The Orange & Blue’s oppressive October started with success on the road. Hopefully, the victory becomes contagious.
FC Cincinnati (9-9-9, 36 pts.) need momentum as they face the harshest month of their schedule. The New England Revolution (14-4-10, 46 pts.) are the next arrivals at TQL Stadium, well aware that a win against Cincinnati will all but punch their postseason ticket.
FCC’s 3-1 win in Atlanta was merely the first step of seven in October. Kevin Denkey’s brace and Tom Barlow’s own contributions fueled Cincinnati’s first win since mid-August and their first road win since May.
However, past performances against the Revs do not bode well on paper. The 6-1 loss in Massachusetts in March was the sign that the team needed some cohesion and discipline. While Dado Valenzuela put the team up in the first half, the Revolution scored six unanswered amidst a red card issued to Valenzuela in the second half. The Orange & Blue would go four straight matches with a red card starting at this point.
Head coach Pat Noonan is well-aware that the lopsided nature of the previous matchup can be corrected. “We had a bad game. I know we had some rotation on that day, but that hasn’t been something that is a part of this conversation for this game. I mean, we just talked about all the new additions that weren’t a part of that game. They might not even know what that game looks like or looked like, so, it won’t be a part of our preparation. But yeah, we weren’t very good on the on the night, and New England was.”
If Cincinnati are to prove themselves to be a playoff team, they need a quality win against this playoff-bound opponent.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
The Revolution started the 2026 season as one of the more consistent squads in the league. However, if lopsidedness is a real thing in this matchup, it might also come from New England’s immediate form. The Revs come into TQL Stadium on the heels of two losses against Western Conference opponents. Two weeks after a 3-0 loss at Real Salt Lake, the Revs lost to Seattle at home with the same score.
The lack of scoring is one thing, but the re-addition of goalkeeper Matt Turner has not led to more clean sheets. Yes, the number of goals allowed has decreased. However, New England only has five clean sheets this season, half of the amount they had last season under Caleb Porter.
The big difference from the past season is that the offense overall has found ways to put goals in late and often. The Revolution lead the league in the number of wins from a losing position (5), turning plenty of losses into 3-point recoveries.
The turnaround is mostly dictated by the return of captain Carles Gil to prominence. The 2021 MVP winner has scored 12 goals this season, his highest season-wide total for the Revs.
Noonan sees Gil as one of the best MLS players over the past decade. “I have so much respect for his play, his leadership. He’s been outstanding and so he kind of dictates a lot of the success of their group as far as the flow of the game, and that’s something that we need to be prepared for and try to limit.”
While Gil’s 16 total goal contributions are hardly enough to put him in MVP discussions, the team itself has been contributing. Aside from Gil, 14 other players have scored for the Revs. Both forward Dov Turgeman and winger Peyton Miller have seven goals, and both also have double-digit goal contributions with Gil.
While the Revs have shown solid team chemistry under first-year head coach Marko Mitrovic, they will be without some vital players. Forward Leo Campana is still fighting back from a nagging muscle injury that has kept him out of all but two matches. Newly acquired midfielder Jack Harrison (quad) and midfielder Alhassan Yusuf (hamstring) are both expected to also be out.
The Revs need some help, but they are within reach of the playoffs. A win over Cincinnati and some help against the New York-based squads will punch their ticket.
THE ORANGE AND BLUE
The win over Atlanta has stopped the avalanche, but the challenges are still mounting. During the 3-1 win, Miles Robinson left in the second half with a leg injury. The center back is expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks.
However, the other major injury concerns could be smaller than expected.
Evander missed the Atlanta match, but the Brazilian midfielder does not appear on the injury report. Obinna Nwobodo also left the match against Atlanta, but it appears it was more of a cramping concern. The defending midfielder should be available for selection.
Newly signed Jose Martinez is working his way back from injury and is also out for Wednesday.
Regardless of the midfield situation, Cincinnati’s attack will need to remain strong. While the defense is still rusty, the offense remains fourth in MLS in goals scored. Forwards Kevin Denkey and Tom Barlow have relocated the goal in recent play. The two have scored a combined six goals in the past four matches.
The new additions have also pulled their weight is a short amount of time. David Doudera picked up his first secondary assist against Atlanta, while Tyrell Malacia and Julian Malatini put in a combined 90 minutes of solid defending. All three will likely need to help Cincinnati regain their defensive prowess, seeking an elusive third clean sheet for the season.
Predicted lineup:
The Starting XI should look significantly different from the rotated lineup in March. Denkey and Barlow should slot atop the formation instead of Evander and Ayoub Jabbari. The Orange & Blue were also without Pavel Bucha and Sami Gidi due to international commitments that day. Their inclusion should give the midfield a familiar form.
If Evander is healthy enough to play, he may be limited on minutes. Still, don’t discount the captain’s return to the lineup.
The defending line may be “all hands on deck”. There is a good chance the Chirila-Robinson-Hagglund line from March is fully replaced. However, speed and muscle will be needed to disrupt the Revs’ attack.
Match Info
Where: TQL Stadium; Cincinnati, OH
When: Wednesday, October 14th at 7:30 p.m.
Watch: Apple+
Listen: ESPN 1530 iHeart Radio w/ Tommy Gelehrter and Kevin McCloskey
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