FC Cincinnati return home looking to continue a strong run of form at home with a midweek test against New York City Football Club. The visit from NYCFC is the first of two home matches The Orange and Blue will host this week.
The matchup against the Pigeons gets underway on Apple TV at 7:30 p.m. Ahead of that, let’s look at a few key factors for success that The Orange and Blue will need to come out on top in this cross-conference clash.
Defend the Speed
New York City Football Club have always been a challenging squad for FC Cincinnati, and the results have matched that, as it’s been five games since The Orange and Blue earned a victory of any kind against their Empire State opponents.
FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan highlighted the challenges NYCFC pose on Monday at his prematch press conference, pointing to the consistency in how their opponent has played over the years and to how the style NYCFC have imposed is particularly challenging when going against how FCC themselves set up.
“The ability to play and break pressure but then change speeds to goal is one of the ways that they have caused us problems in the past and in watching their games more recently,” Noonan said of New York. “They're technically strong and they do a good job of inviting pressure and finding advantages in the opponent that allow them to break pressure and then they attack with speed really well and a couple of those new additions provide that as well.”
NYCFC have two key newcomers to their squad since FC Cincinnati last faced them earlier this April. Forwards Bénie Traoré and Luighi have come into the squad as reinforcements in key roster spots, looking to uplift the side.
Traoré, 23, is a Designated Player who plays on the left of the front three. Joining the club from Swiss Super League powerhouse FC Basel 1893, the Ivory Coast native scored his first goal for NYCFC this past week against Philadelphia. Luighi, a Brazilian U22 initiative addition on loan from Palmeiras, made his MLS debut this past week and also scored.
Speed is a key way New York can play on the break, and those two newcomers just add more to that. To earn a result on Wednesday night, particularly in a triple-match week, handling that element will be key to success.
“It's important that we can get our guys up to speed with a quick turnaround,” Noonan continued. “The ability to play and break pressure, but then change speeds to goal is one of the ways that they have caused us problems in the past and in watching their games more recently.”
Continue the work on defense
The FC Cincinnati defense has not always been something to write home about this season, but of late, there have been encouraging signs of improvement. On Wednesday night against NYCFC, continuing that improvement and strong play will be key to success… especially considering the last time these two teams played, FC Cincinnati needed to score four times just to eke out a draw.
Fortunately, things are better now than then.
In the last seven games, FC Cincinnati have conceded more than two goals just once, and have conceded just nine goals total. Not a perfect rate, but a far more respectable one than there have been at times this year.
That performance is a positive feeling for FCC players, and they have a similar sense that there is more work they can do to get better.
“I think we feel like we've turned the tide now. Gelling more and more often, and obviously in the beginning of the year, there were a lot of injuries, suspension, so it wasn't ideal. But I feel now guys are really starting to come together as a team,” FC Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga said after the 1-1 draw in Orlando over the weekend. “I think slowly but surely, if we keep putting the work in on the pitch and focus on ourselves, the results will come.”
The Machine
Since returning to action this summer after the mid-season summer stoppage, Pavel Bucha has been a man on fire for FC Cincinnati. The Czech midfielder and wingback has had six goal contributions in seven games and has been a 90-minute contributor whenever his coaches ask that of him, no matter the circumstances or position.
This past week, FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noon gave him high praise, calling him “a machine” for his efforts and for seemingly never getting tired, no matter the distance he covers or the rest he gets.
Bucha has always been a key contributor to the team and never needed to be a guy who gets on the scoresheet to prove that. But of late, his scoring has added a new dynamic to the game that teams have to keep an eye on, further cementing himself as one of the top players for FC Cincinnati.
“It certainly gives opponents something to think about. Obviously, a lot of the attention is going to be on Evander, on Kévin Denkey, guys that have had a majority of the contributions, and we need to have more guys step up and contribute goals and assists,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan said of Bucha. “That helps take a little bit of the stress and pressure off of Kévin and Evander at times, and Pavel's been consistent in his production in the last few months, leading up to the break, post break. So pleased with that output, and we know he can do it in multiple positions. He's shown that.”
Noonan also praised Bucha’s ability to play with and use the gravity created by star players. A skill set that has allowed him to succeed personally, but more importantly, help the team perform better.
“Smart players understand how to gain advantages throughout the game, and if that means getting the ball to your most impactful players in certain moments, or moving off the ball when guys like Evander are on the ball and have the creativity and ability to unlock a defense. Pavel has a good understanding of these things, and that's why I think he's found success in different ways because he can make adjustments,” Noonan explained. “He has a good game understanding of, okay, ‘this is Evander in this position. This is where I should move off the ball. This is us attacking with speed. This is where the attention is going to be. This is my movement to potentially have an impact on a play.’ So I think it just goes down to game understanding and a soccer IQ that allows guys like Pavel to be impactful.”
Pavel Bucha is a key player in every FC Cincinnati match, making him a factor to keep an eye on in this one, particularly with a short turnaround between games.
FC Cincinnati kicks off with NYCFC at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night at TQL Stadium. For more information on how to watch, or for matchday information at TQL Stadium all season, click here.
