For a second successive campaign, FC Cincinnati and the New York Red Bulls will meet in the opening round of the MLS Cup playoffs, with the first game of that best-of-three series taking place at TQL Stadium on Monday morning.

A 5-2 victory over Charlotte FC in the Widl card round sent the New York RB into the next stage, while the Supporters’ Shield winners played Atalanta United to a 2-2 draw in their final regular season encounter of 2023.

They claimed their first-ever trophy since entering Major League Soccer this year, but Cincinnati have work to do if they are to follow in the footsteps of Los Angeles FC and lift the MLS Cup as Supporters’ Shield winners.

The sophomore campaign for Pat Noonan as manager was even more memorable than his first one, as Cincinnati claimed an MLS club record 69 points in 2023, just four fewer than all-time single-season league record set by the New England Revolution in 2021.

With 20 wins during the 2023 regular season, the Orange and Blue have won as many MLS games this year as they had combined in their previous three regular seasons.

Monday will be the first time they host an MLS playoff game, and Cincy were nearly perfect at TQL Stadium during the recent domestic campaign, winning 13 of their 17 matches played in Cincinnati while suffering just two defeats.

Since exiting the Leagues Cup semi-finals in August, Cincinnati have been getting things done the hard way, conceding first in six of their last 10 MLS games but managing to come away with at least a point in four of those instances.

Noonan’s side won 14 regular season encounters this year by a single goal, while posting eight clean sheets on home soil.

The road to the playoffs in New Jersey has been much bumpier than any of their previous experiences, but when called upon, the New York RB have come through.

The Red Bulls were minutes away from seeing a 13-year playoff run end on Decision Day, but they made the most of their second chance this week, going up 3-0 at half time and cruising to a comfortable win against the Crown.

The kind of offensive output this team displayed against Charlotte has been a rarity for them domestically all season, as the Red Bulls notched a goal or fewer in 14 of their opening 16 league matches, although they have scored in four straight MLS contests, including eight goals in their last two games played at Red Bull Arena.

Monday will be their first post-season match away from home since 2021 and New York have lost five successive playoffs contests on the road, with the previous victory coming at Toronto during the 2017 Eastern Conference semi-finals, winning that match 1-0 but losing the tie on away goals.

Troy Lesesne’s side have been eliminated in three of their last four First Round playoff matches when scoring first, including last year against Cincinnati when they conceded twice in the final 16 minutes, losing 2-1.

Cincinnati vs. New York RB Head to head

In the 14 previous meetings between these two teams, Cincinnati have claimed five victories while New York RB have won six, and they have drawn in three. New York have scored 17 goals and conceded 15 in the process.

• 21/08/2022
  New York RB

  1

  Cincinnati

  1
  MLS
• 15/10/2022
  New York RB

  1

  Cincinnati

  2
  MLS
• 24/05/2023
  New York RB

  1

  Cincinnati

  1(P)
  US Open Cup
• 13/07/2023
  New York RB

  1

  Cincinnati

  2
  MLS
• 05/10/2023
  Cincinnati

  1

  New York RB

  2
  MLS