Patrick Brennan

pbrennan@enquirer.com

Futbol Club Cincinnati nearly overshadowed all of Major League Soccer attendance-wise with its latest box-office feat this weekend.

Playing just the fourth home game of its inaugural United Soccer League season, FC Cincinnati saw a league-record 23,375 attend its 1-0 victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium. In the process, FC Cincinnati broke its own single-game USL attendance record of 20,497, which it set April 16 when it hosted Louisville City FC.

Of the nine MLS games that took place this weekend, only one team — Toronto FC — had a better turnout. Toronto had 24,748 attend its Saturday game against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at newly-renovated BMO Field.

Here's how FC Cincinnati stacked up against the MLS games that took place this weekend:

1. 24,748 - Toronto FC v. Vancouver Whitecaps (BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario).

2. 23,375 - FC Cincinnati v. Pittsburgh Riverhounds (Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati).

3. 20,801 - Montreal Impact v. Philadelphia Union (Saputo Stadium in Montreal, Quebec).

4.19,632 - D.C. United v. New York Red Bulls (RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.).

5. 19,080 - Sporting Kansas City v. Orlando City SC (Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas).

6. 18,997 - New England Revolution v. Chicago Fire (Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts).

7. 17,943 - Houston Dynamo v. Real Salt Lake (BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas).

8. 15,023 - Columbus Crew SC v. Colorado Rapids (Mapfre Stadium in Columbus).

9. 14,630 - FC Dallas v. Seattle Sounders FC (Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas).

*The Portland Timbers versus New York City FC attendance wasn't announced when this story was posted, but Providence Park in Portland, Oregon has a listed capacity of about 22,000.

For context, four of the top five MLS teams in terms of average home attendance played on the road this weekend, or didn't play at all. Those four teams — Seattle Sounders, Orlando City, NYCFC and Los Angeles Galaxy (didn't play) — all average larger home crowds than FC Cincinnati's crowd of 23,375, according to Soccer Stadium Digest. Toronto is only team in the top five to host a game this weekend.

Another record crowd turns out to watch FC Cincy win

Saturday saw FC Cincinnati double down on its April 16 accomplishment, a now-famous occasion that appeared to propel FC Cincinnati forward in the discussion regarding MLS expansion. As was the case when FC Cincinnati first broke the USL's single-game attendance record in April, well wishes and congratulatory social media posts again rolled in from around the global soccer community.