NYCFC vs FC Cincinnati preview: Can the Pigeons find points?

New York City FC started the recent slate of home games on Saturday, and so far, things have not been pretty.  It was hopeful the Pigeons would return home and play better than they have on the road.  Unfortunately, they were proven wrong, and lost 3-1 to the Philadelphia Union.

Now, the Bronx side has to play FC Cincinnati again, for they will welcome the Ohio team to New York on Wednesday.  In MLS, the Orange and Blue is at the top of the Eastern Conference table, and looks to be unstoppable.  This is somewhat comical, for Cincinnati only beat NYCFC for the first time in the U.S. Open Cup less than a month ago. 

The difference in form between the two teams somewhat makes it difficult to believe that a win is possible for the home side.  Yes, some might argue the game against Philadelphia was one game, and NYCFC can win at home.  Yet, if there was going to be one loss, then it was expected it would be against Cincinnati.  Positivity is a hard thing to grasp at this time, even for the more positive supporters. 

Therefore, let’s look at the mid-week game.

When is the match between New York City FC and FC Cincinnati?

The match will take place on Wednesday, May 31, at 7:30 PM.

Where is the NYCFC game?

The game will take place in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium.

Where can fans watch the NYCFC game?

Fans can catch NYCFC on Apple TV via the MLS Season Pass.

What can New York City FC expect from Cincinnati?

New York City FC can expect an even harder game compared to the one in Cincinnati.  Again, FC Cincinnati currently sits in first place.  Since the two sides last met, they have also scored three goals in two of their last four matches in all competitions.  Moreover, they still have only lost once. 

Additionally, the Orange and Blue will put out a more formidable lineup compared to the last meeting.  It is expected that Luciano Acosta will start, and this would make life difficult on the pitch for NYCFC.

Plus, Cincinnati has Brandon Vazquez.  The forward now has four goals in all competitions, and has already scored against the Pigeons this year.  It would not be shocking for him to score in the Bronx, especially in the case of counterattacks and set pieces.  Once again, the NYCFC backline will have to work extremely hard in order to quiet down both Acosta and Vazquez, but can it be done?  Only time will tell. 

Which NYCFC player should supporters watch?

For this match, NYCFC supporters should watch Gabriel Pereira.  Currently, he is the top performer for the Pigeons, and scored this past weekend.  His urgency in the final third is always noticeable, and he is always looking for a chance to shoot.

Pereira continue to perform well, and refuses to back down.  Even if his teammates are not playing similar to his level, he still goes out and puts on a show.  This is something the others must look at, and remind themselves they cannot play poorly.  Pereira is putting in the work on the pitch, so everyone else must as well.

What is the prediction for New York City FC?

Times are not fun for New York City FC, but eventually the team must find the rainbow that leads to the pot of gold.  Of course, in this case, that pot of gold is all three points.

However, the scoring woes still exist, despite the team playing at home.  Also, there is the issue of defensive mistakes.  When all is said and done, the defense has played predominantly well this season, but it has been the small moments that have led to the losses, especially in the eyes of Nick Cushing. 

These mistakes though are not being fixed, and this now makes the defense look weak and vulnerable.  As a result, the prediction is another 3-1 loss for NYCFC.

As always, anything can happen in the beautiful game.  But even those who have told the other fans to give some time are starting to lose patience.  New York City FC has to find a win, but in reality, it is difficult to see that result against Cincinnati. In fact, it is hard to see a result where any points are earned.