FC Cincinnati try to shore up details ahead of NYCFC playoff opener

Pat Noonan hopes the urgency of the MLS Cup playoffs will bring the best out of his third-seeded FC Cincinnati when they host sixth-seeded New York City FC in their Round 1 series opener on Monday night.

FC Cincinnati have home-field advantage in the series based on their higher finish in the Eastern Conference table. But Noonan's side had lost three straight before overcoming an early deficit in a 2-1 win at Philadelphia on the final day of the season.

"It feels different, it should. And you realize that you have to be very connected in every aspect of the game," Noonan said of his team's mood approaching Monday. "So many little things become so much more important at this stage that you have to get right."

Monday's hosts still have plenty of talent capable of making a deep run, led again by 2023 MLS MVP Luciano Acosta.

He is not an MVP finalist this season despite following up 2023 with 14 goals and 19 assists in 2024. He has a goal contribution in four of Cincy's last five matches.

Meanwhile, NYCFC have found their footing entering the postseason, with three consecutive victories before a loss on the final day of the regular season at Montreal.

Costa Rican striker Alonso Martinez has gone somewhat unheralded despite scoring 16 goals, and Santiago Rodriguez has a career-high 12 goals plus 10 assists.

Coach Nick Cushing also hopes New York City's run to the 2024 Leagues Cup quarterfinals will help his team understand how to handle the postseason atmosphere.

"We communicated a lot to the group around how Leagues Cup -- especially the knockout rounds -- were a really good opportunity to experience 'win and you're through, lose and you're out,'" Cushing said.

NYCFC eventually fell to the Columbus Crew on penalties in the quarterfinals following a 1-1 draw.

Cincinnati and NYCFC split their regular-season meetings, with Cincy winning 1-0 at home in March and losing 3-2 at NYCFC early this month.

--Field Level Media