This Sunday, FC Cincinnati aims to match Inter Miami’s pace at the summit of the Eastern Conference as they jet off to Dallas.
Head coach Pat Noonan has voiced that self-pity isn’t on the agenda despite recent setbacks, including a 2-1 loss to the New England Revolution. The game saw turmoil after a red card was shown to Obinna Nwobodo shortly after Yamil Asad cut the lead in half.
This weekend, they encounter FC Dallas, with Noonan demanding a robust show for the fans, hinting at a necessity to vastly improve. He acknowledges the team’s subpar performance earlier, clarifying that responsibility begins with him.
Noonan reflected on the match’s tactics, criticizing their predictable use of space and emphasizing resilience and the refusal to indulge in self-pity. Meanwhile, Dallas is bouncing back from their first loss in three games after the Seattle Sounders overcame a two-goal deficit to claim victory in the dying minutes.
The Toros now sit in 11th in the Western Conference but are hopeful of reigniting their form as they chase play-off glory.
Notable figures to watch include Luciano Acosta of Dallas, whose assist prowess continues to shine, marking a significant impact with his third season reaching at least 15 assists. In contrast, Cincinnati’s Peter Musa eyes a milestone, nearing a 10-goal season that could see him match a record not touched since 2017.
Their face-off marks only their second encounter; Cincinnati has the opportunity to settle scores from their defeat in August 2019. Impressively, Cincinnati has strung together five consecutive away victories, a club record.
Contrastingly, the Toros boast a sturdy record at home, unbeaten in seven fixtures and having only faced two losses in their last 21 home games across all competitions since last year’s Leagues Cup.
Predicted probabilities suggest a Cincinnati win at 42.6%, a Dallas victory at 32%, and a draw’s likelihood standing at 25.4%.
