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FC Cincinnati
Major League Soccer
Sep 24, 2023 at 12.30am UK
Nippert Stadium
Charlotte FC

Cincinnati
3 - 0
Charlotte FC

Barreal (45+1'), Boupendza (50'), Acosta (78')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Westwood (35'), Kahlina (45+3')

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

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

FC Cincinnati host Wild Card hopefuls Charlotte FC in Saturday's MLS action at TQL Stadium.

The home side lead the Eastern Conference and overall table despite their recent wobble, while the Crown could do with victories with the regular season winding down to qualify for the post-season playoffs.


Match preview

FC Cincinnati forward Brandon Vazquez celebrates on September 17, 2023© Reuters

Cincinnati are assured a playoff spot, which has understandably brought about a dip in performances and results, with Wednesday night's draw at Montreal extending the Garys' winless run to three games.

Admittedly, only one loss has been recorded in that time — a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Orlando City — and Pat Noonan's troops seek a return to winning ways on home turf.

It remains to be seen if the Ohio-based club are motivated for this weekend's encounter, which has no immediate consequences for their position at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Noonan's team hold a nine-point advantage over Orlando, and both sides have 15 points left to play for in the regular season.

Only a complete collapse in results and the second-placed side — or any of the chasing pack that includes three teams with two points fewer than Orlando's 50 points — could knock Cincinnati off the top spot, an outcome that seems unrealistic, even if there is still a mathematical possibility.

Charlotte FC forward Kerwin Vargas (18) celebrates with midfielder Kamil Jozwiak (7) and forward Enzo Copetti (9) on April 15, 2023© Reuters

As for Charlotte, the season is far from finished for the side that aim to end in one of the two Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference.

Christian Lattanzio's men are 10 points adrift of an automatic playoff spot but could still end as one of the sides placed eighth or ninth at the end of the regular season.

The Crown are four points shy of Montreal and three adrift of DC United, giving them a realistic chance of playing the single-game elimination match.

However, Charlotte must secure much-needed wins in the campaign's concluding weeks to give themselves a fighting chance.

Lattanzio's side have lost as many games as third-placed Columbus (nine), but 12 draws (the second-highest in the Eastern Conference) threaten to undermine their prospects, with four consecutive MLS games ending without a winner.

Charlotte have more games to play than every side above them in the standings, further exciting fans of the North Carolina club, who hope to make this season's post-season playoff after missing out in the club's inaugural campaign last year.

FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer form:

FC Cincinnati form (all competitions):


Charlotte FC Major League Soccer form:


Team News

Yerson Mosquera in action for FC Cincinnati in March 2023.© Reuters

Ian Murphy could keep his place in Cincinnati's back three despite the return of suspended Yerson Mosquera, who received two yellows against Philadelphia Union two games back.

Stiven Jimenez is sidelined for the remainder of this year's MLS campaign due to a broken leg.

Lattanzio could change his Charlotte lineup if Benjamin Bender does not recover from the injury that forced him off against Philadelphia — meaning Kamil Jozwiak could start on the right wing against Cincinnati.

Vinicius Mello's leg injury could keep him out of action until October, ruling out the forward for this weekend's game.


FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Hagglund, Miazga, Murphy; Arias, Nwobodo, Moreno, Barreal; Acosta; Vazquez, Santos

Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Byrne, Malanda, Privett, Uronen; Bronico, Westwood; Jozwiak, Swiderski, Meram; Copetti


SM words green background

We say: FC Cincinnati 2-1 Charlotte FC

Despite a significant dip in results, Cincinnati's home form stayed consistent before losing 1-0 to Orlando before the start of the month.

Be that as it may, the hosts are favourites to prove their first home loss of the season was an anomaly against a Charlotte side without an away victory in four months.

How to watch

You can watch FC Cincinnati vs. Charlotte FC 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: Cincinnati vs Charlotte FC

FC Cincinnati
75.0%
Draw
25.0%
Charlotte FC
0.0%
12
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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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