Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Major League Soccer clash between FC Cincinnati and Charlotte FC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
FC Cincinnati will attempt to record a fourth consecutive victory when they welcome Charlotte FC to the TQL Stadium for Saturday’s MLS contest.
The visitors, meanwhile, will be looking to return to winning ways after failing to take anything from their last two outings.
Match preview
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Cincinnati are sitting top of the Eastern Conference after they leapfrogged Inter Miami with a dominant 6-1 victory in Saturday’s meeting between the two sides.
Pat Noonan‘s side established a 5-1 advantage before the hour-mark thanks to a Yuya Kubo brace as well as goals from Luciano Costa, Pavel Bucha and Yamil Asad.
Inter Miami’s Sergio Busquets was then given his marching orders, before Gerardo Valenzuela scored his first MLS goal to wrap up a third consecutive victory.
The Orange and Blue have now won 11, drawn six and lost just three of their 22 MLS matches, and they will head into Saturday’s fixture as the Eastern Conference’s second-highest scorers after racking up 42 goals.
They also boast the third-best defensive record in the Eastern Conference, having conceded just 26 goals in their 22 MLS outings.
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After dropping just two points in four games, Charlotte have experienced a recent dip in form, losing consecutive matches to Houston Dynamo and Inter Miami.
They shipped an early goal to lose 1-0 to Houston, before they conceded in the 86th minute to fall to a narrow 2-1 defeat to Inter Miami on July 4.
Despite experiencing a couple of disappointing results, the Crown are still in a satisfactory position in the Eastern Conference, sitting in sixth place with a six-point advantage over eighth spot.
Having conceded just 23 goals in 22 matches, Charlotte currently boast the second-best defensive record in the Eastern Conference, but they will be keen to improve at the opposite end of the pitch after scoring just 22 MLS goals this season.
The Crown have failed to win any of their previous four games against Cincinnati, ensuring they will go into Saturday’s contest with hopes of claiming their first head-to-head win since recording a 2-0 victory in March 2022.
FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer form:
Charlotte FC Major League Soccer form:
Team News
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Cincinnati are still unable to call upon Nick Hagglund and Matthew Miazga due to leg injuries, while Malik Pinto remains sidelined with an ankle issue.
Midfielder Obinna Nwobodo will serve a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards, which could result in Valenzuela being presented with a starting opportunity.
Acosta represents one of Cincinnati’s main attacking threats, having scored 10 goals and provided 15 assists in 22 MLS appearances this season.
Meanwhile, the visitors remain without the services of Junior Urso, who is continuing to work on his recovery from a leg injury.
Charlotte’s top scorer Patrick Agyemang will serve a one-match ban after being sent off in stoppage time of the 2-1 defeat to Inter Miami.
Agyemang’s suspension could force Dean Smith to move Kerwin Vargas into a centre-forward position and bring Iuri Tavares into the side to operate as the left winger.
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Powell, Robinson, Murphy; Yedlin, Valenzuela, Bucha, Asad; Orellano, Acosta; Kubo
Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Byrne, Malanda, Privett, Uronen; Bronico, Westwood, Diani; Abada, Tavares, Vargas
We say: FC Cincinnati 2-1 Charlotte FC
Cincinnati have won their previous two home matches against Charlotte by a combined 5-0 scoreline, and we think they will make full use of home advantage again to claim a narrow victory in Saturday’s fixture.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.