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New York City
Major League Soccer
Nov 2, 2024 at 9pm UK
Citi Field
FC Cincinnati

NY City
vs.
Cincinnati

Preview: New York City FC vs. FC Cincinnati - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between New York City FC and FC Cincinnati, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

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

New York City FC midfielder Santiago Rodriguez celebrates a goal on March 9, 2024© Imago

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.

Luciano Acosta of FC Cincinnati pictured on July 24, 2024© Imago

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.

New York City FC Major League Soccer form:

FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer form:


Team News

New York City FC striker Alonso Martinez celebrates a goal on May 15, 2024© Imago

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


SM words green background

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.


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Who will win Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between NY City and Cincinnati?

New York City FC
Draw
FC Cincinnati
New York City FC
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Draw
0.0%
FC Cincinnati
0.0%
0
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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