MLS Cup playoff pressure mounts as FC Cincinnati faces Inter Miami CF
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FC Cincinnati's attempting to qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs for the first time, but it's going to get familiar with the pressures related to the postseason starting this weekend.
If FC Cincinnati isn't already feeling the weight of its ongoing chase for one of seven playoffs spots in the 14-team Eastern Conference, Saturday's road match against Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium should feel something like a playoff match.
Cincinnati (7-8-7, 30 points) sits seventh in the east going into the game. Miami (7-10-4, 25 points) could pull even with FCC with a win, making this a classic example of a "six-point" game, or a match in which both clubs are looking at a six-point swing that will directly impact the standings, as well as the two clubs' positions relative to one another.
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"Every game we play feels like it's three very important points," FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said of playing with playoff-type pressure. "I think we could have said that for a lot of our recent opponents, in terms of where we were in the table, where they were in the table and a good stretch of home games. So, we have a team (Miami) that's right behind us in the standings. So, it'll be an important game for us in terms of what the end of the season looks like, if we can go and have a strong performance and get three points."
The match will see Cincinnati and Miami conclude their season series, which was first contested March 19 at TQL Stadium in a comprehensive 3-1 victory for FCC.
Brandon Vazquez, FC Cincinnati's leading scorer this season (11 goals), notched two goals in the game and Ronald Matarrita scored the eventual game-winner.
Cincinnati won't have Matarrita after the March injury he suffered later in the month while representing the Costa Rica senior men's national team, but Cincinnati isn't hurting for offensive production at the moment.
FCC will also welcome back Luciano Acosta from a suspension that lasted three matches.
More: FC Cincinnati's Pat Noonan critical of Luciano Acosta suspension by MLS
Miami could be without its leading goal scorer, Leonardo Campana, after he missed the club's loss to New York City FC last weekend.
Absent Campana's eight goals in 2022, Gonzalo Higuaín's four goals is the best option head coach Phil Neville's side will have going forward.
Higuaín's also one of the most prolific FC Cincinnati killers in FCC's MLS history, as four of Higuaín's 17 career MLS goals have come against the Orange and Blue.
Inter Miami has hurt for attacking flair, scoring just 22 goals this season, although 18 of those have come at DRV PNK Stadium.
The club should feature Alejandro Pozuelo, the former MLS Best XI and Most Valuable Player honoree who joined Miami from Toronto FC on a club-friendly transfer fee.
Pozuelo exited Toronto as first-year head coach Bob Bradley looked to make roster space during the club's midseason roster makeover.
"Totally different team than the last time we saw them," Noonan said of Miami. "They've gradually improved in a way where, Phil (Neville) has them in a good spot. I think they have different ways to be able to cause you problems, I think, with the addition of (Alejandro) Pozuelo now, the creativity in the middle of the field with him, as he gets more and more comfortable with his teammates
"Two strikers that know how to score goals in different ways. So depending on who's on the field, we have to be aware of both options to make sure that we're limiting them in and around goal. I think the two in the middle of the field are kind of the spine for them, I think Gregore and (Jean) Mota have been excellent ball winning, controlling the tempo of the game connecting passes, two strong players.
"Then they've got wide options, both at the outside back position and at the winger position that have been pretty dangerous in terms of their speed and how they can create some overloads out wide and an attack you one-versus-one. So it'll certainly be a good challenge for us.”
The game
Kickoff: 8 p.m., Saturday | DRV PNK Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, Florida
TV/Radio/Stream: WSTR Star 64 / ESPN1530 / FCCincinnati.com (in-region); ESPN+ (out of region)
Series info: Miami leads the all-time series against FC Cincinnati with four wins and one loss (4-1-0).
Cincinnati.com prediction: FC Cincinnati 2, Inter Miami 1.
FC Cincinnati
2022 record: 7-8-7, 28 points; seventh place in MLS Eastern Conference
Goals for: 33
Goals against: 38
Coach: Pat Noonan –- first season at FC Cincinnati
Projected starting lineup:
Roman Celentano, goalkeeper
Ray Gaddis, right back
Ian Murphy, center back
Geoff Cameron, center back
Nick Hagglund, center back
Alvaro Barreal, left back
Obinna Nwobodo, midfielder
Junior Moreno, midfielder
Luciano Acosta, midfielder
Brandon Vazquez, forward
Brenner Souza da Silva, forward
Inter Miami CF
2022 record: 7-10-4, 25 points; 11th place in MLS Eastern Conference
Goals for: 22
Goals against: 33
Coach: Phil Neville –- second season at Miami
Projected starting lineup:
Drake Callender, goalkeeper
Kieran Gibbs, left back
Ryan Sailor, center back
Christopher McVey, center back
DeAndre Yedlin, right back
Jean Mota, midfielder
Gregore, midfielder
Indiana Vassilev, forward/winger
Alejandro Pozuelo, midfielder/forward
Robert Taylor, forward/winger
Gonzalo Higuaín, forward
Noteworthy: FC Cincinnati is winless against Inter Miami at DRV PNK Stadium (0-2-0) but is 5-5-0 in MLS regular season play in the state of Florida. That includes winning a pair of games in the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament, as well as winning both ‘road’ games against Toronto FC and CF Montreal staged in Florida last season due to pandemic border restrictions. The win against Montreal took place at DRV PNK Stadium, with Jurgen Locadia and Gustavo Vallecilla scoring the goals in a 2-1 victory.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: MLS Cup playoff pressure mounts as FC Cincinnati faces Inter Miami CF
