In a long season of 34 games over eight months, there are going to be ups and downs.
FC Cincinnati has had plenty of momentum swings, great stretches and bad performances. They have had very late goals to win games and given up late scores to lose or draw a game.
Over a long season, a soccer team hopes the good moments outshine the bad ones. For FC Cincinnati, it all added up to the second-best record in Major League Soccer this season, 20-9-5 (65 points) and only one point behind Philadelphia for the MLS Supporters’ Shield trophy.
Now there is only room for great stretches when Cincinnati takes on archrival Columbus in the first round of the MLS playoffs. They will play a best-of-three series, starting Oct. 27 at TQL Stadium. They play Game 2 in Columbus Nov. 2, then a deciding third game Nov. 8 at TQL, if necessary.
A single game can be decided by one great play or one big mistake. Cincinnati has won a lot of games this year with its star offensive players making an incredible play, but they have also lost points after crucial errors.
“It’s a different environment now,” said FCC’s Evander. “The playoff format, it’s different, because you cannot make those mistakes that you would make in the regular season. You don’t have time to recover anymore. You make a mistake, you’re out, so we have to bring more attention to the games.”
Columbus finished seventh in the Eastern Conference with a record of 14-8-12, but they have an all-time record in MLS play of 8-3-6 against Cincy. That includes a 4-2 win at TQL Stadium and a 1-1 draw at Lower.com Field.
“I think that we know how they play, we know how they like to have the ball and try to create chances on sharp passes and playing behind, but I think we are well prepared,” Evander said. “I think we have the experience against them during the regular season, one not so good, one was okay, but we always can do better. It’s playoff time. It’s going to be a different game than was in a regular season, and you need to be 100% prepared for those type of games.”
Cincinnati is 9-5-3 at home this season, and 11-4-2 on the road, so they know they have to be ready for the first game at TQL Stadium. Cincy lost three home games in a row by 1-0 scores in August that helped cost them the Shield trophy.
“We’ve been pretty solid throughout the season,’ Evander said. “I think our away games have been really solid. I think it could have been better at home. We’re going to have the home-field advantage so we need to use that, hopefully make the fans happy.”
“Them being a rival just adds that much pressure and more stakes to the games,” said FCC defender Miles Robinson. “Obviously having the first game at TQL is something that we’ve worked towards. Teams recognize that it’s do or die. You realize if you don’t perform well or you make a mistake, it’s the end of the season. So it brings a lot more focus but also a lot more intensity.”
In both games against the Crew this year, Cincy scored in the opening minutes of the game but couldn’t hold the lead. In the home loss, Cincy scored twice in the first five minutes before the Crew scored four unanswered goals.
Columbus had had its ups and downs, too, but finished six games over .500 and had one of its highest point totals in franchise history in the deep and competitive Eastern Conference.
“It’s a great talented group of players that like to play on the ball,” Robinson said. “Great coach. Obviously, MLS has a lot of great teams this year and just to be in the playoffs in general says a lot about the group. I think for us it’s just about focusing on ourselves.”
Cincinnati doesn’t have a lot of players who were on the Supporters’ Shield winners that lost to Columbus in the 2023 Eastern Conference final, but they have a lot of players who know how to win.
“It’s great that we have a veteran core to the group, a lot of leadership, a lot of experienced players,” Robinson said. “That definitely brings some ease to the tension, confidence in the overall group. This group has a lot of confidence. It’s just about maintaining our stride and recognizing that we are a good team.”
FC Cincinnati players keep focus on team goals
Evander was named a finalist for MLS Most Valuable Player Oct. 23 after posting 18 goals and 15 assists this season. Defender Nick Hagglund was named a finalist for Comeback Player of the Year after coming back from a serious ankle injury this season, as well as fractured ribs.
“I’m really happy. Really pleased for being nominated again,” Evander said. “Did a lot of work during the regular season. I always made it clear that my main goal was the Supporters’ Shield, but that didn’t happen. But still, we have the playoffs and we can go for the MLS Cup.”
Robinson, who plays alongside Hagglund, appreciated the hometown veteran’s leadership.
“He’s come back from a lot every year,” Robinson said. “It just shows you the type of person he is. He doesn’t let bumps in the road really slow him down. He’s just raring to go and always fighting through a lot of tough moments. He’s a veteran and he’s a great guy.”