FC Cincinnati, Minnesota United meet at Allianz Field with playoff seeding at stake

Welcome back to the stretch run into the MLS Cup playoffs, FC Cincinnati fans.

You should remember this time of year well. After all, your club has been a central figure in the run into the postseason the last two years.

FC Cincinnati has certainly earned that distinction again in 2024, and after passing perhaps its biggest remaining test of the regular season on Saturday with a scoreless draw against Columbus Crew at TQL Stadium, FCC turns to Wednesday's road match at Minnesota United FC's Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Unlike in 2023, though, FC Cincinnati isn't coasting into the playoffs with a large lead in the standings. Barring a huge collapse, the Supporters' Shield will soon be turned over to Inter Miami CF, the current league leaders. FCC is also fighting off Columbus for second place in the Eastern Conference, which would guarantee Cincinnati hosting rights for the Eastern Conference semifinal round of the playoffs.

"Of course, this time last year, we were in Miami's position, trying to create as much separation as possible to secure a Supporters' Shield," FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said during a Monday news conference. "So, I like that it's a different feeling and a different challenge for us with the current state of our group in where we're at. I think there's also just more moving parts and pieces to new additions and trying to find, you know, consistency with you know, availability and incorporating new pieces to help us with this stretch run. So it certainly feels different. And I think it's good that we have to feel a little bit more pressure to try to secure a top seed."

Noonan stated Monday that his roster as healthier and freer from suspensions than it had been in months, so the club is in a good position to begin to try to piece together a strong run ahead of the playoffs.

Of course, the trip to Minnesota is the middle game of three that FCC will play in an eight-day stretch. A match at Nashville SC on Saturday looms over the midweek contest.

Minnesota might be the perfect opponent for the middle game of a three-match period, though, as the "Loons" are 5-4-5 at Allianz Field this season. FC Cincinnati has been dominant on the road this year, posting a 9-3-1 record away from TQL Stadium in league play.

Minnesota United FC MLS standings

Minnesota United started out the year on a strong run of form, winning eight times and drawing four additional matches over its first 16 games (8-3-4). The "Loons" were firmly wedged in the conversation among early-season Supporters' Shield contenders under first-year head coach Eric Ramsay , who was previously an assistant on Erik ten Hag's staff at Manchester United FC.

Then came Minnesota's slide. The club took one point from eight matches from June 16 to July 18. That run included a six-match losing streak. So, today, Minnesota finds itself in a wild card position as the Western Conference's No. 9 team − even after winning three of its last four matches.

The upshot of Minnesota's situation is that it's five points clear of 10th-place FC Dallas, and one point back of behind No. 8 Portland Timbers. All of that means it has some cushion in the ninth position, and it could conceivably overtake Portland, which would put it in line to host the wild-card play-in game.

If the Loons really went on a run, they could lock in a spot in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs, which would guarantee it one home game as part of the three-game series to begin the postseason. The club is currently five points back of the No. 7 spot in the west.

Bongokuhle Hlongwane, of South Africa, is leading Minnesota with 10 goals in 2024 while Canadian international Tani Oluwaseyi has eight goals. Robin Los of Finland has dished out the most assists (10).

Defender Michael Boxall represented New Zealand's men's national team against the U.S. in a Sept. 10 friendly at TQL Stadium.

"Well, I think there's similarities (to FC Cincinnati) just with new pieces, and then, you know, finding their rhythm," Noonan said of Minnesota. "So, you know, smaller sample size, but you see the impact that (Kelvin) Yeboah is having up top. You know, (Joaquín) Pereyra just getting into the mix with their group. Took a different shape to begin the St. Louis game, but then a shape, you know, after the break that looked more familiar to the Seattle and San Jose games. But you know, they can adjust, much like Columbus with their pieces. And in game if something's not working, you could see that they're ready to adapt."

Yeboah, 24, of Ghana, and formerly of Genoa in the Italian top-flight of soccer, signed for Minnesota as a designated player during this past summer's transfer window. In just three matches with the club, he's logged three goals.

Pereyra, 25, of Argentina, was also signed as a designated player just prior to the transfer window closing in mid-August.

FC Cincinnati vs Minnesota United

Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET | Allianz Field; St. Paul, Minnesota.

Broadcast: Apple TV MLS Season Pass

All-time series: Wednesday marks the fifth meeting between Cincinnati and Minnesota, FCC’s most-played Western Conference opponent. The Loons lead the all-time series, 3-1-0.

Cincinnati.com prediction: FC Cincinnati 2, Minnesota United FC 1

FC Cincinnati

Record (MLS): 16-8-2, 52 points; Second place in Eastern Conference

Goals for: 48 (Tied for No. 3 in east; No. 8 in MLS)

Goals against: 36 (No. 5 in east; No. 7 in MLS)

Head coach : Pat Noonan, third season as Cincinnati manager

Projected starting XI : Roman Celentano (GK), Miles Robinson, Ian Murphy, Chidozie Awaziem, DeAndre Yedlin, Yamil Asad, Obinna Nwobodo, Pavel Bucha, Luciano Acosta, Luca Orellano, Kevin Kelsy.

Minnesota United FC

Record (MLS): 11-11-6, 39 points; Ninth place in Western Conference

Goals for: 47 (No. 6 in west; No. 10 in MLS)

Goals against: 46 (No. 9 in west; No. 19 in MLS)

Head coach : Eric Ramsay, first season as Minnesota manager

Projected starting XI : Dayne St. Clair (GK), Devin Padelford, Miguel Tapias, Michael Boxall, Jefferson Díaz, Wil Trapp, Hassani Dotson, Joaquín Pereyra, Robin Lod, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Kelvin Yeboah.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati, Minnesota United meet at Allianz Field with playoff seeding at stake