FC Cincinnati brace for intense battle vs. Red Bulls

As one of the best clubs in Major League Soccer, FC Cincinnati have gotten used to taking everyone's best shot.

That might go double for Saturday night's visit from the New York Red Bulls, a team Cincinnati eliminated from the MLS Cup postseason last year with a 2-0 sweep. Cincinnati clinched the series on the road with penalty kicks.

Coach Pat Noonan and star defender Matt Miazga both downplayed the growing rivalry between the sides, who met five times last year and clearly had built animosity by the time their playoff series ended in late November.

"I think it's about understanding there's a standard now," Miazga said. "Everyone's trying to come after us and we understand in soccer it's not always easy to win consistently, year in and year out, but we understand that we have a good team."

FC Cincinnati (3-0-3, 12 points) are built around a defense that has conceded only three goals. But they will get a challenge from New York (3-1-2, 11 points), which boasts the league's top scorer in Lewis Morgan. He's already potted six goals, including the Red Bulls' only marker last Saturday in a 1-1 draw at Orlando City SC.

Coach Sandro Schwarz said Morgan is a very important player for his team.

"His intelligence on the field to find the right space in good moments, to find the right timing for deep runs, was good," Schwarz said after the match in Orlando. "He played today very clearly in some moments and that is what we need."

And Morgan could find the back of the net again as FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano is on the shelf and expected to miss significant time due to injury. Either Alec Kann or Evan Louro will get the start in Celentano's place.

Another advantage for the Red Bulls might be that they're on the road. They have secured points in seven of their last eight MLS regular season road matches, including a 2-1 decision last season in Cincinnati.

--Field Level Media