Needing a win and some help to have any hope of retaining their Supporters' Shield crown, FC Cincinnati head to Harrison on Wednesday for a midweek fixture with New York City FC at Red Bull Arena.
An emphatic 5-1 victory against the Red Bulls over the weekend officially secured a playoff spot for the Pigeons, while Cincy are nine points behind Inter Miami for the best record in MLS after suffering a 2-1 defeat versus Los Angeles FC.
Match preview
After weeks of disappointing results, the Boys in Blue finally displayed that killer instinct that had been missing over the past two months, ending a nine-match domestic winless run on Saturday.
That means they are back in the post-season for the first time since 2022 and only two points behind Orlando City for a top-four place and home-field advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.
With their victory on Saturday, Nick Cushing's men surpassed their points total from the previous domestic campaign (41).
Their next two domestic encounters occur at Red Bull Arena, with this team winning their last two regular-season matches in New Jersey by a combined margin of 8-1.
They have an opportunity on Wednesday to win consecutive matches in this competition for the first time in over two months and also earn a ninth home triumph this season, surpassing their mark from a year ago (eight).
NYCFC have not won a home game against the Orange and Blue since the 2021 campaign, when they crushed them 5-0 at Yankee Stadium.
It is hard to believe that Cincinnati had the best record in MLS a couple of months ago, as they have suffered continuous setbacks in recent times.
Since a 6-1 victory over Inter Miami gave them control of the Supporters' Shield standings in early July, this group have let that lead slip away quickly, winning just one of their last nine league fixtures from that point on (4-1 versus CF Montreal).
Pat Noonan's men are going through a rough spell at the moment but can match their win total from a year ago should they triumph in each of their remaining three league contests.
The Orange and Blue have only suffered one defeat in the competition this year when scoring first, winning their last 12 MLS encounters after drawing first blood.
Cincinnati have racked up a league-high 10 away victories in MLS this year, earning at least a point in their last two domestic encounters outside TQL Stadium.
This group have won their last five competitive fixtures against New York City, scoring four times in the final 11 minutes the last time they faced them in the Leagues Cup earlier this past summer (4-2 victory).
Team News
In New York City's emphatic victory this past weekend, Malachi Jones had to sit out of another encounter due to a broken tibia, though Birk Risa returned from a leg knock, replacing Maxi Moralez with 11 minutes remaining.
Santiago Rodriguez and Strahinja Tanasijevic are eligible to return after each being forced to sit out on Saturday because of yellow card accumulation.
Alonso Martinez added another two goals last weekend, with Andres Perea and Tayvon Gray scoring the others, the first as a Pigeon for Gray.
A sore hip sustained by Alec Kann kept him out of the Cincinnati lineup versus LAFC, with Nick Hagglund also sidelined because of a leg injury.
Isaiah Foster is out for the season due to a knee injury, while Matt Miazga will not be back in 2024 as he recovers from a severe leg issue.
Luca Orellano scored in his third successive appearance, giving him 10 on the campaign, joining Luciano Acosta (12) and Yuya Kubo (10) as the only other players on the team to reach the double-digit mark for goals in MLS this year.
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Freese; Gray, Martins, Risa, McFarlane; Parks, Sands; Wolf, Rodriguez, Moralez; Martinez
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Robinson, Hadebe, Murphy; Yedlin, Bucha, Nwobodo, Orellano; Acosta; Baird, Kubo
We say: New York City FC 3-1 FC Cincinnati
Injuries and inconsistencies have taken a toll on Cincinnati, and we expect to see NYCFC to take advantage of their vulnerabilities and make another statement before the playoffs begin.
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