In their first MLS playoff contest at Citi Field since 2022, New York City FC host FC Cincinnati needing a win on Saturday to stay alive in the quest for the cup.
Cincy scored early in the second half at TQL Stadium in game one of this best-of-three series to claim a 1-0 triumph, putting them in position to make the second round for a third successive campaign.
Match preview
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It is back to the drawing board for Nick Cushing after Cincinnati outclassed his New York City FC side in the opening game despite the narrow scoreline.
The Pigeons have lost two successive MLS contests, failing to find the back of the net on both occasions, but they have not suffered three straight defeats since June.
In 2024, the Boys in Blue went undefeated at Citi Field against Eastern Conference opposition and won their only post-season game ever played in Queens, 3-0 over Inter Miami in 2022.
New York City FC are unbeaten in their last three domestic home outings, with those last two home victories occurring at Red Bull Arena.
This is the first time the Pigeons are playing in a best-of-three series, while NYCFC have never advanced from a two-leg MLS post-season tie.
In their MLS history, the Boys in Blue have never lost a home playoff game when netting the opening goal and have posted a clean sheet in their last two post-season home fixtures.
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For weeks, we wondered if we would see the dominant Cincinnati team from earlier in the MLS campaign, and finally, we saw that in game one of this series.
Cincy have never lost a match in the opening round of the playoffs, as this club have won 14 non-regular-season games since joining MLS.
At the same time, Pat Noonan's men have never won an away match in the post-season in normal time, but they did eliminate the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on penalties at this stage last year.
The Orange and Blue have only suffered one playoff defeat when netting the opening goal, and it came in the Eastern Conference final last year against the Columbus Crew (3-2 in extra time).
During the regular season, they won 11 away matches, tied with Inter Miami for the most in the league, and on Decision Day, Cincy ended a two-game MLS winless run as the visitors by defeating the Philadelphia Union 2-1.
They have emerged victorious in six of their previous seven meetings with New York City but have only beaten them once on the road, winning 3-1 at Yankee Stadium last year.
Team News
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Malachi Jones sat out of yet another match for NYCFC on Monday because of a broken tibia, while Tayvon Gray will be suspended after incurring a straight red card deep into second-half stoppage time in game one.
In their previous home contest versus Cincinnati in early October, Santiago Rodriguez had a goal and an assist, with the other NYCFC strikes coming courtesy of their leading goalscorer in the regular season, Alonso Martinez and Mitja Ilenic.
Cincinnati will be missing Nick Hagglund and Matt Miazga on Saturday due to leg injuries, Isaiah Foster is questionable with a knee issue and Alec Kann is unlikely to feature as he continues to recover from a hip problem.
Yamil Asad netted his first MLS playoff goal in game one of this series, with Luciano Acosta collecting his third post-season assist, the most in club history, while Roman Celentano picked up his 31st career clean sheet, making two stops in the victory.
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Freese; Ilenic, Martins, Risa, O'Toole; Parks, Sands; Wolf, Rodriguez, Ojeda; Martinez
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Awaziem, Robinson, Hadebe; Yedlin, Bucha, Nwobodo, Asad; Acosta; Santos, Kubo
We say: New York City FC 2-1 FC Cincinnati
NYCFC have plenty of experienced attacking players who can still make an impact, and we believe they will be decisive in this encounter, knowing that there may be no tomorrow.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
