On Saturday, New York City FC will play the first match of a two-game MLS road trip when they battle FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium.
The Orange and Blue walked away with a 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution last weekend, while the Pigeons came from behind to win their first match of the season, 2-1 over Toronto.
Match preview
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Days after exiting the CONCACAF Champions Cup (CCC) versus Monterrey, Cincinnati shook that off quickly, by winning a second successive MLS encounter away from home.
While they have been impressive on the road thus far, Pat Noonan's men have started strangely slow at home, winless in their opening two MLS encounters at TQL Stadium and without a single goal scored in either of those fixtures.
On the other hand, they have yet to concede an MLS goal at home this season, posting back-to-back regular-season clean sheets at TQL Stadium for the first time since June 2023 (two).
Cincy are winless in four successive regular-season affairs at TQL Stadium but have not dropped points in three successive league fixtures at home since 2022 (four).
Under Noonan, the Orange and Blue have not followed up an away victory in this competition with a domestic triumph since July 2023.
They are unbeaten in five successive meetings with the Boys in Blue, defeating them three times in all competitions over the previous campaign.
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Nick Cushing has been under intense pressure to get results with NYCFC, and his players pulled out three points last week, avoiding their first four-match losing run in MLS since 2020.
The players had to suffer through a lot of pressure in the latter stages against the Reds but managed to win a domestic contest despite conceding first for the first time since October 2022 (2-1 win over Orlando City).
Under Cushing, this team have had a miserable time defending set pieces, but in Toronto, it was a magical free kick which seemed to breathe life into a side that had only scored once in their opening three league fixtures.
It will only get harder from here on out for New York City, who will end the month with consecutive away matches against Cincinnati and Inter Miami.
A victory on Saturday would end a seven-match winless run for them away from home in this competition, a streak that dates back to last season, with the Pigeons failing to score in their last three regular-season road fixtures.
NYCFC won their opening six meetings with Cincy but enter this contest on a five-match winless run against them in all competitions, claiming just one victory ever at TQL Stadium (2-1 in 2021).
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Team News
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Last weekend, Cincinnati were without Obinna Nwobodo due to a leg issue, while Alec Kann was unavailable because of a hand injury and Gerardo Valenzuela earned his first career MLS start.
Miles Robinson will not be in the lineup for the Orange and Blue on Saturday, with the defender being called up to the US national team for their CONCACAF Nations League fixture against Jamaica.
Reigning league MVP Luciano Acosta was involved in both Cincy goals against the Revs, setting up Yuya Kubo for the winner, before scoring his 41st with them across all competitions, putting him just two shy of former striker Brandon Vazquez for the most in club history.
New York City will be without Keaton Parks, who was red-carded in the second half against Toronto, Talles Magno is struggling to recover from a sore knee, Maxi Moralez is still dealing with a right knee issue and Rio Hope-Gund has a problem with his abdomen.
Tomas Romero was called up to the El Salvador national team this week, Tayvon Gray was named to the Jamaican squad as they prepare to face the USA in the semi-finals of the Nations League, Jovan Mijatovic was named to the Serbian U-19 squad, Mitja Ilenia is with Slovenia, Christian McFarlane is with the England U-17 squad and Monsef Bakrar is with the Algerian squad.
A brilliant free-kick goal by Santiago Rodriguez put the Pigeons on level terms last weekend before Kevin O'Toole notched his first of the campaign.
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Murphy, Miazga, Keller; Yedlin, Jimenez, Bucha, Kubo; Acosta, Baird; Boupendza
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Freese; Tanasijevic, Martins, Risa, O'Toole; Perea, Sands; Fernandez, Rodriguez, Wolf; Ojeda
We say: FC Cincinnati 2-0 New York City FC
While the Pigeons will take a lot from their comeback last week, they are still missing a good deal of their chances, and we do not believe they will have many against a side who have been sharp defensively at home.
Acosta is among the best chance creators in the league, and we believe he will find a way to unlock a Pigeons side that will be missing the veteran leadership of Parks.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
