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Charlotte FC
Major League Soccer
Jul 9, 2023 at 12.30am UK
Bank of America Stadium
FC Cincinnati

Charlotte FC
2 - 2
Cincinnati

Swiderski (14', 24')
Corujo (28'), Lindsey (45+2'), Arfield (69'), Jozwiak (89'), Swiderski (90+2')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Acosta (52' pen.), Barreal (68')
Mosquera (11'), Murphy (29'), Santos (57')
Murphy (75')

Preview: Charlotte FC vs. FC Cincinnati - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between Charlotte FC and FC Cincinnati, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

FC Cincinnati will be looking to increase their lead at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference when they travel to the Bank of America Stadium to face Charlotte FC on Sunday.

The hosts, meanwhile, find themselves in the bottom half of the table and are seeking to avoid a seventh successive game without a victory.


Match preview

Charlotte FC head coach Christian Lattanzio looks on on June 21, 2023© Reuters

After enduring a winless month of June, including two defeats and three consecutive draws, Charlotte were forced to settle for a point for the fourth match in a row in their first game of July as they played out a 1-1 draw with New York City FC on Thursday.

McKinze Gaines opened the scoring for the Crown with a stunning strike on the edge of the area on the 17-minute mark, and the visitors appeared to be on course to claim all three points until NYCFC restored parity nine minutes from time courtesy of a deflected strike from Braian Cufre.

Having picked up just seven MLS points from their last 21 available, Christian Lattanzio's side have subsequently slipped to 10th in the Eastern Conference standings, seven points behind seventh-placed Atlanta United who occupy the last Final Series spot.

Dropping points from winning positions in four of their last six MLS matches has proven costly for Charlotte, and they will hope to end their three-game winless home run on Sunday against a Cincinnati side whom they beat 2-0 in North Carolina last year.

FC Cincinnati forward Dominique Badji (14) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal on July 2, 2023© Reuters

Cincinnati have been head and shoulders the best MLS side so far this season having accumulated a league-high 44 points from 20 matches, although they have recently endured a minor blip in form.

Indeed, the Orange and Blue have won only one of their last four games and have failed to win their last two, with a 3-0 away defeat against DC United – just their second loss of the season – followed by a 2-2 home draw with New England Revolution last Sunday.

The visitors were 2-1 ahead at the interval before Cincinnati forward Dominique Badji scored his second of the game and his fourth of the campaign to restore parity early in the second half.

Pat Noonan's side are sitting pretty at the summit of the Eastern Conference and a victory on Sunday could see them move nine points clear of second-placed Nashville SC who have played a game more.

While Cincinnati have excelled at home so far this season, winning 10 and drawing one of their 11 MLS matches, Noonan will be keen to see improvements made on the road as the Orange and Blue have only won three of their nine away games this term.

Charlotte FC Major League Soccer form:

FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer form:


FC Cincinnati form (all competitions):



Team News

FC Cincinnati forward Dominique Badji (14) embraces FC Cincinnati forward Brandon Vázquez (19) after Vazquez' goal on May 10, 2023© Reuters

Charlotte duo Adilson Malanda and Hamady Diop both missed the last match due to respective leg and abdominal injuries, and while the latter is set to remain sidelined, the former is doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Enzo Copetti was forced off with an injury just after the half-hour mark last weekend and it remains to be seen whether the striker will be fit to feature against Cincinnati; Karol Swiderski or Patrick Agyemang could be tasked with leading the line if Copetti is ruled out.

Summer signing Scott Arfield, who has joined the club on a free transfer from Rangers, made his debut as a second-half substitute last time out and the Canadian midfielder will be pushing for his first start for the Crown on Sunday.

As for Cincinnati, Matt Miazga and Brandon Vazquez are still away on international duty with the USA at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, while Junior Moreno is set to remain sidelined having missed the last three games with a leg injury.

Nick Hagglund and Luciano Acosta were both on the scoresheet in a 2-0 home win over Charlotte last year and they are both expected to start at centre-back and in attacking midfield respectively this weekend.

After scoring a brace last time out, Baji is set to continue in attack alongside Yuya Kubo, with Sergio Santos and Arquimides Ordonez forced to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench.


Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Lindsey, Sobocinski, Jones, Byrne; Westwood, Afful, Bender; Jozwiak, Swiderski, Gaines

FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentaro; Hagglund, Mosquera, Gaddis; Arias, Nwobodo, Angulo, Barreal; Acosta; Baji, Kubo


SM words green background

We say: Charlotte FC 1-3 FC Cincinnati

Despite a recent wobble in form, Cincinnati will be regarded as favourites to come out on top against a struggling Charlotte outfit this weekend.

The visitors have had few problems finding the net so far this season, scoring in all but one of their 20 MLS matches, and we can see them having more joy in front of goal in North Carolina.

How to watch

You can watch Charlotte FC vs. FC Cincinnati and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Game History

How you voted: Charlotte FC vs Cincinnati

Charlotte FC
14.3%
Draw
19.0%
FC Cincinnati
66.7%
21
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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