FC Cincinnati has fought tooth and nail with the rest in the East to earn their spot as a Supporters Shield contender and a top team in the East.
Cincinnati has had tough results sprinkled into their solid form this season, but they have put themselves in a solid position to be an MLS up favorite. Cincinnati had key moments this year that have propelled them into this spot.
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Solid play against top teams
Cincinnati has held its own against teams equal to them in the East this year. At the start of the year, they struggled with a four-to-one loss against the Philadelphia Union that looked like it could spiral the FCC out of control.
Since then, they have only dropped a few close games that haven’t been commonplace for the Orange and Blue.
Despite looking good against top teams, they have struggled against lower competition in the East, like Atlanta and Charlotte, who beat Cincinnati convincingly when they faced off in late March and early April.
The biggest test they had was against heated rival the Columbus Crew in their Hell is Real showdown in the Ohio State capital.
Cincinnati was outmatched as they were on their heels for nearly the entire game, as they struggled to find quality chances consistently. They managed to score a goal and end the game in a draw.
Cincinnati has a few blemishes on its record, but other than a few tough losses to start the year, they have shown good quality.
Convincing wins in their last three
Cincinnati needed a good showing in their last three matchups to get themselves ahead of teams like Nashville SC and Columbus, who have been top tier in the East this year. Those two squads and a few more convincing contenders have been waiting for Cincinnati to slip up and fall.
A one-nil win against a struggling New England squad after losing to a disappointing DC United squad was crucial to get back on track and hold off the sharks that are biting at their heels.
They needed more than just one win in this stretch; they smoked Montreal three to one in a game that was always in their control. Montreal has struggled this year in a way that has become normal for the team in French Canada.
The must-win was against a top team that has gotten comfortable at the top of the standings since becoming a team in 2017.
Orlando City has put itself in a spot to compete with the top of the East despite not being considered one of the top teams in its conference.
A quick goal before the first of two halves was called, say Cincinnati took a lead while Orlando was caught off guard, preparing to defend a free kick. Cincinnati earned their win late in the game to put themselves just one point out of the top spot of the East and the Supporters Shield.
After losing one of their top players, many questioned if they could contend for another year. This year has taught us that Cincinnati can reload its roster to compete in the East.
Main Photo
Credit IMAGO / NurPhoto
Recording Date 27.05.2025