Preview, prediction as FC Cincinnati seeks MLS season sweep against NYCFC
After FC Cincinnati's elimination from the U.S. Open Cup, head coach Pat Noonan seemed to concede he wasn't certain how his team could or should bounce back from the disappointment.
"We'll see," Noonan said. "We’ve got to dig deep in moments like this. It’s two losses (in two games), but it’s two important losses and so, how we come out of this is up to us.”
Inter Miami CF's torrid comeback in Wednesday's Open Cup semifinal and win in penalty kicks at TQL Stadium was officially recorded as a tie but that was no consolation to FCC. The game effectively constituted the third defeat in FC Cincinnati's first losing streak of 2023 after the club fell to archrival Columbus Crew on Sunday.
FCC also lost to Nashville SC in a Leagues Cup shootout on Aug. 5.
An FC Cincinnati season that recently was brimming with optimism and possibilities by virtue of having four trophies to chase felt significantly less gratifying after the loss to Miami. Even with its strong position atop Major League Soccer's race for the Supporters Shield, FCC saw two of the four possible trophies fall away from its grasp over its last three games.
In between the shootout defeats against Miami and Nashville, FC Cincinnati's league form took a hit, too, in a blowout loss to Columbus.
Cincinnati had been a favorite to win the Open Cup dating back to June. Then Lionel Messi arrived in Miami in July, and two Messi assists helped Miami's come-from-behind effort on Wednesday. FC Cincinnati didn't last long in Leagues Cup, falling to Nashville SC in a Round of 32 penalty shootout, but it was considered one of the favorites in that tournament, too.
Messi's resurgent Miami would eventually claim Leagues Cup.
With the possibilities for 2023 narrowing, FCC turned its collective attention to the Supporters Shield race. Its next opportunity to pad its lead atop MLS is Saturday against New York City FC at TQL Stadium.
"Still," Cincinnati's Yuya Kubo said on Wednesday, "we are top of the table."
More than personnel happenings and other factors usually emphasized ahead of a match, the next game should show something about the character and mental toughness inside the FC Cincinnati locker room.
New York City FC comes to Cincinnati with a losing record and six points back of the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference. In its first match following the Leagues Cup period of the summer, Minnesota United FC dealt the club a rare home loss at the Mets' Citi Field, 2-0.
That result following a busy secondary transfer window of personnel comings and goings.
NYCFC's moves in the window were highlighted by the return a club legend, acquiring Maxi Moralez as a free-agent after he recently left Argentine top-flight side, Racing Club. Moralez started against Minnesota. He figures to enhance the potency of the club's attack.
All told, NYCFC added six players, including Algerian attacker Mounsef Bakrar and Julian Fernandez of Argentina's Velez Sarsfield in a reported $5 million transfer.
All that new blood makes NYCFC a different proposition compared to the team FC Cincinnati beat twice in May, including once in league play at Yankee Stadium on May 31.
FC Cincinnati
Record: 15-3-6, 51 points; First place in MLS Eastern Conference
TV/radio: Apple TV/ESPN 1530
All-time series: NYCFC leads the all-time series with a 6-2-2 record against FC Cincinnati.
Cincinnati.com prediction: FC Cincinnati 3, NYCFC 2.
FC Cincinnati
Record (all competitions): 19-3-9
Goals for: 52
Goals against: 35
Coach: Pat Noonan - second year at FC Cincinnati
Projected starting XI:
Roman Celentano, goalkeeper
Alvaro Barreal, right back
Ian Murphy, center back
Matt Miazga, center back
Nick Hagglund, center back
Santiago Arias, right back
Junior Moreno, midfielder
Marco Angulo, midfielder
Luciano Acosta, midfielder
Brandon Vazquez, forward
Aaron Boupendza, forward
New York City FC
Record: 5-9-11, 26 points; Tied for 12th place in Eastern Conference
Goals for: 25
Goals against: 32
Coach: Nick Cushing - second season at NYCFC
Projected starting XI:
Luis Barraza, goalkeeper
Tayvon Gray, right back
Thiago Martins, center back
Birk Risa, center back
Braian Cufré, left back
James Sands, midfielder
Keaton Parks, midfielder
Matías Pellegrini, midfielder
Santiago Rodríguez, midfielder
Maxi Moralez, midfielder/winger
Monsef Bakrar, forward
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: MLS score prediction for FC Cincinnati vs NYCFC
