CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati accomplished one of its primary objectives Saturday afternoon, defeating Philadelphia Union 1-0 to clinch a fifth consecutive MLS Cup Playoff appearance. But with one regular-season match remaining, the Orange and Blue still have plenty at stake when they host Nashville SC on Decision Day.
Cincinnati enters Saturday's match in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with 46 points, two ahead of the Columbus Crew and three ahead of Orlando City. Although its postseason berth is secure, Cincinnati has not yet guaranteed itself a place in the best-of-three opening round.
The top seven teams in each conference advance directly to the first round, while the eighth- and ninth-place finishers must play a single-elimination Wild Card match on November 18. For Cincinnati, avoiding that additional match would eliminate the risk of having its postseason end before the first round begins.
A victory over Nashville would settle the issue, giving Cincinnati 49 points and guaranteeing a top-seven finish regardless of what Columbus and Orlando do in their final matches. A draw or loss, however, would leave the Orange and Blue dependent on other results.
The assignment won't be easy. Nashville has already secured the Supporters' Shield and enters Decision Day with 74 points and a 22-3-8 record. The club has scored 69 goals while allowing just 25, giving Cincinnati one of its most difficult defensive assignments of the season.
For the Orange and Blue, Saturday's 1-0 victory over Philadelphia provided some encouragement. Roman Celentano recorded a clean sheet, while Ayoub Jabbari scored the deciding goal in the 70th minute. It was the kind of defensive performance Cincinnati will need against Nashville's potent attack.
Cincinnati also has enough offensive talent to challenge the league leaders. Kévin Denkey has scored 17 goals this season, while Evander has contributed 14 goals and 17 assists. Getting both players involved will be important against a Nashville defense that has allowed fewer than one goal per match.
Beyond playoff positioning, Saturday gives Cincinnati an opportunity to establish momentum heading into the postseason. The Orange and Blue have experienced an uneven regular season, but consecutive victories over Philadelphia and Nashville would provide an encouraging finish before the playoffs begin.
Cincinnati has already earned the right to continue its season. Now the challenge is making sure the path through the playoffs is as favorable as possible, starting with Saturday's 4 p.m. ET regular-season finale at TQL Stadium.
