Pat Noonan heaped reward on Orlando Metropolis SC, together with his FC Cincinnati facet set to host them in MLS motion on Sunday.
Cincinnati are on the lookout for their third consecutive league win, and their fourth in six MLS outings, having overwhelmed Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2 final trip.
Returning to TQL Stadium after their fruitful away win, the Orange and Blue will likely be hoping they will proceed to construct momentum going into the playoffs.
Regardless of sitting second within the Jap Convention, Noonan’s facet have gained simply twice of their final six house video games, failing to attain in three.
In the meantime, Orlando are in scorching pursuit of a playoff spot of their very own, as they occupy sixth place within the East.
“On our facet of issues, we’ve had a few stronger performances with attacking concepts, and the way we’re attending to aim and ending performs off,” mentioned Noonan.
“On the defensive facet of the ball, the final couple of video games, there are locations we’ve wanted to do higher.
“They’re a really sturdy crew. Now we have good match ups in opposition to them. They’ve had quite a lot of consistency with their group, personnel-wise.
“They’ve quite a lot of actually sturdy gamers. They’ve been the most effective groups in our league for years in my view.”
Sunday Evening Soccer pic.twitter.com/gqCgiz3cyC
— Orlando Metropolis SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 27, 2025
After a last-gasp Duncan McGuire winner clinched Orlando a 3-2 win over Nashville SC of their final outing, Oscar Pareja will likely be longing for his crew to complete the season strongly, and consolidate postseason place.
“In opposition to Cincinnati, we are able to see they’ve an excellent crew,” Pareja mentioned.
“They’ve strikers that they paid some huge cash for, however we’re a crew which are going to be ready.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
FC Cincinnati – Evander
Evander has been a revelation since signing for the Orange and Blue from the Portland Timbers in January.
The Brazilian, who assisted all three of Cincinnati’s targets in opposition to the Galaxy final weekend, has registered 30 aim involvements (17 targets and 13 assists) in MLS this time period.
Orlando Metropolis – Marco Pasalic
Pasalic has began in all however one among Orlando’s MLS video games this time period, with the Germany-born Croatia worldwide chipping in with 15 aim involvements (11 targets and 4 assists) in his maiden MLS marketing campaign, having joined from HNK Rijeka in January.
Pasalic scored the Lions’ solely aim of their 2-1 defeat to Cincinnati again in June.
MATCH PREDICTION: FC CINCINNATI WIN
The away facet has gained every of the final 4 conferences between Cincinnati and Orlando (two wins every). Noonan’s crew need to win consecutive matches within the fixture for the second time by both membership, after they gained each matches within the 2022 season.
And after their 3-2 win over the Galaxy, Cincinnati have now gained seven regular-season matches when conceding a number of targets because the starting of 2024. Over the past two seasons, the one MLS crew with extra such wins is the Columbus Crew with 9.
Orlando, in the meantime, ended their five-match winless run throughout all competitions with a house win over Nashville. It was the Lions’ 14th recreation this season with a minimum of three targets (all competitions), tying with final season for probably the most in a yr within the crew’s MLS period.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
FC Cincinnati – 44.6%
Draw – 26.9%
Orlando Metropolis – 28.6%
