FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan is striving for consistency from his gamers after confirming their place within the MLS playoffs.
Noonan’s aspect have been held to a goalless draw in opposition to Leagues Cup champions Columbus Crew however have now gone two house 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 exhausting to do, and we attempt for consistency, and consistency for our group and our expectations is to be a playoff crew after which be a prime seed and be enjoying video games at house within the playoffs,” Noonan mentioned.
“I feel we go into this subsequent recreation as wholesome and with as many choices as we have now had. The objective for us must be to keep up that over this ultimate stretch in order that we are able to have consistency with our choice and with our beginning 11.
“However I feel if we need to have a robust finish to the season and have a robust playoff run, it must be with gamers obtainable in depth and competitors in our squad. Actually, that’ll be essential.”
Secured our spot. pic.twitter.com/ePo8B3oilb
— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) September 15, 2024
Minnesota, in the meantime, did their possibilities 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 beneath 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 need to be a crew that may shift between a lot of shapes in response to the conditions we anticipate coming, in response to the gamers that we’ve bought in type and obtainable,” Ramsay mentioned.
“We need to be, in the end, an aggressive crew, we need to be a crew that may press, can have extra of the ball, can steal the ball larger up [the field].
“When you’re enjoying in a again 5, that isn’t as simple because it seems typically 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 in opposition to St. Louis final day out was his tenth objective of the season for Minnesota.
In doing so, he turned the fifth completely different Loons participant to document 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, prime scorer and captain Acosta can be key for Cincinnati at Allianz Subject.
However the Argentine comes up in opposition to a aspect he has failed to attain in opposition to in his MLS profession, with Minnesota certainly one of solely seven groups he’s but to web previous.
MATCH PREDICTION: FC CINCINNATI WIN
Cincinnati gained their final match in opposition to the Loons in Might. However Minnesota have been unbeaten within the first 4 conferences between the edges (W3 D1), outscoring Cincinnati, 10-1, in these video games.
Nonetheless, Cincinnati have now misplaced consecutive common season away matches after shedding solely certainly one of their earlier 16 on the highway 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, shedding 4 of their final 5 regular-season house matches. Previous to this run, they’d misplaced simply 4 of their earlier 27 video games on house soil courting again to April 2023.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Minnesota United – 31.9%
Draw – 25.4%
FC Cincinnati – 42.7%
