New York City FC will make the trip to the TQL Stadium to take on FC Cincinnati in matchday three of the Leagues Cup in the early hours of Monday morning.
Having already knocked out Club Queretaro, these MLS rivals will be battling it out for the top spot in the East 1 group, and the winner will move on to face the runner-up of East 7.
Match preview
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The Leagues Cup break arguably came at just the right time for FC Cincy, following a run of poor MLS results which included three losses in a row to Charlotte, Chicago and the New YouK Red Bulls.
FC Cincinnati will be looking for an improved Leagues Cup campaign this term after last year's performance, where they won their group by defeating Sporting Kansas City on penalty kicks and Chivas 3-1, but fell to eventual runners-up Nashville on penalties during the round of 32.
The Orange and Blue, second in the MLS Eastern Conference behind defending Leagues Cup champion Inter Miami, eliminated their Mexican rivals Club Queretaro, who had lost their group-stage opener on penalties to NYCFC last weekend.
Despite fielding a heavily rotated lineup FCC looked superior from start to finish and secured the 1-0 victory thanks to Argentine midfielder Yamil Asad, who scored the only goal of the match in the 64th minute to clinch a knockout-round berth for his side.
If Pat Noonan's men go on to win this group, they will advance to face the second-best team from a group featuring Atlanta (number 17 seed), Liga MX's Santos Laguna (30) and DC United (35).
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Meanwhile, New York City FC played to a goalless draw against Queretaro last Sunday but secured a 4-3 victory in the penalty shootout with Luis Barraza's impressive diving save to his left clinching the extra point for the hosts.
The result came after a streak of four winless league matches for Nick Cushing, who featured in his 90th game as head coach (both interim and permanent) of New York City in all competitions, matching the club record set by Patrick Vieira in 2018.
Like their upcoming opponents, NYCFC reached the round of 32 in this competition last season following a 1-0 win over Atlas and a 5-0 demolition of Toronto before bowing out to cross-town rivals the Red Bulls.
A regulation-time victory here will see the Pigeons qualify for the next round as group winners, while a draw or loss will result in them facing the winner of East 5 which will be either the New England Revolution or Mazatlan.
When these sides met in league competition back in March, NYCFC lost the match 1-0, marking their fourth consecutive defeat to FCC and sixth match in a row without victory in all competitions dating back to September 2021.
Team News
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Cincinnati's new centre-back signing Chidozie Awaziem was ineligible to play last week due to a delay with his P-1 work visa but could be in contention to make his debut this weekend.
The Orange and Blue are likely to remain without 2023 MLS Most Valuable Player Luciano Acosta, who is flagged as a doubt with a foot injury, while Miles Robinson is currently at the Paris Olympics with Team USA.
Cushing made wholesale changes last week, bringing in Talles Magno, Julian Fernandez, Maxi Moralez and Mounsef Bakrar, and he may consider keeping his side unchanged given that their place in the knockouts is already confirmed.
After his heroics against Queretaro last weekend, Barraza is likely to get the nod to start again this weekend, allowing regular first-team shot-stopper Matt Freese another week of rest.
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celetano; Powell, Awaziem, Murphy; Halsey, Kubo, Bucha, Asad; Orellano, Santos; Baird
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Barraza; Hope-Gund, Martins, Risa, McFarlane; Sands, Haak; Fernandez, Moralez, Mijatovic; Bakrar
We say: FC Cincinnati 1-0 New York City FC
FCC's squad depth was their major strength last weekend, and with plenty of changes expected for this match, we feel the Orange and Blue will once again emerge as the superior side in the contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
