FC Cincinnati prepares to face Toronto FC on Sunday night after a tough 1-0 defeat against Minnesota United, which marked the coldest match in team history at 20 degrees.
Cincinnati currently holds a record of 1-1-0 but has yet to score in the first 80 minutes of a game. They aim to improve their early offensive performance.
The extra day between matches this week may assist in addressing their slow starts. Head coach Pat Noonan mentioned, “I liked what we’ve seen this week,” emphasizing the focus on video review to hone in on areas needing improvement ahead of important upcoming games.
Cincinnati will benefit from the expected return of Evander and Matt Miazga. Noonan noted that Miazga performed well in training recently, while Evander’s availability will be assessed closer to game time.
While FC Cincinnati seeks its first first-half goal of the season, Toronto FC is in search of its first win.
Toronto (0-2-0, 0 points) comes off a 3-0 loss to Vancouver and hopes recent acquisition Josh Sargent will energize the team. Head coach Robin Fraser stated, “Josh can do everything,” highlighting his versatility on the field.
This match will be Toronto’s third consecutive game on the road to start the MLS season, while Cincinnati remains unbeaten in their last eight encounters against Toronto.