Noonan emphasizing FC Juárez's strength before FC Cincinnati faces them

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3 days ago

FC Cincinnati has no plans of slowing down after winning their Leagues Cup opener against C.F. Monterrey. And some players were already thinking about the number of wins to get to the final before the first contest, Evander said.
But next in the Orange and Blue's path is FC Juárez on August 3 (5:30 p.m. at TQL Stadium), the team's second match in the first phase of the newly restructured tournament.
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Juárez won their first fixture of the Leagues Cup when they beat Charlotte FC, 4-1, in their opener. Before, they had been largely unsuccessful in league play, sitting 17th in the Apertura table through three contests.
Still, coach Pat Noonan noted strength in Juárez's performances, saying they are a tough squad to face. The Mexican side has played two of their country's most powerful clubs, Club América and Tigres UANL, in their first few fixtures.
Noonan said Juárez is aggressive and organized, citing their ideas with and without the ball. He also praised their movement centrally, which he said has caused trouble for opponents.
'Good to get familiar with what is an unfamiliar opponent for a lot of us,' Noonan said. 'Hopefully, we prepared our guys in a way where they understand how challenging and how good this opponent is.'
Leagues Cup format is punishing
With just four of 18 MLS teams advancing to the knockout stages, all three Phase 1 matches are critical. While FC Cincinnati's 3-2 victory against Rayados, behind a goal and two assists by midfielder Evander, put them in a solid position, they were one of eight MLS squads to win their opener.
Midfielder Pavel Bucha said the team is riding momentum from their win against Monterrey. He said there is more urgency under the new Leagues Cup format, noting that the team will try to score as many goals as possible because goal differential could be a determining factor in their advancement.
'The fact (that) we won that game will help us for sure in the game on Sunday, and again, we will do everything possible to win again,' Bucha said.
Noonan shares injury updates
Juárez is FC Cincinnati's third opponent in a four-match, 11-day stretch, which means some lineup rotation is likely for the Orange and Blue.
Forward Sérgio Santos, who started against Monterrey, did not train on August 2. Meanwhile, forward Kévin Denkey, who has been out for a couple of weeks with a leg injury, continued to train separately from the group as he recovers.
Noonan said Santos could be available, but he faces similar challenges to the discomfort that recently forced him to miss matches. Meanwhile, Denkey will be unavailable, but is 'progressing really well,' the coach said.
FC Cincinnati will close their first phase of fixtures against Chivas Guadalajara on August 7 before facing Charlotte FC on August 10 in their return to MLS play.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Pat Noonan emphasizing FC Juárez's strength before FC Cincinnati faces them