Toronto FC v FC Cincinnati: Noonan looks to build on ´best attacking performance of the year´

FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan has urged his side to build on what he believes to be their “best attacking performance of the year” when they face Toronto FC on Saturday.

Cincinnati lost 4-2 to the New York Red Bulls last time out, despite producing more expected goals (2.8 xG to 2) and creating more big chances (six to two).

That defeat left Cincinnati 10th in the Eastern Conference, having scored nine goals in their opening six games of the season and conceded 15.

While Noonan wants Cincinnati to continue their attacking displays, he insisted they must improve defensively, having conceded the third-most goals in the East in 2026.

“In a game where there was a lot of attacking opportunities for both teams, they took their chances better than we did,” said Noonan when reflecting on the defeat to the Red Bulls.

“There was certainly enough out there as far as our attacks and moments to finish plays off, and they got more of those moments right.

“With the ball, it was a lot of good things despite only scoring two goals, probably our best attacking performance of the year in regular season play.

“Defensively, we’re obviously leaking too many goals, and that’s happening in a variety of ways.”

We’re this close to matchday. pic.twitter.com/AqnuinVhBY

— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) April 8, 2026

Toronto, meanwhile, came from two goals down to beat the Colorado Rapids 3-2 last time out, their first two-goal comeback win in regular-season MLS play since 2014.

The Reds had lost the previous 52 times they trailed by multiple goals at any point in a regular-season match dating back to August 2021.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Toronto FC – Josh Sargent

Josh Sargent made his second start for Toronto following his move from Norwich City in their win over Colorado.

The 26-year-old scored and assisted in the victory, after being substituted at half-time in his only other start in MLS this term (against Columbus Crew).

FC Cincinnati – Kyle Smith

Kyle Smith became the second Cincinnati player to score both a goal and an own goal in the same match (Dominique Badji in 2023).

Smith’s goal came six minutes, 52 seconds after scoring on the wrong end versus the Red Bulls.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Toronto have won three of their last four matches (D1), including the last two in a row, after winning just three of their previous 22 regular-season matches (D10 L6).

This is the first time the Reds have posted back-to-back wins in regular-season play since July-August 2024.

Toronto also snapped an eight-match winless run against Cincinnati (D1 L7) with a 1-0 victory on March 8.

Toronto have only defeated Cincinnati multiple times in a single season once, winning both meetings in Cincinnati’s inaugural 2019 campaign.

Cincinnati have lost their first three away matches of the season. They suffered just four away defeats during the 2025 regular season (W11 D2), and this is their first three-match road losing streak in league play since an eight-game drought between 2021 and 2022.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Toronto FC – 37.5%

Draw – 26.4%

FC Cincinnati – 36.1%