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News, Blog and GuidesThey were the best team in MLS during the regular season, but the omens are not good as Cincy embark on their MLS Cup Playoffs journey.
William GittinsWillGittUpdate: Oct 29th, 2023 16:20 EDT
FC Cincinnati kick-start their post-season campaign on Sunday evening against New York Red Bulls.
Cincy were the runaway winners of the 2023 Supporters’ Shield, the trophy awarded to the team who pick up the most points during the regular season. They became just the second team in MLS history to win their first ten home fixtures and captain Luciano Acosta is expected to be named Landon Donovan MLS MVP.
You might think that Cincinnati will be the favourites to lift MLS Cup on December 9, but history suggests otherwise.
Across the past 27 seasons the Supporters’ Shield winners have only gone on to win MLS Cup on eight occasions: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2011, 2017 and 2022.
Game by game #CincyTilTheEnd pic.twitter.com/zR76UVDIfB
— S – FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) October 28, 2023
Perhaps unsurprisingly, this was more common in the early days of MLS when there were fewer teams in the league. In four of the first seven seasons the Supporters’ Shield winner also lifted MLS Cup.
LAFC picked up both in 2022
Last season LAFC became just the sixth different club to win both the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup in the same season. They lost just four regular season matches, the fewest of any team since 2014, and boasted the attacking firepower and top level experience required to progress in playoff competition.
That was the club’s first MLS Cup triumph and it came after a thrilling final against Philadelphia Union, which LAFC eventually won on penalties.
“It wasn’t our best day,” head coach Steve Cherundolo said after the final whistle. “But this team, as it did all year, found a way.”
"If we need a goal, you can put me in." 👀@GarethBale11 & @LAFC tell the story of the goal that sent MLS Cup vs. Philly to PKs.Watch the full "Playoff Moments" episode on #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV: https://t.co/QGk0E9pupH pic.twitter.com/lyA2qAbjhw
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 27, 2023
