All year, FC Cincinnati has had to carry the weight of its post-season end last year. The loss to Columbus in the semifinals has been a ghost looming in the back of many discussions this season.
FCC has a chance to exercise one or two of those ghosts on Monday as the team faces off against first-round opponent New York City FC in the first of a best-of-three matchup.
Although the season didn’t end with the momentum FCC may have wanted, there can still be optimism as the team holds a 2-1 record on the season’s series. However, to accomplish this, it’s going to require the Orange and Blue to come out firing on all cylinders.
Since the return from the All-Star Break, we do not recognize the Leagues Cup in the household, NYCFC has used an early scoring flurry to generate a positive game state. They’ve scored nine goals in the first 25 minutes, which they’ve more often converted to points, with a 3-1-1 record in those games.
This can be seen in the most recent game NYCFC and FCC played on Oct 2, when the Pigeons scored in the 16th minute. The long-range shot from defender Mitja Ilenič was unusual, however, as it has often been striker Alonso Martinez scoring the early goal.
So far the striker has found the back of the net 16 times, with half of those coming in the last nine games. He has found consistency in attack as the Pigeons have moved to an attacking quartet of Martinez, DP Winger Santi Rodrigues, TAM winger Hannes Wolff, and club legend Mix Moralez.
The attack working itself out has been a big help, as the back line has been a work in progress for much of the year. Even entering into this match there are health questions as summer signing Birk Risa did not start in their season finale loss against Montreal.
Although the center back did make a cameo for 10 minutes at the end, he seems to have lost his position to MLS journeyman Justin Haak. Nick Cushing when asked about the decision said, “…when you get the opportunity and you take it, you stay in. To go back on that now in game 34, I think the locker room would kill me.”
Results have proven the change worthwhile as they have won three of four with Haak starting.
This is a series between two teams who have the potential to spark a postseason run, but it will most likely come down to who gains the momentum first and makes the first strike.
