FC Cincinnati Looking to Build on Success in Final Group Stage Match with NYCFC at Leagues Cup

August 5, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release

FC Cincinnati enter the second group stage match of the 2024 Leagues Cup knowing they are moving on to the knockout stages. A unique wrinkle of Leagues Cup and the three-team pools that make up the group stages of the international tournament. A win over Querétaro FC of Liga MX in game one of the tournament for The Orange and Blue secured their spot in the knockout stages with three points, so this match will only help sort out seeding.

NYCFC, the visitors on a rare Monday night match at TQL Stadium, are in the exact same situation as their hosts. The New York club also defeated Querétaro in their opening match, doing so in a penalty shoot out, but their two points is enough to secure a spot in the further rounds. Given the tiebreakers (with head-to-head being the first defining category) the winner of Monday’s match advances as the group winner, regardless of if that comes in penalties or in regulation. The loser will advance as the second place team in the group, setting them on a different path through the tournament bracket.

“We’re trying to build off of the momentum of the last performance and result,” FCC Head Coach Pat Noonan said Sunday afternoon at his pre match press conference. ” We had had a stretch where we weren’t performing and it’s important that we try to build off of what I thought was a strong showing against Querétaro, aside from finishing off more plays.

“Experiencing victory consistently is always important for the group. So, we want to finish at the top of the group. To do that we’ve got to get a result against a really good NYC team. So what I said to (the team) this morning was the expectation is that we’re going to win a game, so don’t lose sight of that fact because we’re in the knockout round.”

The needle to thread in this game is made more complicated by the fact that both clubs are through to the knockout stages. Noonan made clear his intentions to expect high levels of compete in his players, but setting up the squad for success in the knockout match (which is a definitive win or go home situation) is also an important feature of the match.

“With where we’re currently at with healthy bodies, we are trying to be as mindful as possible with some individual situations and how we go about this to make sure we come out of it in a healthy way.

“Because of the status of a couple of the players there’ll be more rotation than probably, you know, I would like or that…