In a rematch from the opening round of the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs, New York City FC will welcome FC Cincinnati to Citi Field on Sunday.
The Pigeons are holding down the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference after claiming a 1-0 victory at Toronto last week, while Cincy are on top of the East standings following a 2-1 win versus Sporting Kansas City.
Match preview
© Imago
Finally, Pascal Jansen got his first away victory as the New York City FC coach in their sixth road match of the MLS season last weekend.
It was their second victory in their previous three domestic affairs, with the Boys in Blue posting a clean sheet in those two triumphs.
Three of their four wins this season have come on home soil, one at Citi Field last month against the Philadelphia Union (1-0).
New York City are unbeaten in their previous five MLS encounters played in Queens, including the playoffs last year, and have emerged victorious on four of those occasions.
Last year, the Pigeons won five of their six league contests played in May, netting multiple goals in four of those encounters.
NYCFC have won their last two home matches versus Cincy across all competitions, finding the back of the net three times on each occasion.
© Imago
It always seems to be by the thinnest of margins, but Cincinnati continuously come out on the right side of those narrow results.
Six of their seven regular-season triumphs in 2025 have been by a single goal, with three of those wins occurring away from home.
The Orange and Blue are once again in the hunt for the Supporters' Shield, currently just a point behind the Vancouver Whitecaps for first overall, thanks to their current five-game winning streak, and claiming points in their last six domestic affairs.
Pat Noonan's men boast a 100% record in MLS this season when drawing first blood, while claiming four points in the competition when conceding the opener.
While they have found ways to earn maximum points, Luciano Acosta's departure has seen them create significantly fewer scoring opportunities, with Cincy 19th in MLS regarding big chances per FotMob (24).
They have yet to win a single game against the Boys in Blue at Citi Field, with their best result in Queens being a 1-1 draw in 2022.
Team News
© Imago
In their victory over Toronto, New York City were missing Malachi Jones and Mitja Ilenic due to leg injuries, while Jacob Arroyave was sidelined because of a knee issue.
Last Friday, the club signed Australian midfielder Aiden O'Neill from Belgian Pro League side Standard Liege until 2028.
Alonso Martinez converted a 64th-minute penalty against the Reds, and Matt Freese did not have to make a single stop to collect his second clean sheet in three games.
Leg injuries to Yuya Kubo and Teenage Hadebe kept them out of the Cincinnati lineup against SKC, and both are questionable for Sunday.
Noonan made one change to the Orange and Blue starting 11 last weekend from the previous match, with Luca Orellano replacing Sergio Santos.
Kevin Denkey added to his goalscoring exploits the last time out, netting a brace in their victory, and drawing even with Evander for the team lead in MLS this season (six).
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Freese; Gray, Martins, Haak, O'Toole; Parks, Shore; Wolf, Moralez, Fernandez; Martinez
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Robinson, Miazga, Hagglund; Yedlin, Bucha, Anunga, Engel; Santos, Evander; Denkey
We say: New York City FC 1-2 FC Cincinnati
No matter what other teams have thrown at them this year, Cincy always seem to have an answer and Noonan's crew may be the best side in the league when it comes to winning close games.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
