MLS Cup 2023: FC Cincinnati looks to close out New York Red Bulls on the road

The New York Red Bulls' 2023 season is on the elimination chopping block, and they aren't alone in that. Elimination games are finally here in the MLS Cup playoffs, and that should evoke a more familiar look and feel to playoffs amid the controversial, new postseason format.

The last of the lower-stakes series openers from which no clubs could be eliminated ended Wednesday and, from this point forward until the MLS Cup final on Dec. 9, elimination will be on the table for at least one of the teams involved in each postseason match. All involved will return to a single-elimination format after the first round, too.

New York's turn to avoid elimination arrives Saturday. Following Sunday's 3-0 FC Cincinnati victory at TQL Stadium, the Red Bulls return to Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey for Game Two of the first-round series.

FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said during a Thursday news conference he expects a different tenor to Saturday's match.

"You could start to see it even in the second half (Sunday) even though we’re playing with a two goal lead, some of the adjustments that they made when you’re trying to go win a game," Noonan said. "When it’s win or go home, which now it is for teams, you just see different things. In-game, at the end of game, and we’re prepared for different scenarios to hopefully be able to see a game out.

"I think in this previous game, our quality in front of goal was the game changer in us getting a result. So, hopefully we can have that level of quality, because we know they're going to throw everything at us and, you know, different formations, different personnel. Again, when your back's against the wall, at times you'll go to desperate measures. And I hope we're in a position that we have to see that, but we have to be prepared for their adjustments as well and, you know, playing a game on the road."

A win in 90 minutes or a shootout would see FC Cincinnati progress to face the winner of the Philadelphia Union-New England Revolution series, which Philadelphia leads, 1-0, ahead of that series shifting to Foxborough, Massachusetts on Wednesday.

FC Cincinnati is 2-0-1 in its last three trips to Red Bulls Arena, including a last-gasp winner July 12, a penalty-kick win in U.S. Open Cup play May 23, and a first round MLS Cup playoffs victory in October 2022.

Taking a third successive elimination game at Red Bull Arena won't be an easy task, particularly given FCC's ongoing personnel issues along its back line.

Cincinnati's injury concerns

Noonan updated media members on the status of three key defenders during the Thursday news conference at the Mercy Health Training Center, and further illuminated the facts of the season-ending nature of the injury Nick Hagglund suffered.

"It’s unfortunate with Nick. It’s a hamstring," Noonan said. "He’ll have surgery. Based on the surgery and what we expect, he’ll be out through the end of the year. Timeline, you know, that’s about as much as I can give you. It’s unfortunate timing and a little bit rare in terms of the injury, and that’s obvious by the fact that he’s getting the surgery on it … He’s disappointed and we all are."

Ian Murphy has proved to be an able stand-in at center back over the last two seasons, and recently might have supplanted Hagglund for the right to start anyway. Murphy has appeared in all three MLS Cup playoff matches in FC Cincinnati history, including starting Sunday and in the 2022 Eastern Conference semifinal in place of Geoff Cameron.

Ray Gaddis would slide in from an outside back position to provide center back depth, too, Noonan said multiple times this week.

The situation for veteran defender Alvas Powell is less dire but still uncertain ahead of FC Cincinnati's match Saturday at Red Bull Arena (7 p.m.) in Game Two of the first round series.

Powell is day-to-day, Noonan said, after noticing an undisclosed injury in the days leading up to Sunday's playoff opener at TQL Stadium. On Friday, Powell trained off to the side, away from his teammates.

Regarding the absences of Hagglund and Powell, Noonan said: "The reality is nothing’s changing so when you lose bodies at this point, it’s who’s ready to step up?"

Fortunately for FC Cincinnati, there was one positive development defensively as Santiago Arias was declared 100% fit by Noonan. Arias missed the series open due to injury.

Playoff watch party at Rhinegeist

FC Cincinnati's official Game Two watch party will be staged at Rhinegeist Brewery at 910 Elm St. in Over-the-Rhine. The watch party is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and is being billed as family-friendly. Gary the Lion will be present for the event and foam FC Cincinnati swords will be given away while supplies last.

FC Cincinnati playoff ticket sales

It's not clear which game FC Cincinnati will be selling tickets to but there will definitely be playoff tickets to be purchased on Monday. FC Cincinnati will host either a decisive Game Three against the Red Bulls (Nov. 11) or an Eastern Conference semifinal match.

Starting at 10 a.m., season ticket members and Orange and Blue Reserve enrollees can purchase tickets for the next playoff game at TQL Stadium. The public on-sale begins at 11 a.m.

The game

Kickoff: 7 p.m., Red Bull Arena | Harrison, New Jersey

Stream/radio: Apple TV MLS Season Pass/Fox Sports 1360

Playoff and all-time series: FC Cincinnati has a 1-0 lead in the current best-of-three playoff series while New York Red Bulls lead the all-time series against FC Cincinnati, which dates back to the 2017 U.S. Open Cup, with a 6-5-4 record.

Cincinnati.com prediction: FC Cincinnati defeats New York Red Bulls in penalty kicks.

Remaining series schedule: Game Three (if necessary): Nov. 11, 2 p.m. at TQL Stadium.

FC Cincinnati

Regular season record: 20-5-9, 69 points; Supporters' Shield winner.

Postseason record: 1-0-0; Won Game One, 3-0.

Goals for: 57 (No. 4 in east during regular season)

Goals against: 39 (Tied for No. 2 in east)

Head coach: Pat Noonan - second season as head coach

Projected starting XI:

Roman Celentano, goalkeeper

Alvaro Barreal, left back

Yerson Mosquera, center back

Matt Miazga, center back

Ian Murphy, center back

Santiago Arias, right back

Junior Moreno, midfielder

Obinna Nwobodo, midfielder

Luciano Acosta, midfielder

Aaron Boupendza, forward

Brandon Vazquez, forward

New York Red Bulls

Regular season record: 11-13-10, 43 points; Eighth place in MLS Eastern Conference

Postseason record: 1-1-0; Won play-in game vs. Charlotte FC, lost Game One to FCC, 0-3.

Goals for: 36 (No. 12 in east)

Goals against: 39 (Tied for No. 2 in east)

Head coach: Troy Lesesne - first season as New York Red Bulls head coach (interim)

Projected starting XI:

Carlos Coronel, goalkeeper

Kyle Duncan, right back

Andrés Reyes, center back

Sean Nealis, center back

John Tolkin, left back

Omir Fernandez, midfielder

Daniel Edelman, midfielder

Frankie Amaya, midfielder

Luquinhas, midfielder

Tom Barlow, forward

Elias Manoel, forward

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Preview: FC Cincinnati looks to close out New York Red Bulls in NJ