NYCFC vs FC Cincinnati preview: A challenging road match after a tough loss

It was a solid start after the World Cup break. New York City FC went 2-0-1 in the first three matches of Major League Soccer and won the first Leagues Cup match. But the Pigeons have struggled as of late. They lost two of their three Leagues Cup games and recently lost to the Philadelphia Union in the worst way possible. They fell 3-2 despite being up 2-0 at halftime.

Things do not get easier, though. NYCFC will now travel on the road to face FC Cincinnati. Separated by just one point in the Eastern Conference standings, the Ohio team has gone 2-1-1 as well in MLS. But they won two of their three Leagues Cup games. Oh, and the two home MLS games ended in wins.

So, the Bronx side has a tough task ahead of them. They should have beaten the Union over the weekend, and now they are at risk of going down a dark path in the league. The schedule does not get easier, because their next three fixtures are on the road, and the next two at home are against sides in the top four. The problem at hand is that the Pigeons cannot afford to lose games that they should win, and really, they need to beat teams in similar positions.

It is difficult to say what will happen against the Ohio team. Here is a preview of the match between NYCFC and FC Cincinnati.

NYCFC vs FC Cincinnati preview

Date

NYCFC and FC Cincinnati will meet on Wednesday, August 19.

Time

The match will start at 7:30 PM.

Location

The game will be at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.

How to watch

Supporters can watch the fixture on Apple TV.

Weather

It will be gray and cloudy on Wednesday in Cincinnati. It will rain before the start of the fixture, but the rain should end at some point before the final whistle. Afterward, it will be cloudy. The temperature will hover around 76 degrees. Wind should not be a factor at all.

Injury report

Drew Baiera (leg), Arnau Farnós (leg), Alonso Martínez (leg), Thiago Martins (leg), Maxi Moralez (leg), Aiden O’Neill (leg), Kai Trewin (leg), and Hannes Wolf (leg) are not available for the match against Cincinnati.

Players to watch

Agustín Ojeda is the player to watch for NYCFC. The winger is having his best season in sky blue, and the Pigeons really could use his help. Whether it is via an assist or a goal, any kind of offensive work that leads to a goal could be vital in the hunt to beat Cincinnati. He can be a difference-maker, and if Ojeda shines, then that could make the difference in whether the Bronx side earns a point or more.

It would be silly if Evander was not the player to watch on Cincinnati. The midfielder was excellent in the Leagues Cup, scoring twice. He also has three goals in MLS since July 22, making him a big threat in attacking sequences. The issue at hand is that he can easily score from outside the box, so the Boys in Blue cannot allow him to have a centimeter of space.

Prediction

As much as it would be great for NYCFC to win, that outcome is unlikely. They need all three points, but the game will either end in a 2-1 loss or a 1-1 draw. A better second half would be the difference in whether the Pigeons can leave with a point.

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