MLS playoffs kick off with new format, a best-of-three first-round series
Major League Soccer's playoffs have a new twist this season: the opening round will be a best-of-three series.OCTOBER 27, 2023
FC CINCINNATI 18-5-11 · 3RD IN EASTERN CONFERENCE · ADVANCED TO PLAYOFF
18-5-11 · 3RD IN EASTERN CONFERENCE · ADVANCED TO PLAYOFF
Stiven Jimenez - Out for opener Jimenez (lower leg) is out for Sunday's clash with RBNY, according to the FC Cincinnati injury report.
Impact Jimenez will miss the first match in the best-of-three though there is a chance he could return later in the series. That said coming back from a fractured lower leg it's unlikely that Jimenez will be rushed into just his second appearance of the season in the playoffs.
OCTOBER 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Nick Hagglund - Added to injury report Hagglund (leg) was listed as questionable for Sunday's clash RBNY, according to the Cincinnati injury report.
Impact Hagglund is questionable for Sunday's clash with RBNY, which is particularly concerning since he was played for only a single minute on a 2-2 decision day draw with Atlanta. Hagglund is a crucial part of the first team and would be extremely hard to replace in the starting XI. If Hagglund is unable to go Sunday it would be Ian Murphy who gets the chance to start the playoff opener.
OCTOBER 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Santiago Arias - Officially questionable Arias (leg) is questionable for Sunday's clash with RBNY, according to the Cincinnati injury report.
Impact Arias is questionable Sunday due to a leg injury that has kept him training individually. The defender will hope to get back on the pitch for the playoffs, though if he can't go it would likely be Alvas Powell who is back in the starting XI.
OCTOBER 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls: How to watch, stream Round One Game 1 | MLSSoccer.com FC Cincinnati (No. 1) hope to become the ninth team in league history to complete an MLS Cup-Supporters' Shield double, a journey that begin...
OCTOBER 27, 2023 • MLSSOCCER.COM
Nick Hagglund - Given match to rest Hagglund played one minute in Saturday's 2-2 draw versus Atlanta United.
Impact Hagglund only came at the very end of the match as he was given the day to rest ahead of the playoffs. He has started 26 of the 27 games played, recording a goal with 112 clearances, 32 interceptions and 28 tackles (18 won).
OCTOBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Matt Miazga - Two clearances in draw Miazga generated two clearances and two interceptions in Saturday's 2-2 draw versus Atlanta United. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 73rd minute.
Impact Miazga managed to start in all matches played in this season, recording an average of five clearances per game. With 136 this year, it was among the league leaders and a career high, despite missing some time while with the USMNT during the Gold Cup in July.
OCTOBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Brandon Vazquez - Scoreless in three matches Vazquez registered one shot (zero on goal) in Saturday's 2-2 draw versus Atlanta United.
Impact Vazquez failed to record double digit goals after logging in 19 during the 2022 campaign. He had scored four in the last 12 games, generating 27 shots (15 on target) in that span. This is because Lucian Acosta has taken over as the main goal scorer and assister on the team with 19 goals and 10 assists this year.
OCTOBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Ian Murphy - Quiet on Saturday Murphy recorded one shot (zero on goal) in Saturday's 2-2 draw versus Atlanta United.
Impact Murphy started nine of the last 12 matches played, recording 23 clearances and 17 tackles (eight won) in that span. Prior to this, the defender had only started eight of his previous 11 games to open up the campaign.
OCTOBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Sergio Santos - One shot in draw Sergio Santos recorded one shot (zero on goal) and one cross (zero accurate) in Saturday's 2-2 draw versus Atlanta United.
Impact Gomes has been getting starts of late, starting four of the last six matches played. His only started a total of 11 games in 25 appearances, scoring four goals with one assist on the year.
OCTOBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Obinna Nwobodo - Registers three interceptions Nwobodo registered three interceptions and three clearances in Saturday's 2-2 draw versus Atlanta United.
Impact Nwobodo will end the regular season as a starter, making all 30 appearances in the starting XI. He also recorded two goals and three assists, his career high during just his second season in the MLS.
OCTOBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Stiven Jimenez - Remains in individual training Jimenez (lower leg) is in individual training Wednesday, Pat Brennan reports.
Impact Jimenez returned to individual training Wednesday, giving him a chance to get back on the pitch for the opening round of the playoffs. The midfielder has made just a single in 2023, and has only been in the first team squad three times all season. With that in mind the midfielder has next to no chance to see run in the playoffs.
OCTOBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Santiago Arias - Training individually Arias (leg) took part in individual training Wednesday, Pat Brennan reports.
Impact Arias was left training individually on the side during Wednesday's session. The hope is still to get the wing-back into the first team before the start of the playoffs, though if he can't go it would be Alvas Powell who gets the start.
OCTOBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Aaron Boupendza - Training fully Boupendza is training fully during Wednesday's session, Pat Brennan reports.
Impact Boupendza missed a Saturday clash with Atlanta on decision day after returning late from international duty. It appears the striker and the club have repaired that relationship, meaning Boupendza should be fully fit to kick off the playoffs for the newly-crowned Shield winners.
OCTOBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Roman Celentano - Allows two against Atlanta Celentano made four saves and conceded two goals during Saturday's 2-2 draw against Atlanta.
Impact Celentano got beaten twice in roughly half an hour but couldn't do much to prevent either goal. And the goalkeeper still found his way to make several nice interventions and leave the pitch as a net positive. Over the last four starts, Celentano had 11 saves, four goals allowed and two clean sheets.
OCTOBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Alvaro Barreal - Logs assist versus Atlanta Barreal made an assist, had three off-target shots, created six chances and sent in 14 crosses (seven accurate) during Saturday's 2-2 draw against Atlanta.
Impact Barreal was a huge threat on the attacking end, making a lot of plays and posting double-digit crosses, including the one that found Luciano Acosta's head for the goal that ended up being the one that sealed the 2-2 draw still in the first half. With five goals, six assists and 218 crosses, a top-five mark among all MLS players, Barreal will certainly be a heavily-deployed piece during the upcoming playoffs.
OCTOBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Luciano Acosta - Scores against Atlanta Acosta scored a goal off three shots (one on target), created five chances, sent in six crosses (three accurate) and suffered three fouls during Saturday's 2-2 draw against Atlanta...
Impact Acosta showed once again why he's a favorite to be named MLS MVP this year, using his skill and vision to generate several plays and even using his head to scored what ended up being an equalizer for Cincinnati despite being inches shorter than the defender he anticipated. This was the 17th goal of the regular season for the playmaker, who will be his team's biggest hope on their quest for a first MLS Cup win.
OCTOBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Alvas Powell - Logs assist versus Atlanta Powell delivered an assist, had one off-target shot, created three chances, sent in three crosses (one accurate) and made three tackles (two won) during Saturday's 2-2 draw against...
Impact Powell returned from his red-card suspension and had some kind of redemption here, assisting Dominique Badji for his side's first goal in the 25th minute and generating much more from the right flank. The full-back can be even more dangerous when used one line ahead as part of the midfield and he'll hope this helps him to get significant playing time during the upcoming playoffs.
OCTOBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Dominique Badji - Scores against Atlanta Badji scored a goal off three shots (two on target) during Saturday's 2-2 draw against Atlanta.
Impact Badji had his second start over the last three games and made most of the new opportunity by scoring his side's first goal with an easy slot-in in the 25th minute and being a threat during the rest of the contest. After struggling with performance issues last year and then missing time injured this year, the forward will hope this performance helps him to be deployed for extended minutes during the upcoming playoffs.
OCTOBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
MLS bans displays referencing Israel-Gaza war Major League Soccer introduced a temporary measure last week prohibiting fans attending matches from bringing signs, banners, flags or Tifos...
OCTOBER 22, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Giorgos Giakoumakis scores twice, Atlanta United ties FC Cincinnati Oct 21, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Atlanta United FC forward Giorgos Giakoumakis (7) battles for the ball against FC Cincinnati defender M...
OCTOBER 22, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Giorgos Giakoumakis scores twice, Atlanta United ties FC Cincinnati Oct 21, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Atlanta United FC forward Giorgos Giakoumakis (7) battles for the ball against FC Cincinnati defender M...
OCTOBER 22, 2023 • MIAMIHERALD.COM
FC Cincinnati vs. Atlanta United
OCTOBER 22, 2023 • YOUTUBE
Aaron Boupendza - Returns late Boupendza is out for Saturday's clash with Atlanta due to returning from international duty late, Laurel Pfahler reports.
Impact Boupendza is being held out of Saturday's match and didn't train throughout the week. His availability for the playoffs is uncertain though he is now back with the team and should be available moving forward, barring further discipline from the team.
OCTOBER 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
