Pat Noonan insisted that his FC Cincinnati team were not overlooking the challenge of Real Salt Lake this weekend despite their stunning victory over Inter Miami.

Noonan watched on as his team produced a sensational 3-0 victory over the Herons, led by Evander’s second-half brace at the TQL Stadium in midweek.

That result kept Cincinnati within striking distance of Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union, with Noonan’s side just a point adrift at the summit of the standings.

And though they have recorded five wins from their last six MLS fixtures, Noonan acknowledged the stern test awaiting his players at America First Field this weekend.

“Very pleased with the performance,” Noonan said. “We were a better team tonight than we showed at the weekend, and I’m happy for the guys that they were rewarded for it.

“There were tough moments when we had to defend, and we had to defend with good movement, good one-v-one ability on the ball, and I thought our guys were up for it.

“(They) made a lot of big plays in the right moments, and scored some good goals.

“It’s not easy to beat a team of (Miami’s) quality with the form that they’re in and to score three and get a shutout. I’m very pleased about that.

“But the form that (RSL is) in and the results that they’re getting is credit to Pablo (Mastroeni) and the staff for the work they’re doing, because they look like a strong team.”

Neat and tidy. pic.twitter.com/brsOPSfPtT

— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) July 17, 2025

Salt Lake, meanwhile, come into this clash with confidence after Diogo Goncalves’ late penalty sealed a 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers last time out.

After going seven games without a win in the MLS, Pablo Mastroeni’s side are now unbeaten in their last five games in the competition, with four of those games being victories.

And they will want to end this hectic run of fixtures on a high, with their meeting with Cincinnati the third time they have taken to the field in the last eight days.

Mastroeni conceded that he may be forced into changes for their upcoming match, but said that the momentum his team have built should be enough to carry them through.

“The holy grail in sport is when teammates are inspired and held accountable by their teammates,” Mastroeni said.

“Everyone is performing at such a high level because they don’t want to let their teammates down.

“Everyone understands what’s at stake. We’ll make a couple of changes to the group, but the expectations will continue to be the same.

“The fans have been 10 out of 10 at home. With the 12th man in our stadium and our group full of belief, we can compete with these guys – and those are the expectations.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Salt Lake – Diogo Goncalves

Goncalves has been key to Salt Lake’s recent good form, and he will be hoping to continue that in front of his home supporters this weekend.

He recorded his sixth goal contribution (three goals, three assists) of the 2025 regular season to help his team to their eighth win of the campaign against Portland. Indeed, he has contributed to a goal in six of those victories.

Cincinnati – Evander

Evander’s display against Miami last time out took his goal tally for the 2025 campaign to 15 for the season, and he comes up against a side he has had recent success against.

The Brazilian scored in both matches against Salt Lake in 2024 during his time with the Timbers. He has found the back of the net in three straight regular-season matches against two teams (San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps) in his MLS career.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

The away team has won both all-time meetings between Salt Lake and Cincinnati. This weekend’s hosts have only lost consecutive home matches against an Eastern Conference opponent just once, dropping their first two home games against the Columbus Crew in 2005 and 2006.

But after just two wins in their first seven home matches in 2025, RSL have won at least three consecutive home matches for the first time since a four-game run between May and June 2024, which is tied for their longest home-winning streak in the last four seasons.

Cincinnati, meanwhile, have recorded seven or more wins in their first 12 road games for the second consecutive campaign. They are the only MLS team to do so in consecutive seasons in the post-shootout era (since 2000).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Real Salt Lake – 34.5%

Draw – 25.8%

Cincinnati – 39.7%