It's Round One of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, and New York City FC are back in the postseason after sitting out last year. NYCFC are facing FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium tonight in the early-ish 6:45 pm ET time slot, and will try to beat the odds and be one of the few teams to win on the road in this round.
Note that not only are today's date and time unusual but the game will also be broadcast for free on both Apple TV and FS1. Knock yourselves out.
• MLS Cup Playoffs Round One, Game 1: FC Cincinnati vs New York City FC
• Date and Time: Monday, October 28, 6:45 pm ET
• Venue: TQL Stadium
• Forecast: Clear, warm, a little humid, 64F/18C
• Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (free), FS1
• Apple Broadcast Team: Chris Wittyngham and Lori Lindsey (English), Oscar Salazar and Jaime Macias (Spanish)
• New York City FC Radio: Glenn Crooks and Matty Lawrence (English), Roberto Abramowitz and Ariel Judas (Spanish)
• Officiating Crew: Sergii Boiko (referee), Corey Richardson and Ian McKay (assistant referees), Chris Penso (4th official), Younes Marrakchi (VAR), TJ Zablocki (assistant VAR)
• Kits: New York City will wear the sky-blue Interboro Kit; Cincinnati will wear the dark-blue River Kit
New York City stumbled on Decision Day when they were soundly outplayed by CF Montréal. But the team logged three wins and one draw in their last 5 games, with scintillating performances against Inter Miami, New York Red Bulls — and Cincinnati, which they beat 3-2 in a statement win.
Cincinnati won on Decision Day, handing Philadelphia Union a defeat that left them out of the playoffs just two years after they made it to the MLS Cup Final. But that win papers over a Cincinnati that aren't nearly as imposing as they were in 2023, when they won the Supporters' Shield.
Side note: Referee Sergii Boiko oversaw two New York City games this year, the 4-2 win over Orlando City in June and the 3-1 win over Nashville SC in October.
Hudson River Blue Staff
New York City vs Cincinnati H2H
| GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 33 | 24 | 9 |
The historic head-to-head between these two clubs is colored by Cincinnati's earliest years in MLS, when they were the league's punching bag. New York City won the first six matchups, but the tide shifted in 2022, when the two sides drew twice. Cincinnati won the next five matches, when they were one of the toughest teams to play in MLS.
That changed in October, when New York City found a way to beat them at home Red Bull Arena. Mitja Ilenič scored his first MLS goal in that game, Alonso Martínez added one of his own, and Santiago Rodríguez scored what proved to be the game-winner. Good times.
Hudson River Blue Staff
New York City FC
• Player Availability: Malachi Jones remains out as he recovers from leg surgery.
• Will NYCFC look alert? The team aren't always at their best after getting extra rest. (See: Decision Day.)
• Home-field advantage in Round One is real: Last year, the home side won 14 of 19 games played. This year, the home side won four of the four games played so far — and outscored the visiting team nine goals to two.
• Who will slot in as the defensive partner for Thiago Martins at center-back? Justin Haak, Birk Risa, and Strahinja Tanasijević all started in recent games, but it's unclear who will make the Starting XI tonight.
• Will Martínez recover his scoring touch? Montréal silenced the striker on Decision Day, breaking his three-game scoring streak.
Oliver Strand
FC Cincinnati
• Player Availability: Goalkeeper Alec Kann (hip), central defender Nick Hagglund (leg), and central defender Matt Miazga (knee) are out.
• Cincinnati's depleted defense has been one of the themes of the season, and a big reason why they complied a record of 3W-2D-4L since returning from Leagues Cup, with 15 goals allowed in 9 games.
• Figuring out how to score goals has been another. The team no longer have a clear-cut striker, with 30-year-old former Japan international Yuya Kubo often tasked with filling in up top. He has 10 goals in 32 league appearances this year.
• Home-field advantage might be significant in Round One, but Cincinnati had a middling record at TQL Stadium this year, where they were beaten seven times.
• Cincinnati's dangerman continues to be Luciano Acosta. The 30-year-old No 10 notched 14 goals and 16 assists this season, personally accounting for 52% of the team's 58 goals in league play this season.
• Itching to learn more about Cincinnati? Be sure to read "Oppo Research: 5 Things about FC Cincinnati."
Matthew Mangam
