FC Cincinnati v CF Montreal: Nwobodo return motivated by playoffs

FC Cincinnati midfielder Obinna Nwobodo revealed that he was motivated by his desire to feature in the playoffs during his injury rehab.

The 28-year-old last played in June after he suffered a quadricep injury against CF Montreal, Cincinnati’s final opponent of the regular-season.

Cincinnati are currently second in the Eastern Conference, and can guarantee their spot in the top two if they can equal or better Inter Miami’s result against Nashville SC.

And after almost four months on the sidelines due to surgery, Nwobodo is eager to deliver for his team-mates and staff on the pitch.

“I am not someone that does something 50/50, I always give my all. So in anything I'm doing, in my rehab, in practice, everything, I'm giving it all,” said Nwobodo.

“And I believe that once I give my all, every other thing will come.

“The motivation and the belief come from that I know I'm working to be back before playoffs, and my team believes that I will be back, so I have to do everything I can to get there.

“For them to believe that I will come back is a big motivation for me, so even if I have a little doubt as a human being on myself…I have them who believe in me and I can use that to believe in me.

“Most importantly, it's not just to play one [game], it's about to play one and play the next, and hopefully play all the games and help the team. I feel I can do that now because of what we’ve done.”

Montreal can only finish as high as 12th in the East if they manage to get the better of Cincinnati after a disappointing 2025 campaign.

They have, however, ended the season strongly, losing only two of their last eight games after their Leagues Cup fixtures.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

FC Cincinnati – Evander

Evander has impressed for Cincinnati this season, recording 17 goals and 14 assists in 2025.

He has also formed a strong partnership with Kevin Denkey. They have combined for 16 of Cincinnati's 24 regular-season goals at TQL Stadium in 2025, while at least one of them has scored in 12 of their 16 home games this season.

CF Montreal – Dante Sealy

Dante Sealy finished with three goal contributions (two goals, one assist) in Montreal’s last road match.

He is the first Montreal player this season to record three goal contributions in a single match, and the first to do so on the road since Romell Quioto in September 2021.

MATCH PREDICTION – FC CINCINNATI WIN

Cincinnati have scored 49 goals this season after three straight seasons with 55 or more regular-season goals. With one more goal, they would join the Philadelphia Union and Los Angeles FC as the only teams with active streaks of four consecutive 50-goal seasons.

Cincinnati have also scored in 11 of their 12 meetings with Montreal, while both teams have scored in nine of the 12 matches. Cincinnati have tallied multiple goals in eight of those games.

However, Montreal have earned seven points over their last three road matches (W2 D1) and are looking for a four-match unbeaten streak on the road for the first time since a seven-game streak to finish the 2022 season.  

Montreal have scored a goal in eight straight matches, tied for their second-longest such streak in MLS play (21 straight, April 2019 to April 2021).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

FC Cincinnati – 66.2%

Draw – 18.4%

CF Montreal – 15.4%