FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan is striving for consistency from his gamers after confirming their place within the MLS playoffs.
Noonan’s aspect had been held to a goalless draw towards Leagues Cup champions Columbus Crew however have now gone two residence video games with no victory or scoring a objective.
Whereas securing their spot within the playoffs was one thing the Orange and Blue may have solely dreamed of some years in the past, Noonan’s future ambitions for his crew overshadowed any celebrations.
“It’s laborious to do, and we try for consistency, and consistency for our group and our expectations is to be a playoff crew after which be a high seed and be enjoying video games at residence within the playoffs,” Noonan mentioned.
“I believe we go into this subsequent sport as wholesome and with as many choices as we’ve had. The objective for us must be to take care of that over this closing stretch in order that we are able to have consistency with our choice and with our beginning 11.
“However I believe if we wish to have a powerful finish to the season and have a powerful playoff run, it must be with gamers obtainable in depth and competitors in our squad. Definitely, that’ll be necessary.”
Secured our spot. pic.twitter.com/ePo8B3oilb
— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) September 15, 2024
Minnesota, in the meantime, did their probabilities of reaching the playoffs the world of excellent with a powerful 3-1 victory over in-form St. Louis Metropolis of their final MLS fixture.
The Loons overcame Cedric Teuchert’s third minute opener to stay ninth within the Western Convention desk, bridging the hole between themselves and FC Dallas one place under them.
Head coach Eric Ramsay lauded his aspect’s show in breaking down St. Louis’ resolute defence, and detailed how his gamers plan to assault the ultimate video games of the season to stay within the playoff image.
“We wish to be a crew that may shift between a lot of shapes in line with the conditions we anticipate coming, in line with the gamers that we’ve received in kind and obtainable,” Ramsay mentioned.
“We wish to be, in the end, an aggressive crew, we wish to be a crew that may press, can have extra of the ball, can steal the ball increased up [the field].
“When you’re enjoying in a again 5, that isn’t as straightforward because it appears generally on paper.”
Dub secured. pic.twitter.com/IG7a8v9UFy
— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) September 15, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Minnesota United – Bongokuhle Hlongwane
Hlongwane’s strike towards St. Louis final day out was his tenth objective of the season for Minnesota.
In doing so, he grew to become the fifth totally different Loons participant to report a double-digit scoring season and the third within the final three years.
FC Cincinnati – Luciano Acosta
Having struggled in entrance of objective of their latest MLS fixtures, high scorer and captain Acosta shall be key for Cincinnati at Allianz Subject.
However the Argentine comes up towards a aspect he has failed to attain towards in his MLS profession, with Minnesota one in every of solely seven groups he’s but to internet previous.
MATCH PREDICTION: FC CINCINNATI WIN
Cincinnati gained their final match towards the Loons in Could. However Minnesota had been unbeaten within the first 4 conferences between the perimeters (W3 D1), outscoring Cincinnati, 10-1, in these video games.
Nonetheless, Cincinnati have now misplaced consecutive common season away matches after dropping solely one in every of their earlier 16 on the street in league play (W12 D3). That is Cincinnati’s first set of back-to-back common season away losses for the reason that begin of the 2022 marketing campaign.
However the Loons have struggled at Allianz Subject, dropping 4 of their final 5 regular-season residence matches. Previous to this run, they’d misplaced simply 4 of their earlier 27 video games on residence soil relationship again to April 2023.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Minnesota United – 31.9%
Draw – 25.4%
FC Cincinnati – 42.7%
