FC Cincinnati trying to awaken offense in Game 3 vs. NYCFC

FC Cincinnati hope to continue the series trend of home team victories when they welcome New York City FC for Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series Saturday afternoon.

Last Saturday, Cincinnati traveled to the Bronx and couldn't stop a New York City attack that put three goals past the No. 3 seed. After two first-half goals by NYCFC, Cincinnati halved the deficit in the 65th minute with Luca Orellano's goal but couldn't find a second. A New York City penalty kick in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage from Santiago Rodriguez secured a third match for a place in the semifinal round.

Cincinnati has struggled to find the back of the net so far in the playoffs, scoring two goals in two matches.

"I don't expect us to score at ease," Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said. "That's just not how these games are played. But ... it was going to take a little bit more, and we just didn't finish some of those moments when it was 2-1 to level it in a better way or in a good enough way."

Counting the Leagues Cup group stage, this is the sixth time the clubs will have played this season. Saturday will be Luciano Acosta's fifth time playing NYCFC this season; he's already scored two goals and provided two assists, both assists coming in Games 1 and 2 of the playoff series.

NYCFC have been shut out in two of their past three matches.

"There are elements of that game, and the game at Cincy, that we have to go through to look at how we minimize the amount of pressure that we absorb and how we control Cincinnati in the moments where they become strong," NYCFC head coach Nick Cushing said.

That means the NYCFC backline has to live up to its regular-season form, allowing the third-fewest goals in the Eastern Conference (33). Thiago has led that defensive effort, starting 31 matches for New York and playing every minute of both playoff matches.

The winner of Saturday's match plays the New York Red Bulls in the semifinals after they knocked out the No. 2 seed Columbus Crew in the first round last Saturday.

--Field Level Media