his second just minutes later. FCC2 defender Amir Daley’s shot was palmed out by Mercado, only for Dado to control the rebound and get his brace. His fifth goal in three MLSNP matches would make the score 2-0, something that would last until the end of the first half.
The second half would start with Orlando City B getting a goal back, as star defender Alex Freeman dribbled past the defender and directed his shot past FCC2 gk Paul Walters to make the score 2-1.
Dado though would finish the game off by getting his hat-trick, slotting a 63rd-minute shot under Mercado to make it 3-1. The goal would give him his second hat trick in just three MLSNP games.
FCC2’s win put them on top of the East, whilst Philadelphia lost 2-1 to Chicago 2 on the road. Orlando went down to fifth place, forcing them to have to play the first round of the playoffs on the road.
FCC2 will now get to pick their opponent from the bottom four seeds (Orlando City B, NYCFC 2, Columbus Crew 2, Crown Legacy FC). The playoffs start on the weekend of October 18th-20th.
