Pat Noonan had some stern phrases for his FC Cincinnati gamers after their 3-3 draw with FC Dallas in midweek, labelling their second-half show as “embarrassing”.
Noonan watched on as his staff led 2-0 going into the break, earlier than Petar Musa and Anderson Julio hauled Dallas degree with 68 minutes gone within the contest.
Gerardo Valenzuela thought he had received the sport for Cincinnati 4 minutes from time, just for Sebastien Ibeagha to seize a late equaliser in second-half stoppage time.
Although Cincinnati sit second within the Japanese Convention standings after 16 video games, Noonan reiterated that his staff’s show within the second half confirmed how far they’re from changing into an actual staff that may compete this season.
“It was a story of two halves. We have been glorious within the first half, and we have been embarrassing within the second half,” Noonan mentioned.
“So it falls on me, as a result of there have been guys that had no concept how you can handle a two-goal lead and handle the momentum we had popping out of the break.
“So, there’ll be some good conversations round what we would like this to appear to be shifting ahead and what we need to accomplish, as a result of there have been guys that have been nowhere shut within the second half.
“You get the solutions from the video games, and like I mentioned, the second half reveals how far we’re away from changing into an actual staff.”
Closing from TQL. pic.twitter.com/M3LhKiwhhf
— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) Could 29, 2025
Noonan can be hoping for an improved show this weekend once they welcome D.C. United to the TQL Stadium, with the guests lastly ending their purpose drought in midweek.
Troy Lesesne’s staff have struggled with out high scorer Christian Benteke, failing to attain in four-straight video games previous to their 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution.
Gabriel Pirani snatched some extent for his staff in second-half stoppage time, together with his first purpose of the season ending D.C.’s 495-minute scoreless rut within the MLS.
Lesesne, although, at all times knew of Pirani’s high quality, saying: “We wanted a particular play. And Gabby does make particular performs.
“We wanted that second as a result of everybody recognised it might have been a match the place it ends 1-0, and it’s a distinct dialog.
“Now he’s getting again within the combine. It is a huge second for him, and you’ll see what it means to him, too.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
FC Cincinnati – Gerardo Valenzuela
Valenzuela has scored three targets in his final 4 matches, together with in every of the final two.
The 20-year-old might additionally turn out to be the youngest Cincinnati participant to attain a purpose in three consecutive regular-season video games this weekend.
D.C. United – Gabriel Pirani
With Benteke nonetheless a few weeks away from a return to motion, Pirani can be seeking to make an influence in his absence after his substitute cameo final trip.
Certainly, regardless of being launched within the 81st minute, he registered team-high totals for photographs (three), whereas solely Peglow (three), who began the sport, created extra possibilities than the Brazilian (two, degree with Hosei Kijima and Jared Stroud).
MATCH PREDICTION: CINCINNATI WIN
Cincinnati have recorded back-to-back wins over D.C. United, with each victories coming at Audi Subject. D.C. have additionally misplaced solely certainly one of their seven all-time visits to the TQL Stadium (W3 D3).
Noonan’s staff are additionally unbeaten in 11 straight house matches in all competitions (W6 D5) following a 3-3 draw with Dallas. That is Cincinnati’s second-longest house unbeaten run in all competitions as an MLS membership after a 20-match stretch from February to August 2023.
D.C., in the meantime, have received solely certainly one of their final seven away matches (D2 L4), although they did handle a scoreless draw at Nashville of their final match on the street. The 0-0 draw was their first street clear sheet since a scoreless match at Cincinnati in March 2024, ending a run of twenty-two immediately matches permitting a purpose.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
FC Cincinnati – 61.3%
Draw – 20.4%
D.C. United – 18.3%