FC Cincinnati vs New York City FC Prediction 28.10.2024 | MLS Cup Playoffs

• Competition: MLS Cup Playoffs - First round 1st leg
• Date: Monday, 28th, October 2024
• Kickoff: 22:45 UK / 23:45 CEST
• Venue: TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, OH)

FC Cincinnati and New York City FC will clash at TQL Stadium on Tuesday night, with both teams aiming to secure a favorable result in the first leg of the MLS playoffs round of 16.

Last season, the Knifey Lions delivered a remarkable campaign in the MLS by amassing the highest point total across all 29 teams in both conferences, but this year they haven't been able to replicate that same level of performance, though they still managed to secure a playoff spot for the third consecutive time. In the previous campaign, FC Cincinnati were stopped short in the semifinals by Columbus Crew, who eventually lifted the trophy, meaning they’ll be pushing for another strong playoff push this time around, determined to exceed expectations and seize the championship.

Their first playoff hurdle will be New York City FC, a team that reached the final four in 2022 and claimed the MLS title just a year prior, so it’s clear they are viewed as strong contenders for domestic glory. However, the Pigeons' performance in the regular season has been less than stellar this year, as they only finished sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a haul of 50 points, yet there’s little room for discontent, especially when they remember they missed out on the playoff race entirely last year.

FC Cincinnati vs New York City FC Betting Tips: X2 (DOUBLE CHANCE)

Although FC Cincinnati enters as the favored side with the benefit of playing at home, we’re skeptical of their ability to capitalize fully and see this first leg ending in a stalemate at best. Above all, the Knifey Lions have struggled significantly to produce solid results at home lately, with the 4-1 dismantling of Montreal on September 1 standing as their sole triumph in the last six MLS home games while they faced defeat on four occasions, which is a worrying sign ahead of their next challenge. It's undeniable that they wrapped up the regular season with nine points behind Cincinnati, but New York City FC enters this playoff battle in a significantly better rhythm gained over the past few weeks, having recorded three wins on the bounce - scoring 3+ goals in each match - before succumbing to a 0-2 defeat against Montreal last time out. When these teams clashed earlier this season, the Pigeons came out on top in an exhilarating five-goal thriller, which leads us to believe that this matchup will also feature plenty of drama, yet we think the inspired-Alonso Martinez New York has all the tools necessary to remain undefeated at TQL Stadium.