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From MLS
Cincinnati Cinderella Story Continues in Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs
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Pictured: FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan. Photo Credits: Aaron Doster (USA Today / IMAGN).
In their first year with the club this season, general manager Chris Albright and head coach Pat Noonan have flipped FC Cincinnati from a three-time wooden spoon winner to a top-three scoring side that’s preparing for its first-ever Audi MLS Cup Playoffs appearance.A two-time MLS Cup-winning forward himself (Columbus Crew, 2008 and LA Galaxy, 2012), Noonan has coached this season’s FC Cincinnati attack to career-best seasons. Forwards Brandon Vázquez (18 goals, 8 assists) and Brenner (18 goals, 6 assists), and midfielder Luciano ‘Lucho’ Acosta (10 goals, 19 assists) combined for 46 goals during the 2022 campaign, which surpassed the club’s overall team goal totals from each of the three previous seasons (37 goals, 2021; 12 goals, 2022; 31 goals, 2019). Albright, a three-time MLS Cup winning defender to his own credit, strengthened Cincinnati’s backline with the introduction of United States Men’s National Team defender Matt Miazga and Newcomer of the Year nominee Obinna Nwobodo, who have helped improve the club’s goals against average from 2.179 to 1.3 goals per game. During their four seasons together with the Philadelphia Union, Albright and Noonan helped lead the Philadelphia Union to its first-ever playoff win over the New York Red Bulls. Now, they’ll have the opportunity to do the same for Cincinnati against the Red Bulls this Saturday (12 p.m. ET, UniMas / TUDN / MLSsoccer.com / MLS App). |