CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati has reached the point of the season where there is very little room for wasted opportunities.
The Orange and Blue entered Saturday at 8-9-9 with 33 points, sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference but tied on points with the teams occupying the eighth and ninth spots. That keeps the club firmly in the middle of a crowded postseason race.
That makes the trip to Atlanta all the more important if FCC wants to get October started in the right direction.
Cincinnati entered the break on a disappointing note, losing 3-1 at CF Montréal after previously earning draws against Charlotte and Houston. The result extended a difficult stretch away from TQL Stadium and kept FCC from creating any separation in the standings.
Atlanta has problems of its own.
The Five Stripes enter Saturday at 7-14-6 with 27 points, sitting 14th in the Eastern Conference and six points behind Cincinnati. Atlanta has won only once in its last five matches, but the club added a lot of talent during the summer and remains dangerous enough to punish a poor performance.
Miguel Almirón, Alexey Miranchuk, and Breel Embolo give Atlanta quality in the attacking third. Pat Noonan pointed this week to the experience and talent Atlanta has added throughout its lineup, making the Five Stripes a much more dangerous opponent than their record might suggest.
The Orange and Blue should at least have more defensive options than they did earlier in the season. David Doudera, Julián Malatini, and Tyrell Malacia are all available after the international break, giving Noonan additional flexibility during what is about to become a very busy stretch.
Saturday begins a run of seven matches before the end of October. Cincinnati returns home Wednesday against New England, hosts Columbus in the Hell is Real derby on Oct. 18, and then welcomes D.C. United on Oct. 21 to complete a three-match homestand in seven days.
That makes getting something from Atlanta particularly important.
FCC beat Atlanta 2-0 in the season opener at TQL Stadium and has lost only once in the last nine meetings between the clubs. Cincinnati does not need anything fancy Saturday night. It simply needs to rediscover enough of its form to leave Georgia with points.
And, of course, to defend in the process.
Game Information
