MLS CUP PLAYOFFS
Possible Cincinnati and Columbus Crew lineups in the Eastern Conference final
Pat Noonan’s Supporters Shield winners are looking to book a place in MLS Cup for the first time the team’s history.
This weekend FC Cincinnati host Columbus Crew in the first Conference final in their history.
Pat Noonan’s side cruised to the Supporters Shield title in 2023, finishing with one of the highest MLS points totals ever recorded. They boast the MLS MVP Luciano Acosta and Noonan was recently named MLS Coach of the Year.
Cincinnati have been hotly tipped to go all the way in the playoffs this year, but they face a Columbus side that ranks among the most dangerous in MLS. It is less than a year since head coach Wilfried Nancy took over but the Frenchman has had an incredible impact.
Columbus finished the regular season as the league’s top scorers and they have continued that form into the post-season, hitting ten goals in four games.
With all eyes on the East to kick off Conference finals weekend, here’s the team news for Cincinnati and Columbus...
FC Cincinnati team news
They cruised through the regular season but Cincinnati’s post-season journey has not been without incident. They needed a contentious late winner from Yerson Mosquera to beat Philadelphia Union in the last round, but it was their Round One victory over New York Red Bulls that sparked real controversy.
Matt Miazga, recently named MLS Defender of the Year, picked up two bookings in the win over NYRB, ensuring that he was suspended for last weekend’s game against Philadelphia. However the 28-year-old made matters worse by allegedly entering the officials’ locker room after the game to remonstrate with the referee.
Earlier this week it was announced that Miazga had been hit with an additional three-game suspension for his post-match antics. He joins fellow defender Nick Hagglund (hamstring injury) on the unavailable list for Cincy. Noonan’s squad is boosted by the return of midfielder Obinna Nwobodo from injury, however.
FC Cincinnati predicted team: Roman Celentano - Ian Murphy, Yerson Mosquera, Alvas Powell - Alvaro Berreal, Junior Moreno, Obinna Nwobodo, Raymon Gaddis - Luciano Acosta, Aaron Boupendza, Brandon Vazquez
Columbus Crew team news
Wilfried Nancy’s first year in charge has exceeded all pre-season expectations, transforming a team that failed to qualify for the playoffs in either of the past two seasons. He has introduced a front-foot 3-4-3 system that plays to the strengths of talismanic striker Cucho Hernandez.
For the Eastern Conference final their only expected absentee is Will Sands, who has missed the past six months due to injury. This means that Nancy is free to name the same team that triumphed over Supporters Shield runners-up Orlando City in the semi-final.
However, with a place in MLS Cup at stake, Nancy may opt for the more experienced Christian Ramirez for Saturday’s game. Romanian winger Alexandru Matan was preferred for the Orlando game but Ramirez has been a solid player for the Crew this season.
Columbus Crew predicted team: Patrick Schulte - Malte Amundsen, Rudy Camacho, Steven Moreira - Yeboah, Aidan Morris, Darlington Nagbe, Mohamed Farsi - Diego Rossi, Cucho Hernande, Christian Ramirez