Exactly one month removed from their last victory, FC Cincinnati arrives at Shell Energy Stadium after cobbling together a 3-3 draw against Charlotte FC. The Orange & Blue how hang by a thread onto a playoff slot and heavily unfavored.
Can Pat Noonan find the right combination from a fully healthy squad to unlock the magic needed for this final stretch? The biggest immediate threat comes in their next match against the Houston Dynamo.
The Dynamo
At first glance, we see Houston in second place in the Western Conference and would reasonably assume they’ve been doing quite well. However, in the past five games, they’ve managed just one win, and three goals. As Geoff Tebbetts indicated in his Jersey Swap coverage, prior to those games, Houston exhibited a symptom well-known to FC Cincinnati fans—one-goal wins and a tight goal differential.
Houston has also been busy this season, starting with the departure of four players in February, including our old friend Sergio Santos, now with Atlanta. Since then they have picked up a handful of players, including forward Ibrahim Aliyu from the Columbus Crew, Jack McGlynn from Philadelphia (who has since moved to Stoke City), and Duncan McGuire from Orlando.
Still, defense is the primary name of Houston’s game as they are noticeably stifled offensively. Hector Herrera has returned to the central midfield after a stint in Liga MX, pairing with Artur to make a defensive shell. While their back line does not dazzle in name, center backs Lucas Halter and Agustin Resch have quickly formed a solid unit that has helped the goalkeepers keep 11 clean sheets.
Dynamo’s Last Five:
| St. Louis | L | 1 – 2 | Ibrahim Aliyu 75′ |
| San Jose | D | 0 – 0 | |
| Charlotte | D | 0 – 0 | |
| Real Salt Lake | W | 2 – 1 | Guilherme 57′ Mateusz Bogusz 87′ |
| San Jose | L | 0 -1 |
The Orange & Blue
Evander returns, stepping back into his primary role as the central offensive focus. Across his return matches, he frequently records three to five shot attempts and multiple creative chances from open play. With Kevin Denkey finding his offensive footing last week, will we see a return of the offensive juggernaut that put six past Orlando in May and four past Vancouver in July?
Defensively, new acquisition left-back Tyrell Malacia was training with the team this week, but neither he nor new right-back David Douděra will be available. Will Noonan deploy the same defense that gifted Charlotte three goals last week? Can Evander guide himself and the team beyond the emotional malaise attributed to the departure of Matt Miazga and recognize the moment and opportunity ahead?
No question, the team has potency, but does it have a sense of purpose?
Players to Watch
Miles Robinson, who did not have his best game against Charlotte, will be crucial in shutting down Houston’s transition play and defending set pieces. Considering the team could be missing Robinson during the overlap with USMNT play, he’ll need to cover Houston’s productive Guilherme (13 goals, 6 assists) like glue.
Transitions had been authored by Jack McGlynn with his superb passing range and set-piece delivery, but his transfer to Stoke City will test Houston’s capabilities. However, keep an eye on Houston’s counterpart to Pavel Bucha—Artur. The 30-year-old defensive back, once with the Columbus Crew, might be the centerpiece of their defense, working to break up opposition counters and control the tempo in possession.
What to Expect
Companies like Miralax or Metamucil might realize they left money on the table by not sponsoring this match. Both teams could spend 70 minutes recirculating possession between their center-backs with the attack completely blocked up. For FC Cincinnati, the same potent tools are all there to produce a multi-goal outcome. All that is required is a high-accuracy pass count, strict attentiveness on defensive set pieces, and the collective choice to adopt a better mentality.
WHERE: Shell Energy Stadium, Houston
WHEN: 8:30 PM EST
WEATHER: 81°F
WATCH: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+
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