FC Cincinnati will look to maintain or improve on their second-place standing in the Eastern Conference when they face the New York Red Bulls on Saturday in Harrison, N.J.
With two matches to go, Cincinnati (18-9-5, 59 points) sits four points behind the Philadelphia Union in the chase for first place in the East and the Supporters’ Shield that goes to Major League Soccer’s top regular-season team.
Finishing the season as the No. 2 seed would allow FC Cincinnati to host an Eastern Conference semifinal match if they get through the best-of-three first round.
It’s been more than a month since Cincinnati lost an MLS regular-season match, as the team has earned seven points in its past three contests.
The good news for FC Cincinnati is that starting goalkeeper Roman Celentano could play on Saturday. He missed the past three matches due to a leg injury.
“We can push Roman through,” Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan said on Thursday. “I think he’s there. So, you know, today’s probably the last box to check as far as a couple things, but he was pretty much there the last two days, so that’s good news.”
Led by All-Star midfielder Evander’s 31 goal contributions on the season and backup goalkeeper Evan Louro’s 14 saves over the past three matches, Cincinnati is heading to the playoffs for a fourth straight season.
The Red Bulls (12-13-7, 43 points) made the MLS Cup playoffs in each of the previous 15 seasons. However, their league-record streak came to an end Wednesday when the Chicago Fire clinched the East’s final postseason bid. New York will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and just the fifth time in their 30-year history.
“I know everyone is disappointed to maybe not have the qualification for the playoffs,” coach Sandro Schwarz said. “But what I can say is we are trying everything until the end.”
The physical Red Bulls team ranks in the top five of the Eastern Conference in fouls called and yellow cards. New York averages just a tick under 12 fouls per game when playing at home.
Cincinnati and New York met on Feb. 22 in the season opener for both sides. FC Cincinnati earned a 1-0 home win thanks to a 70th-minute goal by forward Kevin Denkey.
–Field Level Media
