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FC Cincinnati seek historic away win as NYCFC try to spoil their momentum

Cincinnati looks to tie the MLS road win record as NYCFC defends home turf in a critical matchup

By Izabelle Franca

New York City midfielder Santiago Rodriguez (10) and FC Cincinnati midfielder Obinna Nwobodo (5)
New York City midfielder Santiago Rodriguez (10) and FC Cincinnati midfielder Obinna Nwobodo (5) / Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
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FC Cincinnati goes into Wednesday's match against New York City FC with what they want: a win. Following their frustrating loss to LAFC, Pat Noonan's men will be seeking recovery, not only to firm up their position in the MLS playoffs but to level a historic league record. A chance to equal the record for modern-era road wins is within reach, and it will come in perfectly with the match against NYCFC.

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Inconsistent Performance: The Challenge for FC Cincinnati

For FC Cincinnati's players and coaching staff, the loss to LAFC last weekend is still fresh. The feeling remains consistent: that the team beat itself out of the gates slow to start, and too inconsistent during the first 35 minutes of the game. The technical quality of LAFC was brutal, punishing at key times to take control of the game. FC Cincinnati dominated large stretches of the match-especially the final 65 minutes of the game-but the damage was already complete.

Pat Noonan didn't hide his frustration with the performance, but he mentioned how the team adapted during the game. "We made good adjustments and played very well in the last 65 minutes. But to win games, you've got to do it over 90 minutes," emphasized the coach, already focusing on the upcoming clash with NYCFC. The message is clear: consistency from start to finish.

Record in Sight: A Chance to Make History

The match against NYCFC presents the opportunity to equate the record for 11 road wins in a season set by CF Montreal in 2022. FCC recorded 10 road victories so far in this season and thus broke an existing club record, but the urge to push it more is there.

But this record chase means more than just numbers. This is about reaffirming good form for the team and proving it can indeed be a force in the playoffs, even on foreign soil. Coach Pat Noonan emphasized how the team approaches away games: "We adjust to what the game presents. We don't settle much, and that's brought us success."

What to Expect from NYCFC

Meanwhile, New York City FC enters this match with momentum, fresh off of a convincing win, one in which Noonan gave credit where it was due: "They're on a good path right now." Tradition-wise, NYCFC was usually a team that feels at home, using the particular setting of Yankee Stadium to impose their possession-heavy, high-pressure style.

Also, NYCFC recently defeated FC Cincinnati in the League's Cup and that should be enough result to give confidence to the team going into this fixture. New York will go ahead to seal a good season while Cincinnati will have to put up with the away crowd and the challenge of playing against opponents that have shown steady improvement in the recent rounds.

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