FC Cincinnati, NYCFC clash in matchup of East playoff teams

New York City FC are back in the playoffs after an impressive goal-scoring display.

Facing a short turnaround, NYCFC hopes to keep the offense flowing against one of the Eastern Conference's top teams on Wednesday night when they host third-place FC Cincinnati in Harrison, N.J.

NYCFC (12-11-8, 44 points) are in fifth place because they have two more wins than the New York Red Bulls (10-7-14, 44 points). NYCFC are two points behind fourth-place Orlando City and have stayed in the mix for a top-four playoff seed despite a lengthy gap between victories.

Before scoring four goals in the first half of Saturday's 5-1 victory of the Red Bulls in Harrison, NYCFC had been 0-3-6 since July 3 and had scored 11 goals in that span.

Alonso Martinez registered his fourth career multi-goal game -- all since May 31 -- by scoring in the seventh minute and five minutes into first-half stoppage time. Maxi Moralez also scored while Andres Perea found the back of the net while filling in for Santiago Rodriguez, who should return after missing the contest due to yellow card accumulation.

"We're New York, and I just said to the team, play like New York and play for those fans because we've had some good times, and we've had some downs as well this year," NYCFC coach Nick Cushing said. "... Tough times make top teams, and I believe that."

Cincinnati (17-9-5, 56 points) will finish second or third but is slumping, going 2-5-2 in its past nine contests since a 6-1 rout of Inter Miami on July 6.

Cincinnati also has scored five goals in its past four matches since a 4-1 win over CF Montreal on Aug. 31. Its troubles continued with a 2-1 loss to visiting LAFC on Saturday in a game where coach Pat Noonan described their passing for the first 35 minutes as "terrible."

"We just couldn't get to the ball. We were pretty poor on the ball," Cincinnati's DeAndre Yedlin said. "I think that didn't help as well, then we turned the ball over and we weren't in good spots defensively to be able to stop the counter."

Luca Orellano scored a tying goal in the 61st minute but Cincinnati conceded the tiebreaking goal 12 minutes later.

--Field Level Media